Student Employee Labor Relations Partner

Position Title Student Employee Labor Relations Partner About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department Human Resources supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. About the Position The Student Employee Labor Relations Partner will play a crucial role in the development and management of Human Resources functions related to student employment. Focusing on customer service, effective communication and collaboration between unionized and non-unionized employee groups, this role requires a thorough understanding of collective bargaining agreements, labor laws, and the nuances of managing a diverse workforce. The Partner will serve as a liaison between management, union representatives, and employees, fostering a positive work environment, addressing concerns, and ensuring compliance with policies and agreements.

In addition to labor relations, the Student Employee Labor Relations Partner will coordinate the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) that relates to student employment, ensuring accurate data management, payroll and reporting for both unionized and non-unionized employees. The Partner will use the HRIS to streamline processes, monitor compliance with collective agreements, and provide insights that support decision-making and strategic planning. Their work with the HRIS will be integral in maintaining fairness and equity across the workforce, enabling the Partner to effectively support the student employment.

This a project-employment position ending no later than September 2026.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

33% - Program Development & Administration

• Lead the conceptualization and design of the Student Employment Program
• Oversee program planning, management, and evaluation
• Develop and administer systems for tracking required program and employment outcomes
• Facilitate meetings with stakeholders to gather feedback, discuss program developments, and address concerns
• Ensure workflows, trainings, and implementation of student employment program administration is developed cohesively
• Identify potential risks associated with program operations and develop plans to mitigate these risks
• Support the Director with monthly joint labor management meetings, coordinating meetings, taking notes, researching questions, and responding in a timely manner.
• Provide support to WWU's bargaining team during contract negotiations, including conducting research, compiling data, and attending negotiation sessions and preparing meeting notes as needed
• Stay updated on changes in employment laws, regulations, and industry trends related to staff unions and personnel groups
• Identify opportunities to enhance employee morale and satisfactio