Director of Employee Experience - Human Resources Specialist 3

Metropolitan State University • Saint Paul, MN

1d

About The Position

The Director of Employee Experience provides strategic leadership in shaping a high-performing, inclusive and engaged workforce across a complex, unionized, university environment. Reporting to the Campus Human Resources Officer, this role partners closely with executive leaders, deans, and supervisors to strengthen leadership capability, reinforce accountability for results, and embed a positive and forward-looking institutional culture. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to leadership teams, supporting them in setting clear expectations, addressing performance challenges constructively. This role helps to create work environments where employees feel supported, valued, and aligned, with the university’s missions, values, and strategic priorities. This role offers subject matter expertise and strategic HR leadership in areas such as employee/labor relations, classification, compensation/benefits, and performance management. The incumbent supports administrators, faculty, and staff in fostering a positive workplace culture while ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, Minnesota State policies, and federal/state laws. This position actively participates in the creation of processes and programs, including change initiatives and continuous improvement measures aligned with university strategic priorities. Additionally, the Director of Employee Experience provides team leadership and training to HR colleagues in the areas of contract interpretation, project management, and transactional processes. The Director of Employee Experience communicates university strategies, advises on personnel policies, and conducts informational meetings to ensure compliance. Additionally, they guide program managers on interpreting collective bargaining agreements to maintain consistent application and provide labor contract administration training. This is a confidential role, as defined by M.S. 13.37. It involves accessing labor relations information, supporting management in labor matters, assisting in strike planning, and researching classification and compensation data for salary equity proposals in collective bargaining negotiations. In collaboration with the Campus Human Resources Officer, HR Partners, labor relations, and campus stakeholders, the Director of Employee Experience leads initiatives that enhance workplace climate, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness while respecting collective bargaining agreements and shared governance. This role develops and implements strategies, tools, and practices that support supervisors in managing performance, navigating complex employee relations matters, and leading through change. The Director also provides oversight and guidance for leave management processes, ensuring compliance, consistency, and a supportive employee experience. Through data-informed decision-making, continuous improvement, and a strong-equity centered approach, the Director advances a culture of trust, accountability, and high performance that enables the university community to thrive.

Requirements

• Three years Human Resources Professional experience with knowledge of various laws relating to human resources management including, but not limited to, American with Disabilities Act, employment law, Fair Labor Standards Act, Worker’s Compensation, and Family Medical Leave Act, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree may substitute for 18 months of experience; Bachelor’s degree may substitute for one year of experience; Associate’s degree may substitute for six months of experience.
• Workplace investigations skills and demonstrated experience in mediating disputes and facilitate constructive solutions.
• Effective communication skills sufficient to provide prompt, courteous, and accurate information, communication, and service to diverse populations.
• Demonstrated organizational skills to prioritize work, initiate actions to meet deadlines, and complete all aspects of assignments under limited supervision.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
• Preferred 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, employee experience, organizational development, or employee relations within a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to handle complex and sensitive employee relations issues with sound judgement, discretion, and professionalism.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and consulting skills, with the ability to influence without authority and build trust across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging, and the ability to integrate these principles into employee experience and organizational culture initiatives.
• Experience designing and implementing leadership development, supervisor training, or manager toolkits focused on performance, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Demonstrated success leading culture change or employee experience initiatives across multiple units, departments, or bargaining groups.
• Strong facilitation and coaching skills, with experience supporting leaders through organizational change, conflict, or transformation.
• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills sufficient to audit data and identify and correct errors.
• Ability to maintain high ethical standards and upholding confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.
• Professional HR certification such as PHR, SHRM-CP, or other professional designations.

Benefits

• Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc.
• We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees