Job Summary
The Employee Relations Specialist owns all employee relations matters at Knightscope, serving as the primary point of contact for workplace concerns, investigations, workers' compensation cases, leaves of absence, performance review cycles, and probationary period administration. This role also partners with the People team to onboard newly hired and newly promoted supervisors and managers, delivering compliance training on employee relations practices. The position is based onsite at our Sunnyvale, CA headquarters and requires travel to client and field sites as needed.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Relations
- Serve as the company-wide owner of all employee relations matters, managing each case from intake through resolution.
- Conduct prompt, thorough, and impartial workplace investigations (complaints, policy violations, harassment or discrimination concerns), maintaining complete and confidential documentation.
- Coach and advise supervisors and managers on conflict resolution, corrective action, and consistent application of company policies.
- Escalate high-risk matters to the VP, People and legal counsel, and support responses to agency charges (EEOC, DFEH/CRD, DLSE) as needed.
Workers' Compensation
- Manage all workers' compensation cases end-to-end: incident intake, claim filing, carrier and clinic coordination, and ongoing case management through closure.
- Coordinate modified-duty and return-to-work plans with managers and treating providers.
- Maintain OSHA recordkeeping (Forms 300/300A/301) and partner with EHS/Operations on incident prevention trends.
Leaves of Absence & Accommodations
- Administer all leave programs, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA/FEHA accommodations, and company leave policies, from request through return.
- Lead the interactive process for accommodation requests and document each step.
- Coordinate with payroll and benefits on leave pay, state disability (SDI/PFL), and benefits continuation.
Performance Reviews & Probationary Periods
- Own the company performance review cycle: calendar, manager reminders, completion tracking, and calibration support.
- Administer probationary/introductory periods for new hires, ensuring timely check-ins, documented evaluations, and clear outcomes.
- Guide managers through performance improvement plans (PIPs) and corrective action, ensuring fairness, consistency, and defensible documentation.
Manager Onboarding & Compliance Training
- Support the onboarding of newly hired and newly promoted supervisors and managers with compliance training on employee relations matters.
- Track and ensure completion of mandatory training, including harassment prevention training for supervisors
- Develop and maintain manager toolkits and reference guides on documentation, leaves, accommodations, and corrective action.
General
- Travel to client and field sites as needed to support investigations, incidents, and manager training.
- Perform other duties as assigned by manager.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 4+ years of progressive HR experience with a focus on employee relations, including hands-on workplace investigations.
- Working knowledge of multi-states/county's and federal employment law: FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA/FEHA, workers' compensation, and wage-and-hour fundamentals.
- Experience managing workers' compensation claims and leave administration end-to-end.
- Exceptional judgment, discretion, and ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.
- Strong written documentation skills and comfort presenting training to supervisors and managers.
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office / Google Workspace.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel to client and field sites.
Preferred
- PHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP, or equivalent certification.
- Experience supporting a distributed or field-based workforce (technicians, operations, or security personnel).
- Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base Salary: $1155,000 - $125,000 (DOE)
- Equity: Stock options
- Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off
- Location Requirement: Sunnyvale, CA HQ
