Employee Relations Business Partner, Public Safety

Vanderbilt University • Nashville, TN

10d

About The Position

The Employee Relations Business Partner for Public Safety is integral in managing employee relations within a dynamic police department workforce, consisting of both sworn and non-sworn officers, amounting to over 400 full-time employees. This role is a strategic resource equipped to handle the complexities inherent in such diverse staffing, particularly focusing on the administration of university policies and resolving employee and labor relations issues through specialized conflict resolution strategies. The Employee Relations Business Partner ensures adherence to the department's general orders, while upholding performance management and disciplinary processes, and developing and implementing departmental procedures, guidelines, and training programs. As a subject matter expert, this position provides guidance on employee relations, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and other core university policies, actively supporting a high-volume and high-performance work environment, considering the unique challenges of law enforcement personnel and department-specific directives. Vanderbilt University Public Safety (VUPS) is led by the Office of the Chief of Police in the Division of Administration. VUPS is a dedicated team of over 400 professionals united by a shared commitment to fostering a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all in the Vanderbilt community, as well as the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Organized into several specialized units, our department includes commissioned officers, security professionals, and skilled administrative staff, all working collaboratively to uphold the highest standards of community-based policing. This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities and reports administratively and functionally to the Public Safety Human Resources Director.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 years in HR management with a strong emphasis on employee relations, including handling labor relations and performance management; experience in a law enforcement environment preferred.
• Strong communication skills for effective relationship-building within the organization.
• Proven capacity to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and expertise.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems, particularly Oracle Cloud HCM, and advanced Microsoft Office Suite proficiency.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Strong organizational skills and a keen eye for detail.
• Demonstrated ability to exceed expectations in contributing to team success.

Nice To Haves

• HR Certification (e.g., PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP)
• experience in a law enforcement environment

Responsibilities

• Managing employee relations within a dynamic police department workforce.
• Administering university policies.
• Resolving employee and labor relations issues through specialized conflict resolution strategies.
• Ensuring adherence to the department's general orders.
• Upholding performance management and disciplinary processes.
• Developing and implementing departmental procedures, guidelines, and training programs.
• Providing guidance on employee relations, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and other core university policies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees