Director of Employee Relations

Position Details

Position Information

Budget Title
Senior Personnel Associate

Campus Title
Director of Employee Relations

School/Division
Finance and Management, Division of

Department
Human Resources Office

Staff Sub-Type
Staff & Administration

Salary Level
MP4

Salary Range
$105,000+ depending on experience (DOE).

Salary Determination

Starting salary rates are based on multiples factors which may include the position's major responsibilities, the applicant's background including education, work experience, and key competencies, the university's strategic priorities, internal peer equity and external market analyses, applicable federal, state, and local laws and negotiated labor contracts.

Salary Range: $105,000 + depending on experience (DOE)

Position Effort
Full-Time

If Part-Time, enter FTE:

Is this a temporary position?
No

If Temporary, enter End Date:

Position Summary

The Director of Employee Relations is responsible for responding to employee-related and contractual matters. This position plays a key role in managing internal employee and labor relations complaints, investigations, union grievances, disciplinary matters and ensuring compliance with the collective bargaining agreements. The Director provides proactive advice and recommendations for appropriate courses of action involving all university employees and facilitates the resolutions of employee matters. Works closely with and provides guidance to the Employee Relations Specialist.

Salary Range: $105,000 + depending on experience (DOE)

Major Responsibilities

SUNY Employee and Labor Relations

• Serve as the President's designee for employee and labor relations on campus.
• Participate in investigations, interrogations, counseling, fact-finding, grievance meetings with union officials and employees. Make determinations of facts and contractual/policy obligations.
• Maintain accurate, thorough and confidential records of employee and labor relations matters, including investigations, grievances, consultations, disciplinary actions and related case activity in accordance with applicable laws, policies and record retention requirements.
• Responsible for contract administration with CSEA, GSEU, NYSCOPBA, PBANYS, PEF, and UUP bargaining units.
• Hold fact-finding first step grievance meetings with union officials and employees. Make determinations of facts and contractual obligations.
• Facilitate grievance resolution by making appropriate recommendations to the President or designee.
• Participate as management representative in all Step 2, Step 3 and arbitration hearings.
• Communicate with System Administration regarding interpretation, clarification, and deficiencies in contract language.
• Participate in labor management meetings with the various bargaining units.
• Inform campus employees about changes in contractual rights and resolve conflicts arising from these.
• Consult with supervisors and university leaders regarding employee performance concerns and ensure applicable policies, procedures and collective bargaining agreement provisions are appropriately applied.
• Partner with Human Resources colleagues responsible for performance management administration to address performance-related employee relations matters and support corrective action processes.
• Facilitate resolution of employee and labor relations matters by meeting with employees/supervisors to provide advice and counsel regarding employee performance and engagement matters and contractual, legal, policy, and procedural issues.
• Develop and deliver training, guidance, and informational sessions related to employee and labor relations, workplace conduct, conflict resolution, contractual obligations, and applicable employment policies.

Research Foundation (RF)

• Serve as the primary employee relations resource for Research Foundation employees and supervisors, providing consultation and guidance regarding workplace issues, performance concerns, policy interpretation, investigations, conflict resolution, and corrective action.
• Partner with Research Foundation leadership and Human Resources staff to address employee relations matters and ensure compliance with applicable policies and employment practices.

Ethics

• Serve as Ethics Co-Officer to apply and enforce the rules of public integrity consistent with the standards provided by the NYS Commission on Ethics.
• Serve as a resource to provide ethical guidance to the campus community.
• Administer ethics related training and respond to New York State reporting requirements.

ADA Compliance

• Supervise the ADA Coordinator and provide oversight of the ADA accommodation process.

Supervision

• Articulate a vision that unites team members/staff and define departmental objectives and goals to establish a common purpose.
• Assign duties to staff based on their roles and adjust assignments as needed. Plan, organize and monitor the progress of work and goal completion.
• Hire, onboard, and train staff. Provide clear instructions, regular feedback, and coaching. Communicate performance expectations and goals, complete performance programs and evaluations in a timely manner. Nurture the development of staff by identifying opportunities for training and career development.
• Confirm staff complete required training to maintain compliance with university policies and state and federal laws.
• Act as a liaison between staff and senior management, relaying information in both directions. Facilitate open communication and collaboration within the office. Address and help resolve staff issues and workplace concerns.

Analytics and Assessment

• Prepare and analyze employee relations, labor relations, ethics, RF, ADA accommodations and related human resources reports, metrics, and assessments, as well as ad hoc reports as requested.

Service

• Attend at least 3 events on campus per year. One event will be directly related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, DEI, and the other events can be determined by the employee, including events such as lunch and learns, training and speaking events, performance events, sporting events, etc.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships

• Reports to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources
• Works closely with all HR staff
• Works closely with campus managers and supervisors
• Works closely with SUNY System Administration
• Supervises professional and classified staff employees

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Several years of experience in employee relations, labor relations or related unit in a unionized environment
• Experience conducting employee relations investigations, conflict resolution, and/or disciplinary processes
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements, policies, and procedures
• Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in human resources, labor studies, psychology/organizational development or related field
• Professional certification in human resources, such as PHR, SHRM-CP, HRIC, or similar
• Experience working in higher education
• Experience administering employee and labor relations programs in a public sector environment
• Experience with grievance administration, contract interpretation, and labor-management relations
• An understanding of ADA accommodations and the interactive process

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate understanding and appreciation of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Effective oral, written and presentation skills including the ability to prepare reports, recommendations, correspondence, and other communications related to sensitive personnel matters.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent independent judgment and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive matters while maintaining the highest level of ethics, confidentiality and integrity.
• Ability to develop collegial working relationships with individuals at all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Superior analytical, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to be creative, flexible, self-motivated, quality oriented, and committed to providing high level customer service.
• Ability to harness software and technology to improve efficiency.
• Ability to build trust, influence outcomes, and effectively advise managers and employees on complex employee and labor relations matters.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, procedures and collective bargaining agreements; conduct investigations; assess complex situations; evaluate facts; and make sound recommendations.
• Ability to facilitate conflict resolution and manage difficult or sensitive workplace conversations.

Job Close Date

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number
S26044

Review Start Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting
https://jobs.cortland.edu/postings/11781