"Employee Relations Consultant"

Job Details

Posting Number: STA00006PO26

Job Family: Human Resources

Job Function: Employee Relations

USC Market Title: Employee Relations Consultant

Link to USC Market Title: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/133087

Job Level: P2 - Professional

Business Title (Internal Title): Employee Relations Consultant

Campus: Columbia

Work County: Richland

College/Division: Division of Human Resources

Department: DHR Employee Relations

State Pay Band: 6

Approved Starting Salary: $54,165

Advertised Salary Range: $54,165 - $70,000

Location of Vacancy: Columbia, SC (on-site)

Part/Full Time: Full Time

Hours per Week: 37.5

Work Schedule: Standard work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm with one hour for lunch. Must be willing to work flexible schedule in support of office needs.

Basis: 12 months

About University of South Carolina:

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Advertised Job Summary:

Under general supervision of the Employee Relations Director, performs a variety of professional level duties to facilitate effective and efficient operations of the Employee Relations Office to include:

• Initial contact for Employee Relations (by phone, email, in-person, virtual) advising and counseling supervisors, managers, service teams and administrators on policy interpretation and disciplinary matters in accordance to University, State and Federal procedures, policies and laws.
• Counsels employees who seek HR advice on workplace related matters. Maintains the ER tracking spreadsheet for issues that come to the ER office consulting with the Employee Relations manager as appropriate.
• Creates and reviews written disciplinary notices and templates including performance, conduct and telecommuting related letters. Provides edits and recommendations as needed to best support the action taken. Maintains templates on the ER shared drive.
• Administers the telecommuting process for the University system advising, reviewing and approving division telecommuting plans; providing guidance and answering questions to campus about telecommuting for staff.
• Reviews and approves telecommuting agreements; maintains telecommuting tracking and follows reporting standards as required.
• Manages the random drug and alcohol testing program. Communicates with the designated drug and alcohol administrators for safety and security sensitive positions; Ensures compliance with the policy to include training for reasonable suspension identification for supervisors.
• Advises on Employee Relations managed programs such as Reduction-in-Force (RIF), Voluntary Separation Programs (VSP) and Retirement Incentive Programs (RIP).
• Assist in policy editing and development and serve as back-up to other ER consultants and training classes as needed.
• Provides intake appointments, working closely with employees and supervisors to assess ADA accommodation needs and work within the interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations.
• Coordinates the implementation of accommodations and maintains documentation of accommodation requests, approvals, and outcomes in accordance with ADA guidelines and university policies.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 2 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working in Employee Relations.
Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of USC policies and procedures; State HR regulations; knowledge of State and Federal laws.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to analyze needs and resources and to recommend and communicate solutions effectively.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting a variety of policies and procedures.

Job Duties:

Job Duty 1: Initial contact for Employee Relations (by phone, email, in-person, virtual). Advises and counsels supervisors, managers, service teams and administrators on policy interpretation and disciplinary matters in accordance to University, State and Federal procedures, policies and laws. Counsels employees who seek HR advice on workplace related matters. Maintains the ER tracking spreadsheet for issues that come to the ER office. Consults with ER manager as appropriate.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 30

Job Duty 2: Creates and reviews written disciplinary notices and templates. This includes performance, conduct and telecommuting related letters. Provides edits and recommendations as needed to best support the action taken. Maintains templates on the ER shared drive.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 20

Job Duty 3: Administers the telecommuting process for the University system. Advises, reviews and approves division telecommuting plans; provides guidance and answers questions to campus about telecommuting for staff; reviews and approves telecommuting agreements; maintains telecommuting tracking and follows reporting standards as required.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 30

Job Duty 4: Manages the random drug and alcohol testing program. Communicates with the designated drug and alcohol administrators for safety and security sensitive positions; Ensures compliance with the policy to include training for reasonable suspension identification for supervisors.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 10

Job Duty 5: Advise on Employee Relations managed programs such as Reduction-in-Force (RIF), Voluntary Separation Programs (VSP) and Retirement Incentive Programs (RIP). Assist in policy editing and development and serve as back-up to other ER consultant and training classes as needed. Provides intake appointments, works closely with employees and supervisors to assess ADA accommodation needs and work within the interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations. Coordinates the implementation of accommodations and maintains documentation of accommodation requests, approvals, and outcomes in accordance with ADA guidelines and university policies.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 10

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive: No

Hazardous weather category: Non-Essential

Number of Vacancies: 1

Job Open Date: 01/06/2026

Job Close Date: 01/20/2026

Open Until Filled: No

Quicklink for Posting: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/200880