SENIOR HR GENERALIST - EMPLOYEE & LABOR RELATIONS

LYNX, Central Florida’s Regional Transportation Authority, is seeking an experienced Senior Human Resources Generalist to join our HR team. This role is ideal for a seasoned HR professional who thrives in employee and labor relations and excels in conducting workplace investigations.

About the Role (This is an on-site position)

This Senior HR Generalist role will serve as a key resource for employees and leadership, with a primary focus on employee/labor relations and workplace investigations.  This position supervises one HR Generalist and reports directly to the Manager of Human Resources. This role supports a unionized, public-sector environment and ensures our processes uphold collective bargaining agreements, agency policies, and due process standards.

In addition to investigations, the ideal candidate brings broad HR knowledge and can seamlessly support other functional areas such as benefits, recruitment, policy administration, onboarding, and performance management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct neutral, timely investigations into workplace performance issues, general misconduct, safety violations, and policy infractions.
• Prepare clear, comprehensive, and legally defensible investigative reports; assist managers in drafting their reports to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Ensure all investigatory processes comply with collective bargaining agreements, agency policies, and due process requirements, including representation rights.
• Provide guidance to leadership on disciplinary actions, grievance processes, and labor relations matters.
• Identify trends and recommend proactive solutions or training to address systemic issues.
• Support HR operations including recruitment, benefits administration, onboarding, HRIS updates, policy interpretation, and employee support.
• Collaborate across teams to uphold LYNX’s values of respect, collaboration, care, and leadership.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Minimum of 5 years of HR Generalist experience, including at least 2 years focused specifically on employee/labor relations and investigations.
• Demonstrated experience conducting investigations and writing investigative reports in a unionized and/or public-sector environment.
• Strong knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, investigatory due process standards, and documentation requirements.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to present findings, coach managers, and build positive working relationships.
• Ability to work with independence, sound judgment, and high attention to detail.
• Broad HR experience across multiple functional areas such as benefits, recruitment, and policy administration.
• Experience with HRIS systems (Dayforce, Oracle HCM preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business/Public Administration, or a related field.

Why Work at LYNX?

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being today and strengthen your financial security for tomorrow, including:

• Robust Retirement Package
  • Defined contribution 401(a) plan with a 7% employer base contribution
  • 100% employer match up to 3% of employee contributions into the 457 plan
• FREE employee‑only medical insurance 
• Company paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Short-term disability insurance available
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays
• Employee assistance and wellness programs
• Access to our on‑site Employee Wellness Center
• FREE bus transportation for you, your spouse, and dependent children

Sponsorship Notice: LYNX does not sponsor employment-based visas, including H-1B. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

STEM OPT: LYNX is not a STEM-OPT Employer. 

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JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Senior Human Resources Generalist is responsible for providing daily support for our Human Resources programs and policies including employee relations, investigations, training, HRIS maintenance, onboarding, policy implementation, change management and employment law compliance. The position serves as a key resource for employees and leadership.

Essential Functions:

This list is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification and is not designed to be interpreted as an exhaustive listing of all tasks required of employees assigned to the job. All employees will be expected to perform other duties as assigned. All jobs require regular and reliable attendance. 

Supervision and Team Leadership 

Plans, coordinates, supervises, and evaluates the work of assigned staff; administers work assignments and monitors deadlines, meets with staff regularly to identify and resolve problems; counsels’ employees to correct deficiencies and takes corrective action as necessary.

Employee Relations and Investigations 

Investigations: Conducts neutral and timely investigations into allegations of general misconduct, including but not limited to:

• Violations of workplace rules, policies, and procedures
• Insubordination, dishonesty, misuse of government resources
• Performance-related misconduct and safety violations
• Unprofessional conduct and ethics violation

Compliance: Ensures investigatory processes comply with CBAs, agency policies, and due process standards. Ensures employee representation rights are honored during investigatory interviews (e.g. Weingarten rights). Supports disciplinary processes by providing investigative findings, documentation, and testimony for grievances.

