Director Employee Relations

Company: Union College
Location: Schenectady
Posted on: June 4, 2021

Job Description:

Union College is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and service-oriented Director of Employee Relations, Learning & Development (Director) to join the Human Resources team. Reporting directly to the Interim Chief Human Resources Officer the Director will lead employee relations, performance management, and learning and development initiatives to support employees across Union College.

In this dynamic and exciting role, the incumbent will build and maintain strong partnerships with college leaders of all levels to ensure alignment of priorities and effective integration of programs and services.

The Director will also need to be skillful at resolving highly complex and/or sensitive employee relations issues. The Director participates in investigating workplace complaints related to claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and policy violations. The Director is also responsible for proactively counseling managers and supervisors on effective methods for ensuring the development and maintenance of a work environment that fosters inclusion and respect for individuals diverse backgrounds, cultures and abilities.

The incumbent will also be responsible for creating and implementing learning and development programs for employees across all functions and working with managers to formulate and communicate career path strategies. The Director will also oversee performance management.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• 10+ years of experience in human resource/employee relations with 5 years of experience directly managing complex employee relations matters and investigations and building learning and development programs.
• Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field required with Masters degree from an accredited institution in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration or related field preferred.
• Professional experience in higher education preferred.
• Professional Human Resources certification (PHR/SPHR; SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP) highly desired.

Required skills/abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including formal presentation skills.
• Demonstrated leadership skills of a collaborative nature.
• Experience in formulation and implementation of College policies and long-range HR programs and plans.
• Significant experience with writing and communicating employment-related policies.
• Skillful at resolving highly complex and/or sensitive employee issues.
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to apply current federal, state and local laws relating to Title VII, Title IX and employment matters, including regulations or guidance issued by the Department of Labor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other similar agencies.

Responsibilities:

Employee Relations

• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with leaders to ensure alignment of HR priorities and effective integration of programs and services.
• Designs, implements and coordinates performance management practices.
• Leads training relating to employee relations, HR related compliance, and performance management issues.
• Creates and oversees performance management programs and related training and systems.
• Provides analysis of legislation and regulations and makes recommendations to Interim CHRO regarding policy and practice.
• Develops and maintains policies relating to all local, state and federal employment laws and ensure policies remain up to date and are easily accessible and properly administered.
• In collaboration with Title IX Coordinator and Director of Equal Opportunity, ensures the timely completion of Unions response to, and investigation of, complaints pursuant to anti-discrimination laws and policies; including those involving sexual harassment and sexual misconduct and including, but not limited to, forms of protected class harassment and discrimination, FMLA and ADA.
• Provides information and guidance to faculty and staff relating to employee relations, performance matters, complaints or compliance investigations.

Learning & Development

• Provides overall leadership and support in the development of all College employees.
• Provides guidance to managers and employees on professional development.
• Researches, designs, develops and delivers in-person and eLearning training courses and programs, including oversight of state and federal compliance training.
• Builds career path model and strategy to provide an understanding of career opportunities with the College.
• Conducts needs analyses and map plan to meet learning needs across campus.
• Performs professional and personal development services such as coaching, mentoring, and performance consulting.
• Develops, initiates and maintains effective pipeline programs for workforce retention, promotion and succession planning.

We offer exceptional benefits including, but not limited to the following:

• Generous Vacation, Sick and Personal Time
• Winter Recess Break in Addition to Paid Holidays
• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision Insurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts for On-Campus Wellness Programs
• Employee Scholarships toward Certifications, Seminars, Training and Professional Development
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Assistance Program for Employee, Spouse and/or Dependents

Note: All new hires of Union College are subject to a thorough education, work experience, and criminal history background check.

Union College

Officially chartered in 1795, Union College is the fifth oldest liberal arts college in the country. Located in the Capital District of New York State, Union is a highly selective residential and undergraduate college, home to 2,200 students and 220 faculty, and offering 44 majors. Union was the first liberal arts college to rethink the traditional liberal arts education and adopt an engineering curriculum. That pioneering approach continues today with an education that encourages students to work beyond the limits of disciplinary boundaries, allowing them to think globally and lead innovatively in a world where problem solving requires breadth across humanities, arts, social sciences, science, and engineering.

Diversity at Union College

Union College is an equal opportunity employer and strongly committed to student and workforce diversity. Increasing diversity on campus is a critical priority for Union, one that is integral to our mission of preparing students for a globally interconnected world. Union provides a blend of intellectual, social and cultural opportunities to facilitate the integrated academic, social and personal development of a diverse community. We value and are committed to a host of diverse populations and cultures including, but not limited to, those based on race, religion, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin and veteran status. Union College is committed to providing access and will provide reasonable accommodation in its application process to individuals with disabilities that request such accommodations.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Union College will not discriminate in the recruitment or selection of faculty and employees, or in any other area of employment, on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and veteran status. In this regard, opportunities for advancement will be made available without bias. The College is also subject to state and federal laws, supports efforts to attract and retain fully qualified women and other minority group members for faculty and other positions. Union College will comply with the letter and intent of all State and Federal laws and applicable orders pursuant to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action.

Keywords: Union College, Schenectady , Director Employee Relations, Other , Schenectady, New York