Employee and Labor Relations Specialist Position Available In Knox, Tennessee

Employee and Labor Relations Specialist KAT Bus – 2.7 Knoxville, TN Job Details Full-time $50,000 – $58,000 a year 2 days ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Qualifications Employee relations Employment & labor law Mid-level Analysis skills Bachelor’s degree Problem-solving Conflict management Human resources Contracts Alternative dispute resolution Business Administration Human Resources 1 year Associate’s degree Communication skills Negotiation Time management Full Job Description

JOB TITLE

Employee & Labor Relations Specialist

SUPERVISOR

Director of Human Resources

REPORTS TO

Director of Human Resources

JOB DESCRIPTION

The employee and labor relations specialist at Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) plays a key role in maintaining a fair, compliant, and collaborative workplace. This position serves as a trusted advisor to employees and leadership, ensuring proper application of workplace policies, labor laws, and employee rights. The employee and labor relations specialist focuses on conflict resolution, legal compliance, labor contract administration, workplace investigations, and performance management, working to foster a productive and equitable work environment. Strong communication, negotiation, and analytical skills are essential for handling employee concerns, managing labor agreements, and advising leadership on workplace best practices. The ideal candidate is passionate about employee advocacy, well-being, and workplace equity while fostering a thriving organizational culture through fair and effective performance management.

Salary Range:

$50,000 – $58,000 per year (dependent on experience and qualifications)

Classification:

Exempt

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Employee and Labor Relations (50%):

• Interpret and apply labor laws, employment regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Conduct workplace investigations related to employee concerns, misconduct, and grievances.
• Provide guidance on employee disputes, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
• Assist in labor negotiations, contract administration, and union compliance.
• Mediate workplace conflicts and recommend fair resolution strategies.
• Ensure compliance with employment policies, labor contracts, and workplace standards.
• Facilitate effective communication between employees, union representatives, and leadership.
• Develop and implement workplace policies that support legal compliance and employee well-being. Policy Compliance and Workforce Strategy (30%):
• Manage documentation related to labor disputes, compliance reports, and employee concerns
• Stay updated on local, state, and federal labor laws, ensuring policies align with regulations.
• Conduct audits and compliance assessments of workplace policies and labor agreements.
• Educate managers and employees on employment laws, performance management, and labor rights.
• Track and analyze workforce trends, disciplinary actions, and employee satisfaction, while managing documentation related to labor disputes, compliance reports, and employee concerns.
• Generate reports for leadership to support data-driven policy decisions and workforce planning.
• Develop action plans to improve employee relations based on feedback and trend analysis. Performance Management (20%):
• Implement and oversee the annual performance review (APR) process, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
• Act as a resource for employees and supervisors, providing guidance on performance evaluations, coaching, and goal setting.
• Support leadership in identifying professional development opportunities and performance improvement strategies.
• Ensure consistency in evaluations, feedback delivery, and documentation to maintain a fair and transparent review process.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Associate’s degree required. A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field is preferred.

Experience:

Minimum 1 year of experience in human resources, with exposure to employee relations, labor relations, or HR compliance. Experience in a unionized environment is preferred.

J OB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to engage employees, managers, and union representatives
• Ability to conduct workplace investigations and interpret labor contracts
• Proficiency in HR software and legal compliance tracking systems
• Knowledge of employment laws, hiring regulations, and labor contract provisions
• Experience in conflict resolution, workplace mediation, and labor relations strategy
• Strong organizational and time management skills to oversee compliance and policy enforcement
• Ability to collaborate across departments and navigate workplace dynamics in a unionized environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work requires sufficient physical strength, agility, endurance, dexterity and hand-eye coordination to perform all essential duties. Work requires lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Work requires operating standard office equipment such as personal computer workstations, printers, copy machines and FAX machines.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment is representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. The work is performed indoors and outdoors. It involves exposure to normal risks typical to all aspects of transit system bus operations. It may involve exposure to angry and/or unpleasant individuals. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$50,000.00 – $58,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Schedule:

8 hour shift

Work Location:

In person