"Senior Director of Employee & Labor Relations"

Job Details

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University.

Department: Human Resources

Time Type: Full time

Job Type: Regular

FLSA Status: Exempt

Work Modality: Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

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.

Benefits: AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.