Description

Summary:

The Senior Director of Employee and Labor Relations serves as a strategic leader and trusted advisor to university leadership, managers, and employees across the university. The position promotes employee and labor relations strategies that foster a positive, productive, and inclusive workplace. The role provides leadership to a team of Employee & Labor Relations professionals and team of HR professionals ensuring consistent and effective HR support and best practices across all divisions of the university.

Essential Functions: 

1.) Personnel Management

• Develop and promote strong employee relations strategies that align with university goals.
• Provide high level consultation and oversight on complex workplace matters, including discipline, separations, conflict resolution, performance improvement, and policy violations.
• Oversee employee conduct investigations and resolution of formal complaints and employee concerns.
• Collaborate with legal counsel, Equity & Title IX, and other university offices as needed on investigations and resolution strategies.
   

2.) Policy and Compliance

• Oversee the development, implementation, education, training and communication of human resources policies and employee compliance, procedures, and resources/tools.
• Monitor trends and conduct data analysis to proactively address workplace issues and mitigate risk.
   

3.) Labor Relations

• Serve as an advisor and oversee Labor Relations function working closely with union representatives, legal counsel, and senior university leadership.
• Oversee work that administers and interprets collective bargaining agreements, support resolution of disputes, grievances, and arbitrations.
• Ensure of compliance with labor laws and university policies in all labor relations activities and negotiations.
   

4.) Strategic Partnership

• Provide strategic direction, support, and guidance to university department, school and business unit leaders through direct strategic engagement with assigned Employee Relations professionals.
• Align human resources strategies and service delivery in a manner consistent with the university’s mission, strategic operational and business needs, and human capital proprieties.
• Partner with HR teams such as Talent Acquisition, Service Delivery, Talent Management and Compensation to ensure consistent and effective delivery of strategic HR services across academic and administrative units.
• Promote consistency, professional development, and capability building among Employee Relations staff to ensure consistent and effective service delivery across the university.
   

5.) Leadership and Engagement

• Lead and support team of employee and labor relations and HR Business Partners to ensure clarity of roles, alignment of goals and effective delivery of service.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and development to grow teams’ capabilities and performance. Promote a team culture of collaboration, inclusion, continuous learning, and accountability.
• Serve as key advisor to leadership on organizational climate, culture, and workforce matters. Foster strong relationships with academic and administrative units to support institutional success.
• Represent HR as needed on appropriate cross functional committees and working groups.
   

6.) Other Duties as Assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Position oversees Employee Relations and Labor Relations team and HR Business Partner team.
• Directly manages three positions (Director of Labor Relations, Manager of Employee Relations & Compliance, and Sr. Employee Relations Advisor) and indirectly manages a total of five (with the possibility of up to ten).
   

Competencies:

• Collaborative Leadership.
• Making Accurate Judgments and Decisions.
• Acting Strategically.
• Thinking Broadly.
• Driving Continuous Improvement.
• Leading and Inspiring People.
   

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Full-time.
• Exempt.
• 35 hours per week.
   

Salary Range:

• $160,000 - $180,000 annually.
   

Required Education and Experience:

• Master's degree or equivalent.
• 8 -10 years of relevant experience.
   

Preferred Education and Experience:

• 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience in higher education and relevant certifications (SHRM, SHRM-SCP, etc.) preferred.
   

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in employee relations, labor relations, and human resources, including at least 5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience working in a unionized environment and managing collective bargaining, experience with HR Business Partners.
• Strong understanding of employment laws and HR best practices.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem solving skills.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion and integrity.
• Ability to collaborate with partners across the organization.

 
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• For consideration, please submit your application on the American University careers portal by clicking here.

Requirements

Required Education and Experience:

• Master's degree or equivalent.
• 8 - 10 years of relevant experience.
   

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• For consideration, please submit your application on the American University careers portal by clicking here.