Director Academic Labor Relations

Position Summary:

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Director Academic Labor Relations in the Office of University Labor Relations. Under the general direction of the Executive Vice President and General Counsel and the Assistant Vice President for Academic Labor Relations, this position is responsible for assisting in the negotiation, interpretation, and administration of academic collective negotiations agreements for Rutgers University.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Provides advice and guidance to all members of the University community including Chancellors, Deans, Directors, Department Chairs, senior administrators, and supervisors regarding the interpretation and application of various academic collective negotiations agreements, University policies and practices, and personnel issues.
• Handles various aspects of dispute resolution arising from workplace related complaints by employees, supervisors and the union, including representing the administration in grievances, working directly with academic union leaders to resolve complaints and concerns, and advising supervisors and employees about labor and employment relations matters.
• Directs and conducts complex academic labor relations activities, including, but not limited to, collective negotiations issues.
• Serves as a member of academic collective negotiations teams; interprets policies, presents university-wide workshops and training sessions.
• Provides recommendations for new and existing human resources policies.
• Oversees and provides guidance on grievance procedures.
• Leads, guides and instructs and makes work assignments to Senior Labor Relations Specialists and Labor Relations Specialists in the performance of their duties as authorized by the Executive Vice President and General Counsel and the Assistant Vice President for Academic Labor Relations.
• Provides comprehensive guidance and advice to departments and academic units (deans, administrators and managers) regarding the interpretation and application of the more complex provisions of the various academic collective negotiations agreements and University policies, and direction and next steps on complex labor & employee relations matters.
• Oversees and implements the grievance processes, programs and other negotiated processes and procedures set forth in the various academic collective negotiations' agreements, as well as provides guidance regarding such programs, procedures and processes.
• Communicates and works with union representatives to address daily inquiries and issues raised by the various unions regarding compliance with the terms of the academic collective negotiations agreements or University policies, issues pertaining to specific staff or faculty, and other labor and employment relations matters.
• Collaborates with administrative departments and academic leadership to address, evaluates and resolves University-wide labor relations matters.
• Meets with administrative departments to address University issues, determine appropriate action and implement action items.
• Designs & provides training on labor & employee relation issues and implementation of academic collective negotiations agreements.
• Provides guidance and recommendations to the University teams as assigned in academic collective negotiations.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and at least five years of progressively more complex experience in labor relations or human resources in a unionized environment.