UDW Overview:

 

United Domestic Workers of America, UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 is a statewide labor union that represents more than 200,000 home care and family childcare providers in 45 counties in California. Founded in 1979, UDW is a diverse, progressive labor organization that seeks dynamic, committed individuals who will support our members and those for whom they care locally, statewide and at the national level.

UDW is one of California’s largest labor unions. We consistently support and lead important social justice initiatives like fighting for racial justice, income inequality, and affordable health care for all. We are committed to respect and dignity for seniors, people with disabilities, and the children in our care.  We fight for better working conditions and fair pay for home care and childcare providers, and full funding for life-saving programs like In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and subsidized family childcare. For more information about UDW, please visit our website at www.udw.org. 

Job Information

Job Title: HR Compliance & Legal Specialist  

Job Type: Exempt (salary)

Department: Human Resources

Reports to: Compliance & Employee Relations Manager

Job Location: San Diego, CA

Schedule: Full-time - Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Hybrid (In office/remote)

Salary Range: $68,640.00/year to $94,040.00/year (depends on experience)        

Work Arrangements: Hybrid (baseline is three days in office and two days remote)

Job Summary

The HR Compliance & Legal Specialist ensures the organization’s adherence to all federal, state, and local employment laws, serving as the primary internal resource for legal guidance within the HR department. This role develops, implements, and maintains HR policies and procedures, manages compliance initiatives and audits, and supports management reporting to ensure organizational consistency and legal compliance. The specialist conducts legal research, assists with labor relations and policy analysis, and supports the resolution of employee relations matters ranging from routine to complex investigations. With a focus on integrity and confidentiality, this position plays a key role in minimizing legal risk and fostering a fair, inclusive, and transparent workplace culture.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

Regulatory Compliance & Legal Monitoring

·         Monitor and interpret changes in federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations (e.g., EEO, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, wage and hour, labor relations).

·         Conduct legal research and assess the legality of policies, practices, and procedures, making recommendations as may be needed.

·         Support the creation and revision of compliance policies and procedures; ensure alignment with legal requirements.

·         Conduct internal audits and risk assessments to identify gaps and ensure compliance, support remediation and corrective action plans.

·         Manages compliance with data privacy regulations to ensure secure handling of employee data.

·         Manage and administer required legal documentation to ensure timely filing of compliance reports (e.g., EEO-1, CA Pay Data, etc.).

 

HR Policy & Procedure Management

·         Develop, review, and maintain HR policies, SOPs, desktop procedures, and business continuity plans.

·         Manage records retention and information management for HR documentation.

·         Support policy administration and ensure timely completion of compliance-related HR tasks (e.g., I-9s, license updates, training, attestations).

·         Draft and revise policies to maintain legal compliance and support organizational goals.

 

Employee & Labor Relations Support

·         Act as initial point of contact for employee complaints and concerns; conduct preliminary investigations and gather supporting documentation.

·         Assist in managing employee relations matters including harassment allegations, workplace complaints, and policy violations.

·         Maintain knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and assist in related activities, such as gathering negotiation data and preparing documentation.

·         Support preparation for labor contract negotiations, including data collection and impact assessments.

 

Compliance Reporting & Documentation

·         Collect and compile data for internal and external reports related to HR compliance, diversity, and labor relations.

·         Support preparation and submission of government-mandated reports (e.g., EEO-1, affirmative action plans).

·         Maintain a repository of legal resources and process documentation.

 

Data Analysis & Metrics

·         Collect and analyze HR metrics (e.g., turnover, hiring practices, diversity, compliance indicators).

·         Identify trends and provide data-driven recommendations to HR leadership  to improve compliance, recruitment, retention, and employee experience.

 

General HR Compliance Operations

·         Serve as the primary support to the Compliance  & Employee Relations Manager, ensuring seamless operations and acting as a critical liaison within the HR department

·         Manage and respond to inquiries from the HR compliance inbox.

·         Serve as a liaison across HR functions to ensure consistent compliance practices.

·         Support internal immigration processes, including data tracking and documentation.

·         Any other duties as may be assigned.

