Labor/Employee Relations Specialist

Important Recruitment Information for this vacancy

Job Posting closes: January 26, 2026

Required documents uploaded by: January 26, 2026

Kansas Department of Health and Environment:

Our agency is led by Secretary Janet Stanek, who was appointed by Gov. Kelly in Dec 2021. KDHE is comprised of three divisions: Public Health, Environment, and Health Care Finance (which includes the State's Medicaid program, KanCare). We are the only agency in the nation to have these three entities under one roof which allows us to take a holistic approach to improving and protecting the health and well-being of all Kansans.

Verification of identity and employment eligibility to work in the United States is required by federal law. For a list of acceptable documents that establish these criteria, please refer to the federal Form I-9. KDHE does not provide sponsorships for this position.

E-Verify: Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For additional information regarding E-Verify, please click here. For additional information regarding Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER) please click here.

About the Position

• Who can apply: Anyone (External).
• Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Flexible schedules available)
• Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
• Veterans' Preference Eligible: Yes
• Sponsorship: KDHE does not provide sponsorship for this position.

Compensation:

• Hourly Pay Range: $25.08

Employment Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
• Sick & Vacation leave
• Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
• Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
• Fitness Centers in select locations
• Employee discounts with the STAR Program
• Retirement and deferred compensation programs

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information…

Position Summary & Responsibilities

Position Summary:

The Labor/Employee Relations Specialist position (K this position will be an essential part of the Employee Relations Team within KDHE Office of Personnel Services. This position will be responsible for Investigations and Fact Findings, Mediation, Administrative work and Training.

Investigations and Fact Findings: Position will be responsible to conduct, lead or assist with internal investigations, complaints, and information gathering of various units at Division of Public Health, Division of Environment, Administration, and Department of HealthCare Finance, including but not limited to Human Resources.

The position will be responsible for conducting, lead or assisting with internal investigations, audits, surveys and information gathering of various locations with Division of Public Health, Division of Environment, Administration, and Department of HealthCare Finance, including but not limited to Human Resources.

The position will assist the Human Resources Assistant Director/Deputy Director with external investigations, including gathering necessary information for EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), HRC (Human Rights Commission), and other related external investigation inquiries as assigned by Human Resources Assistant Director/Deputy Director.

Position will assist with ADA, FMLA, and other medically related investigations as they pertain to employee relations, including working with the Human Resources Assistant Director/Deputy Director and Payroll/Benefits manager on cases that cross over between medical and employee relations.

Priorities for investigations will be determined on a case-by-case basis and in conjunction with the Human Resource Assistant Director/Deputy Director.

This position will provide feedback to Human Resources Assistant Director/Deputy Director and/or Leadership regarding policy and procedures recommendations for the Division of Public Health, Division of Environment, Administration, and Department of HealthCare Finance in an effort to improve efficiencies, communication, consistency and retention.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Mediation:Establishes and maintains employer-employee relationships that contribute to satisfactory productivity, motivation and moral in the workplace; creates and maintains a positive and effective alternative dispute resolution environment; and provides a quick, effective and responsive mediation of employment disputes.
• Administrative: Scheduling interviews and meetings, developing reports and recommendations, composing summaries or letters as part of progressive discipline or as a result of an investigation, complaint, etc.
• Training: Prepares and distributes training aids such as instructional material, handouts, evaluation forms and visual aids; sets up audiovisual equipment and makes presentations when necessary.

Qualifications

• Education:
• High School, GED
• Licensing & Certification: Valid Driver's License - Incumbent is required to have and maintain a valid driver's license when operating a state vehicle, a private vehicle, or a rental vehicle for the benefit of the State.
• Minimum Qualifications:
• Two years of experience in planning, directing, organizing, managing or administering personnel or Human Resources functions.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Four years direct experience of any field of study or one or more years in investigations.
• Customer service experience dealing with concerns preferably in face-to-face environment
• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access
• Proofreading, editing, attention to detail
• Knowledge of State employment process and/or experience recruiting
• Experience in advising job applicants and employees of application/employment process
• Experience performing personnel related issues
• Excellent time management skills

• Strong employee relations and interpersonal skills
  Administrative experience in office setting

• Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements:

• Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate: A valid Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate is a condition of employment for all employees of the State of Kansas. Applicants (including non-residents) who receive a formal job offer for a State job, are required to obtain a valid Tax Clearance within ten (10) days of the job offer. A Tax Clearance can be obtained through the Kansas Department of Revenue who reviews individual accounts for compliance with Kansas Tax Law. If you have a missing tax return(s) or you owe taxes to the State of Kansas, please know that the Kansas Department of Revenue will work with you. The Kansas Department of Revenue can set you up on a