Associate Director of Employee Relations

Associate Director of Employee Relations

Description of Department:

The Office of Human Resources is here to help guide the campus in hiring, retaining, developing and rewarding a highly qualified workforce. SUNY Oswego is an excellent place to work, learn and grow, which is directly supported by the Human Resources Office. We support and service a dynamic and diverse workforce by providing a wide array of services to the University community. These services include administration of multiple collective bargaining agreements, hiring and recruiting oversight, onboarding activities, administration of fringe benefits, employee training, employee onboarding and appointment processing, position classification and leave administration. The Office of Human Resources is here to help guide the campus in hiring, retaining, developing and rewarding a highly qualified workforce.

For more information about our functions, please visit our website: https://ww1.oswego.edu/human-resources/

The Human Resources Office at the State University of New York at Oswego invites applications to fill a full-time Associate Director of Employee Relations.

Posting Date: March 26, 2026

Review Date: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience plus full New York State benefits package.

Benefit Information: The State University of New York provides an excellent benefits package. This is a Management/Confidential unclassified professional position. Click here for more information on benefits for full-time Management/ Confidential unclassified professional staff.

Date of Appointment: As soon as possible

Description of Responsibilities:

• Serve as a primary employee and labor relations designee for employees and supervisors.
• Advise administrators, faculty and staff in numerous areas of human resources management to provide support and oversight for a wide range of human resources functions including employee and labor relations, learning and development, performance management, ethics compliance, human resources compliance and legal issues that arise.
• Assists with fostering a positive and productive work environment while balancing the needs of the workforce with operational and legal requirements.
• Proactively addressing and resolving workplace issues, promoting a positive work environment while ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations.
• Frequently hane consultative conversations with supervisors about procedures for employee coaching and counseling, appointment non-renewal, performance evaluations, the development of performance programs and disciplinary procedures.
• Frequently takes the initiative to consult early and often with management staff in order to address employee relations issues and resolve them at the earliest opportunity.
• Maintain knowledge of a wide variety of complex human resources laws, policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, Civil Service law, the Board of Trustees policy and State University of New York policies.
• Stay abreast of and maintain knowledge of a variety of state and federal employment laws.
• Identify organizational training needs, develop and deliver training as relevant to workforce needs.
• Serve as campus Ethics Officer to apply and enforce the rules of public integrity consistent with the standards provided by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG).

SUNY Oswego works continuously to create an inclusive environment which respects, embraces, and promotes cultural safety, belonging, civil discourse, cultural humility, and other values and goals outlined in SUNY Oswego's Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Plan. As such, the incumbent is expected to contribute to these efforts and possess communication and interpersonal skills necessary to engage effectively with an increasingly diverse community of students and colleagues.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• At least three years of progressively responsible HR experience
• Experience developing and maintaining collaborative, consultative, and advisory relationships with all levels of the organization
• Highest standards of ethics, confidentiality, and integrity
• Demonstrated commitment to a high level of customer service

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field
• Professional Certification in human resources, such as PHR, SHRM-CP or similar
• Thorough knowledge of federal and New York State employment-related laws and regulations
• Experience working in higher education
• Experience working in a unionized environment