 

 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

·         None

 

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

·         In-depth understanding of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations (e.g., FMLA, ADA, EEO, wage and hour laws).

·         Comprehensive knowledge of HR policies, procedures, and best practices for compliance and employee relations.

·         Familiarity with labor relations, union contracts, and collective bargaining (if applicable).

·         Expertise in case management processes, including investigation protocols, documentation, and confidentiality requirements.

·         Understanding of organizational culture, employee engagement strategies, and workplace diversity and inclusion.

·         Analytical and Critical Thinking: Ability to assess workplace situations, analyze data, identify trends, and develop evidence-based solutions.

·         Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with employees at all levels, drafting policies, and delivering training.

·         Conflict Resolution and Mediation: Proficient in mediating disputes, resolving conflicts, and negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes.

·         Legal Research: Ability to interpret and apply employment laws, conduct legal research, and serve as an internal legal resource.

·         Organizational and Project Management: Skilled at managing multiple cases, maintaining records, tracking compliance deadlines, and prioritizing tasks.

·         Collaboration and Teamwork: Effective at working with HR, legal, and management teams to address complex issues and implement solutions.

·         Technological Proficiency: Comfortable using HRIS and case management systems, and able to adapt to new technologies.

·         Training and Facilitation: Capable of designing and delivering training on compliance, employee relations, and legal topics.

·         Maintain Confidentiality and Integrity: Handle sensitive information with discretion and uphold the highest ethical standards.

·         Build Trust and Credibility: Serve as a trusted advisor to HR leadership and employees, fostering positive relationships and a culture of fairness.

·         Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrate empathy, cultural sensitivity, and emotional awareness in all interactions, especially during investigations and conflict resolution.

·         Adaptability: Remain flexible and effective in fast-paced, changing environments and when handling complex or sensitive cases.

·         Decision-Making: Make sound, timely decisions in line with legal requirements and organizational values.

·         Advocate for Employees and Organization: Balance advocacy for employee rights with organizational compliance and risk management

 

Preferred Qualifications, Education, and/or Experience:

·         Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Management, Risk Management, or a related field is required.

·         Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in legal research or internal counsel responsibilities.

·         Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in HR compliance, employment law, or a related field.

·         Demonstrated experience in auditing and monitoring HR policies and practices, compliance reporting, and supporting employee relations investigations.

·         Experience developing, implementing, and maintaining HR policies and procedures.

·         Background in legal research, labor relations, and policy analysis is highly valued.

·         Experience with HRIS, compliance management software, and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is expected.

·         HR certifications (e.g., PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP).

·         Proven ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

·         Experience creating and delivering training programs on compliance and legal topics.

·         Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.

·         Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide clear guidance on complex regulatory issues.

·         Experience preparing and submitting compliance reports, supporting affirmative action and EEO reporting, and responding to audits.

·         High ethical standards, integrity, and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.

·         Ability to work independently and collaboratively across department

·         Fluency in  English and Spanish

 

Requirements:

·         Willingness to travel as needed.

Employee Benefits:

·         Health Insurance

·         Dental Insurance

·         Vision Insurance

·         Life / AD&D

·         Long Term Disability (LTD)

·         401(k) Savings Plan

·         Pension Plan

·         Paid Vacation Days

·         Paid Sick Leave

·         Personal Day (8 hours)

·         16 Paid Holiday

·         Upskilling through eLearning platforms

 

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 position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is required to stand, walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

 

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is primarily exposed to an office-type environment. The employee will frequently work on or around office equipment and furniture. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. The employee will frequently work with deadlines under pressure and will occasionally be required to work alone. The employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor environments which can include exposure to vehicles, moving mechanical parts; vibration; odors, fumes, gases, smoke, dust, or airborne particles; and outside weather conditions.

 

 

Equal Opportunity Employer:

UDWA is an equal opportunity employer, and, as such, does not discriminate an employee or applicant based on race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, disability, or any other classification protected from discrimination under applicable law.

 

Notice of E-Verify Participation:

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS (888) 897-7781, dhs.gov/E-Verify.

 

 

Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

To apply for this position, please visit UDW’s career page and submit your application.

UDW’s career link →   https://udwa.hiringplatform.com/list/careers