Assistant Vice President, Employee Relations & HR Compliance

Overview

Reporting to the Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, the Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Employee Relations and Compliance leads Auburn University's employee relations function and serves as a senior advisor on complex workforce, compliance, and policy matters. The role provides decision authority for FMLA matters and consultative support for HR policy governance and multistate employment matters. Working with University Human Resources leadership and the Office of General Counsel, the AVP promotes consistent application of employment policy, informed decision-making, and practical risk management while preserving operational ownership within functional HR units.

Responsibilities

• Employee Relations Leadership: Oversees the University's Employee Relations function, including the Director of Employee Relations and related staff. Establishes institution-wide standards and governance for employee relations practice, including case management, investigations, workplace conduct matters, conflict resolution, and corrective action. Serves as the escalation point for the University's most sensitive, complex, or high-risk employee relations matters. Guides HR leaders and Business Partners in the consistent interpretation and application of employee relations principles, University policy, and sound HR judgment. Identifies trends, institutional risks, and recurring issues in employee relations matters and recommends improvements to strengthen consistency, decision-making, and risk mitigation.
• FMLA Decision Authority: Provides review and decision support in complex FMLA matters, especially those that intersect with employment actions or other determinations requiring senior HR judgment. Partners with UHR leadership to assess regulatory changes, interpret implications for the University, and support updates to FMLA-related processes, guidance, and decision points. Defines escalation criteria for complex or high-risk FMLA matters and serves as the final decision authority for escalated cases. Supports institutional readiness for changes in leave-related laws and regulations.
• Policy Governance and Interpretation: Partners with UHR leadership to shape the governance framework for HR policy development, review, interpretation, and maintenance. Partners across UHR to support policy drafting, alignment, and consistent application while preserving ownership within functional units. Identifies policy gaps, ambiguity, and recurring interpretive issues and recommends improvements.
• Multistate Employment Consultation & Support: Provides consultation on multistate employment matters, including compliance considerations, registration requirements, and associated risk. Partners with the responsible UHR director to interpret emerging multistate employment requirements and assess their implications for University practice.
• Compliance Guidance: Advises UHR leadership on complex or sensitive workforce matters requiring legal compliance, compliance risk, or broader institutional implications and helps translate regulatory developments into practical HR guidance. Develops and delivers training on workforce risk, policy application, and emerging employment issues to support consistent and informed decision-making.

Qualifications

Juris Doctorate J.D. from an accredited institution and 8 years of in employee relations, employment law, or HR compliance, including experience advising on complex workforce matters, policy interpretation, and organizational risk.