Senior Director of Employee & Labor Relations

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)

Union:

Job Description:

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.

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