Academic Labor & Employee Relations Specialist

University of California, Irvine•Irvine, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

UC Irvine is seeking an Academic Labor & Employee Relations Specialist to join their team. This role is crucial in enhancing the relationship between the University and campus employees by providing direction and guidance on unions, policies, and agreements. The specialist will work closely with managers and supervisors to ensure the correct application of policies, procedures, and laws in managing UCI's diverse workforce. The position involves providing consultation and recommendations to academic leadership on matters such as performance management, compliance, conflict management, and grievance resolution for both represented and non-represented academic appointees. The specialist will act as a technical leader, handling diverse and complex labor and employee relations matters, leading critical projects, and developing internal and external contacts. Responsibilities include resolving issues, facilitating meetings with union representatives, identifying corrective actions, assisting with disciplinary actions, and updating stakeholders. The role also ensures compliance with academic personnel policy, labor agreements, and employee/labor relations laws, and handles sensitive complaints including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The specialist will coordinate campus responses to unions and outside legal counsel, potentially presenting the University's position at grievance and arbitration hearings, preparing written responses, and facilitating dispute settlements. The position requires minimal direction and may involve leading other professionals.

Requirements

Advanced analytical skills to conduct analysis and develop recommendations.
Organization and problem-solving skills.
Advanced knowledge of organizational policies and procedures.
Advanced knowledge of functional area and understanding of how work impacts other areas.
Advanced knowledge of labor/employment law and principles/techniques of labor negotiations.
Strong knowledge of dispute resolution and grievance procedures.
Expert knowledge of administering and ensuring adherence to labor/union contracts.
Advanced knowledge of applicable state and federal laws and court decisions regarding employment related matters.
Advanced knowledge of other areas in human resources for academic personnel.
Capability of developing, interpreting, implementing and administering organization-wide academic personnel policies and processes.
Advanced level skills to bargain and represent the university's interests effectively.
Demonstrated skills to provide guidance to managers and employees on complex and significant labor and employee relations issues.
Demonstrated skills and abilities in leading management in conflict and change management.
Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment in responding to employee and labor relations related requests.
Understanding of principles related to management, supervision and leadership.
Demonstrated success in administering performance management systems and mentoring managers on performance evaluation.
Advanced knowledge of principles of advocacy.
Specialized knowledge within labor relations field.
Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor other labor relations professionals.
Demonstrated ability to handle extremely difficult or volatile situations/individuals effectively.
Written, verbal and presentation skills for communicating complex information to managers.
Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
Juris Doctorate.
Minimum 5 years in field of labor and employee relations with progressive responsibilities with bachelor’s degree; minimum 3 years in field of labor and employee relations with progressive responsibilities with master’s degree or juris doctrate.
Must be able to provide proof of work authorization.

Nice To Haves

Expert knowledge of systemwide, campus and / or other postsecondary academic institution or medical center policies and procedures.
Expert knowledge of functional area and understands how work impacts other areas in Academic Personnel and the system.
Master's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field.
Employee and labor relations experience in a large, complex academic and health sciences setting, preferably within the University of California.

Responsibilities

Provide direction and guidance on unions, policies, and agreements.
Work closely with managers and supervisors to ensure correct application of policies, procedures, and laws.
Provide consultation and recommendations to academic leadership on strategic decision-making.
Address matters including performance management, compliance, conflict management, and grievance resolution.
Analyze factors and develop solutions for diverse and complex labor and employee relations matters.
Lead employee and labor relations projects critical to the organization.
Develop internal and external contacts and determine methods and procedures on new assignments.
Resolve all levels of employee and labor relations issues.
Facilitate meetings with union representatives, employees, and management to resolve problems.
Identify issues requiring corrective action and provide alternatives for resolution.
Assist with formal documentation of disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal.
Make necessary referrals and obtain required approvals.
Regularly update stakeholders.
Ensure UCI’s compliance with academic personnel policy and procedure, labor agreements, and employee/labor relations laws.
Work effectively with people from diverse cultures.
Collaborate with systemwide and campus stakeholder offices.
Review and respond to complex and sensitive complaints and information requests, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, abusive conduct, and EEOC.
Coordinate campus response and address requests for information from unions and outside legal counsel in preparation of litigation, grievance proceedings, or adjudication.
Present the University’s position at grievance and arbitration hearings.
Prepare written responses, analyses, and recommendations.
Write responses for University management.
Assist hearing officers or committees with the administrative/grievance review process.
Facilitate settlement of disputes both formally and informally.
Negotiate and finalize written settlement agreements.
Provide subject matter expertise and expert testimony at depositions, hearings, adjudication proceedings, grievance hearings, and litigation.
Demonstrate good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.
Prioritize work assignments, adapt to changing priorities, and conduct complex and varied analyses and develop resulting recommendations.