Internal Only Director of Employee Relations

University of Kansas•Lawrence, KS

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Kansas seeks an experienced, collaborative, and strategic Director of Employee Relations to lead employee relations programs and initiatives across all KU campuses. This One KU position will be a key member of the Human Resources leadership team, and will serve as a trusted advisor to university leaders, providing expertise in employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, conflict resolution, policy interpretation, and organizational effectiveness. The leader partners with campus leadership, Human Resources colleagues, affiliated organizations, and the Office of General Counsel to develop and implement programs that foster a positive, respectful, and high-performing workplace culture. This role leads efforts to strengthen employee engagement, support leadership effectiveness, ensure compliance, and enhance the overall employee experience. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, relationship builder, and leader who combines sound judgment, empathy, confidentiality and business acumen to advance KU's mission and support faculty and staff success. This position is open to internal University of Kansas employees only (all campuses eligible). We are not accepting applications from external candidates at this time. To apply for the opening, in addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position: Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications. Resume. List of three (3) professional references. Only complete applications will be considered. Deadline line for internal applications will be Sunday, August 2. Review will begin the following day . Position Requirements This position will be working on site at both the Lawrence and KUMC campuses

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Psychology, Labor Relations, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
Seven years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, including at least three years of specialized employee relations experience.
Three years of experience conducting workplace investigations involving employment-related complaints or policy violations.
Three years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
Experience interpreting and applying employment laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Experience advising managers and organizational leaders on employee relations matters.
Ability to build effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders as demonstrated by work history.
Experience preparing and presenting reports, findings, and recommendations.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position.
The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Labor Relations, Higher Education Administration, or related field.
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or other advanced HR certification.
Experience in higher education, healthcare, public sector, or another complex organization.
Experience leading complex workplace investigations and presenting findings and recommendations.
Experience advising and or coaching senior leaders on employee relations and organizational effectiveness.
Experience supervising and developing professional staff.
Experience working in a unionized organization with responsibility for administering multiple collective bargaining agreements, interpreting contract language, advising leaders on contractual requirements, managing labor relations processes, and ensuring consistent application of negotiated terms and conditions of employment.
Experience developing and implementing HR policies, programs, and procedures.
Experience using workforce metrics and analytics to support decision-making.
Experience designing, developing, and delivering training programs for supervisors, managers, and employees on employee relations topics

Responsibilities

Lead the University's employee relations function across all KU campuses, ensuring consistent practices aligned with institutional goals, values, and legal requirements.
Develop and implement employee relations strategies, programs, policies, and initiatives that support employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, and workplace culture.
Partner with HR leadership and campus stakeholders to identify and address workforce challenges and opportunities.
Analyze workforce trends, metrics, and organizational data to inform decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
Advise administrators, managers, and supervisors on employee relations matters, including performance management, corrective action, conflict resolution, policy interpretation, and workplace concerns.
Lead the resolution of complex employee issues, including disciplinary actions, performance concerns, separations, and non-renewals.
Direct and conduct complex workplace investigations involving policy violations, misconduct allegations, and other sensitive employment matters.
Facilitate conflict resolution and mediation efforts to improve workplace relationships and outcomes.
Represent the University in disciplinary hearings, appeals, grievances and other employment-related proceedings.
Partner with the Office of General Counsel to assess risk, ensure compliance, and develop proactive employment strategies.
Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development for Employee Relations staff.
Oversee staffing, workload/caseload management, service delivery, and operational effectiveness.
Establish performance expectations and accountability measures to ensure responsive, accurate, and high-quality services.
Review and advise on complex employee relations matters and employment actions.
Promote continuous improvement in processes, technology, and service delivery.
Lead the University's performance management program and annual review process.
Oversee performance management systems, processes, reporting, training, and continuous improvement efforts.
Partner with campus stakeholders to promote effective performance management practices and employee development.
Develop and deliver employee relations, leadership, and supervisory training programs.
Create resources and communication tools that promote employee development, compliance, and management best practices.
Support onboarding and development initiatives for supervisors and employees.
Collaborate with campus partners to promote employee relations and workforce development initiatives.
Participate in labor-management discussions and represent Human Resources in labor relations activities, as assigned.
Lead the development, review, and implementation of employee relations policies and procedures.
Monitor employment law developments and recommend policy or program changes as needed.
Serve as a subject matter expert on employment-related policies, compliance requirements, and workplace practices.
Partner with University stakeholders to ensure consistent policy interpretation and application.