Training: Develops and delivers training on investigatory procedure, interview best practices, documentation standards, and non-EEO policy compliance for managers and HR partners

Reporting Writing: Prepares clear, comprehensive investigative reports outlining findings of fact, credibility assessments, and policy or rule analysis. Ensures reports are legally defensible and suitable for use in disciplinary actions, grievance hearings, or arbitration.

• HRIS Entry: Tracks investigations to ensure contractual timelines and procedural requirements are met.
• Analysis: Identifies trends or systemic issues related to employee conduct and recommends corrective actions or training.
• HR Generalist Support: Provides support in benefits, onboarding, policy interpretation, and performance management. Serve as a resource for employees and supervisors on HR procedures and best practices.
• Budget Planning and Financial Oversight: Assists with the development of accurate budget forecasts. Manages assigned budgets in alignment with organizational goals and fiscal policies. Analyzes financial data to ensure responsible allocation of resources and proactively identify opportunities for efficiency and cost savings.

Benefits and Retirement 

• Benefits Administration: Oversee the administration of employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, and voluntary benefits. Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries and vendor coordination.
• Retirement Plans: Oversees the administration of retirement programs such as defined benefit pensions, 401(a), 457(b), or other public sector retirement plans. Coordinate with plan providers, ensure compliance with plan rules and IRS regulations, and assist employees with enrollment, changes, and retirement planning resources.
• Open Enrollment & Communication: Leads the annual open enrollment process, including planning, system updates, employee communications, and coordination with benefits carriers. Develop and deliver clear, accessible materials and presentations to educate employees on benefit offerings.
• Compliance & Reporting: Ensures compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including ACA, HIPPA, COBRA, FMLA, and retirement plan requirements. Prepare and submit required reports and filings, such as 1095-C’s, and retirement plan audits. 

Leave Management:

• Administers leave programs including FMLA, short- and long-term disability, and other statutory or company-sponsored leave policies. Coordinate with payroll and department managers to ensure accurate tracking and communication.
• HR Generalist Support: Provides support in employee relations, onboarding, policy interpretation, and performance management. Serve as a resource for employees and supervisors on HR procedures and best practices.
• Process Improvement: Evaluates and recommend improvements to benefits and retirement processes, systems, and employee experience. Stay current on industry trends and legislative changes affecting benefits and retirement programs.
• HRIS Entry: Coordinates activities involving status changes; enters all information into HRIS in accordance with policies/procedures; ensures promotions/demotions are in compliance with policies/procedures; verifies salary changes and ensures inclusion of correct information.
• Budget Planning and Financial Oversight: Assists with the development of accurate budget forecasts. Manages assigned budgets in alignment with organizational goals and fiscal policies. Analyzes financial data to ensure responsible allocation of resources and proactively identify opportunities for efficiency and cost savings.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution in Human Resources Management, Business or Public Administration or a closely related field plus five years of experience as an HR generalist to include a minimum of two years of experience in each assigned area of specialization; or a combination of related education, training and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties at the level indicated.
• Additional directly related experience beyond the minimum requirement may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
• Experience with HRIS software such as Dayforce and/or Oracle HCM.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Government, public sector, and/or transit work experience.
• Experience working in a union environment
• SPHR/PHR or SHRM-SCP/SHRM-CP, CBP or other HR-related certification

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSA's):

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of benefits, compensation, employment, and employee/labor relations.
• Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and unions.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement and initiative within established guidelines.
• Ability to analyze and identify employee, administrative, operational, and organizational issues; evaluate alternatives and reach sound, logical, and fact-based conclusions; develop sound and persuasive recommendations.
• Ability to collect, evaluate, and interpret data in statistical and narrative forms; ability to use qualitative and quantitative analysis, tools, and reviews.
• Ability to demonstrate personal initiative, follow-through, and accountability.
• Ability to lead, train, evaluate, and supervise staff, project team members, and/or external vendor staff.
• Proficiency using computer and related technology, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), the internet, and knowledge of HRIS applications.
• Ability to exhibit a professional, courteous demeanor.
• Ability to work in a diverse environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with those encountered in the course of work using principles of excellent customer service.

Work Environment & Special Considerations:

• Works in an office environment and requires long periods seated.
• This position requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.