Employee & Labor Relations Representative

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Who We Are

At Hamilton Families, our mission is to end family homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1985, we have been meeting the most urgent needs of unhoused families in our community. Our programs specialize in preventing family homelessness when possible, providing shelter and transitional housing to families in times of need, supporting the wellbeing and academic achievement of children who experience homelessness, and quickly returning families to safe and stable housing throughout the Greater Bay Area. At Hamilton Families, we believe the San Francisco Bay Area is at its best when people from all backgrounds can start a life here, raise a family here, and thrive here. We envision a Bay Area where housing is accessible and affordable, where homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring, and where all people and families have a safe and stable place to live. We foster an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and contribute to our collective success. Our commitment to inclusivity ensures every team member feels respected, supported, and empowered to thrive.

What You’ll Do

As the Employee & Labor Relations Representative, you will be a key steward of our organizational culture, ensuring fair and consistent application of both organizational policies and any Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) to support Hamilton Families' mission and staff. You will be responsible for providing guidance to managers and staff on complex employee matters, including performance issues, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution. A critical part of your role will involve managing and resolving union grievances, participating in the interpretation and application of the CBA, and serving as a resource during any potential union contract negotiations. You will also conduct objective and timely internal investigations regarding employee complaints and workplace concerns, partnering closely with leadership to maintain a positive, productive, and legally compliant work environment for all staff.

What Your Day Looks Like

Organize Employee Relations Cases: Start the day by reviewing and prioritizing open employee relations cases.
Provide Manager Consultations: Site calls and emails from program managers, offering immediate, actionable guidance on disciplinary steps, policy interpretation, and documentation best practices
Address Labor/Union Issues: Interpret clauses within the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to address staff inquiries and advise managers on applying CBA rules consistently, particularly regarding scheduling, shifts, and seniority
Conduct Workplace Investigations: Dedicate time to planning, conducting interviews, gathering evidence, and analyzing facts for ongoing or new internal investigations related to employee or union complaints
Consult with Legal Counsel: Utilize legal counsel with complex investigations for guidance and document review
Process Grievances: Review and respond to formal union grievances, coordinating with management to determine the organization's position and prepare for potential grievance meetings or arbitration
Draft and Review Documentation: Prepare comprehensive investigation reports, finalize corrective action notices, and draft clear policy revisions for leadership review
Policy and Compliance Work: Collaborate with the Office of People & Culture team to ensure all employee relations practices and labor relations activities comply with federal, state, and local employment laws and agency guidelines
Facilitate Training Sessions: Work closely with the Learning & Development Manager to create and present training materials to managers on key topics, such as effective coaching, union contract terms, or anti-harassment policies, to proactively reduce workplace risk
Office of People & Culture Team Collaboration: Participate in regular Office of People & Culture team meetings to discuss trends, review complex cases, and contribute to broader People & Culture strategy, including annual performance review cycles or engagement initiatives
Stay Informed on Regulations: Research and monitor changes in labor law, employment legislation, and arbitration trends to ensure Hamilton Families maintains best practices and legal readiness
Regular visits to all the Hamilton Families facilities

What Makes You Successful in This Role

The ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information with integrity, empathy, making sound, legally defensible, and equitable decisions quickly
Maintaining a neutral stance when conducting investigations or interpreting policy/CBA language, ensuring fair outcomes for both the employee/union and the organization
Proficiency in de-escalating tense situations and negotiating resolution between managers, employees, and union representatives while preserving essential working relationships
A deep and current understanding of federal and state employment law (e.g., ADA, FMLA, Title VII) and Labor Relations practices (e.g., NLRA, grievance handling, CBA administration)
The ability to articulate complex legal and policy concepts clearly, both verbally during consultations and in writing (reports, policy drafts, and investigation summaries)
A genuine commitment to the Hamilton Families mission, coupled with the empathy required to understand the challenges faced by staff in the social services field while balancing organizational needs
The ability to identify potential issues (e.g., policy gaps, compliance vulnerabilities) before they escalate into formal complaints or legal action

What You Bring

Preferred Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience focused specifically on employee relations and labor relations, preferably within a non-profit or public sector environment
Labor Relations Expertise: Proven experience administering Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), managing formal grievance procedures, and participating in contract negotiation preparation
Investigation Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in conducting complex, impartial workplace investigations (e.g., harassment, discrimination, whistleblowing) from initial intake through final reporting and recommendation
Policy Development: Experience interpreting, developing, and implementing employee handbooks, HR policies, and related procedures to ensure legal compliance and organizational consistency
In-depth, working knowledge of federal and California employment laws (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, ADA, PAGA) and significant experience advising management on legal compliance
Comfort utilizing HRIS systems (e.g., ADP, Asana, etc.) to accurately track, document, and report on employee and labor relations matters
Certification (a plus): Relevant professional certifications such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP, or specialized labor relations training

We encourage applicants to apply even if they feel they do not meet all the listed criteria. We value diverse perspectives and believe in the potential for growth and development within our team. Your unique skills and experiences may be exactly what we need to succeed together.

Why Choose Us

Our commitment to welcome all individuals creates a richness of viewpoints and keen ability to challenge established thinking
Enjoy excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage
Employer matched 403(b) retirement plan
Wellness and commuter benefit programs
Paid time off and holidays

Our Values

Resourceful
Helpful/ “Yes, And”
Growth Mindset
Data Informed
EDI: Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive

Salary Range: $35.00/hour

Position Type: Non-Exempt

Schedule: 20-30 hours/week; Hybrid, Thursdays in office at Mission location

Union Representation: N/A

Hamilton Families is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are central to our organization. We actively seek and prioritize diversity in our teams. We welcome applications from people with a variety of backgrounds and ages, including people of color, candidates with lived experiences, candidates in the LGBTQ+ community, and candidates who identify personally at any part of the gender spectrum. Additionally, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

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