Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs and Labor Relations

Maryland Connect • Hitchins, KY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Frostburg State University is a public comprehensive university committed to academic excellence, innovative teaching and scholarship, and the well-being of its faculty and academic workforce. Through shared governance and collaborative labor relations, the institution seeks to foster a professional environment that supports faculty success, institutional effectiveness, and student achievement. The Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs and Labor Relations serves as a senior leadership position within the Office of the Provost and plays a central role in advancing the institution’s academic mission through effective faculty administration, equitable personnel practices, and constructive labor-management relations. Reporting to the Provost, the Assistant Provost provides strategic oversight and operational leadership for faculty lifecycle processes, including appointment, reappointment, tenure, promotion, and non‑tenure‑track employment. The role also serves as an institutional representative for labor relations matters involving faculty and academic staff, including collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance resolution, and compliance with labor agreements and applicable laws. The Assistant Provost works collaboratively with faculty leadership, human resources, legal counsel, academic administrators, and union representatives to promote a fair, transparent, and legally sound faculty employment environment.

Requirements

• Earned Master's or Professional Degree (MBA, JD, etc.) from an accredited institution.
• Substantial experience in higher education administration, faculty affairs, labor relations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of faculty personnel systems, shared governance, and academic culture.
• Experience with collective bargaining, contract interpretation, and grievance resolution in a unionized environment.
• Strong understanding of employment law as it applies to higher education.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with integrity and sound judgment.

Nice To Haves

• Earned terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
• Prior service in a provost’s office, faculty affairs office, or academic labor relations role.
• Experience working in a public higher education or multi‑bargaining‑unit environment.
• Leadership experience supervising professional staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for faculty appointments, reappointments, tenure, promotion, post‑tenure review, and contract renewal processes.
• Develop, interpret, and ensure consistent application of faculty policies, procedures, and handbooks across academic units.
• Advise the Provost, deans, and department chairs on faculty personnel matters, performance management, and risk mitigation.
• Support equitable workload, evaluation, and advancement practices for tenure‑track and non‑tenure‑track faculty.
• Collaborate on faculty development, mentoring, and retention initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.
• Serve as the chief academic officer’s designee for faculty labor relations.
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations with faculty unions or associations, in coordination with legal counsel and HR leadership.
• Oversee interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements.
• Manage and resolve grievances, disputes, and arbitration matters related to faculty employment.
• Maintain constructive, collaborative relationships with union leadership and faculty governance bodies.
• Ensure institutional compliance with labor laws, accreditation standards, and internal policies affecting faculty employment.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments impacting faculty affairs and labor relations.
• Partner with the Office of General Counsel and Human Resources on investigations, disciplinary matters, and complex personnel cases.
• Develop training and guidance for academic leaders on faculty policies, labor agreements, and best practices.
• Contribute to strategic planning related to faculty workforce composition, hiring models, and instructional capacity.
• Support shared governance and effective communication between administration and faculty leadership.
• Serve on institutional committees as assigned by the Provost.
• Prepare reports, analyses, and recommendations for senior leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive and commensurate with experience ($125,000 - $140,000)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior