Employee Relations Consultant - Open Rank

University of Massachusetts Medical School•Worcester, MA

6d•$85,000 - $125,000

About The Position

This role involves providing guidance, support, and expertise in employee and labor relations matters. Key responsibilities include managing discipline, coaching, performance management, HR policy interpretation, and collective bargaining agreement application. The objective is to ensure legal compliance and adherence to UMass Chan policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements in a consistent, objective, and fair manner. The position provides guidance to managers and employees, investigates complaints, makes recommendations, and works to minimize liability. Collaboration with other HR team members on organizational needs and HR strategy implementation (e.g., organizational behavior, change management, policy implementation) is also a key aspect. The role is considered a driver of HR functional excellence and continuous process improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
3-5 years of employee relations experience.
1-3 years of labor relations experience.
Ability to provide credible HR guidance to and influence management at all levels.
Proven experience coaching and counseling all levels of staff on a wide variety of issues, and a thorough understanding of employment law.
Excellent organizational skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrates credibility and integrity in communications.
Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution, mediation, facilitation.
Demonstrated team player.
Strong customer focus.
Excellent interpersonal skills in order to successfully interface at all levels of the organization.
Computer skills in MS office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), Peoplesoft and HRIS.
Strong business acumen and a working knowledge of multiple HR disciplines.
Analytical and problem-solving skills including the ability to analyze data, understand trends, develop recommendations.
Ability to travel between business locations.
7 years of employee relations experience.
Experienced in the interpretation and application of state and federal employment laws & regulations, including but not limited to, the Family Medical Leave Act, MA Paid Family Medical Leave law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the MA Wage Act, state and federal anti – discrimination statutes.

Nice To Haves

Public sector or higher education labor relations experience
PHR or SPHR certification
Lean experience a plus
Prior experience in a lead role or with facilitating large complex projects
Prior experience with electronic case management systems

Responsibilities

Performs contract administration and interpretation, grievance processing, preparation of disciplinary action, participation in labor-management committees, impact bargaining sessions, and training.
Coaches and counsels management and staff on the performance management process.
Interprets and applies UMass Chan policies and procedures, applicable federal and state laws and regulations to decisions impacting employer-employee relations.
Proactively minimizes organizational exposure by ensuring consistent application and interpretation of contractual provisions and related human resources policies.
Partners with and serves as a resource to employees and managers to promote and maintain positive employee and labor relations.
Develops and maintains good working relationships with UMass Chan’ labor representatives.
Provides managers with expert technical assistance, problem-solving, letter writing and early intervention with labor relations/employee relations issues.
Manages and resolves sensitive and complex employee & labor relations matters.
Administration of various meetings and hearings; scheduling, preparing for and participating in hearings and arbitrations; communication and correspondence with unions, UMass Chan leaders, the University of Massachusetts, UMass Chan’s clinical partners and other Labor & Employee Relations Consultants.
Conducts investigations regarding potential misconduct and violations of UMass Chan policy.
Writes comprehensive fact-finding reports on investigative findings.
Participates in employee training programs as required.
Ensures employee & labor relations case management systems are accurate and complete.
Partners/collaborates with other HR centers of excellence to deliver optimal service to the customer.
Prepares proposals, counter proposals, costing information and other information and documentation necessary for contract negotiations and participate in negotiations.
Investigates and settles grievances under established grievance procedure.
Prepares or assist in the preparation of briefs for arbitration and mediation cases and conduct presentations at hearings as needed.
Facilitates the creation of settlement agreements to include Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) on behalf of UMass Chan.
Collects, analyzes and summarizes data and trends.
Lead assigned major/complex projects in a variety of employee relations-related areas.
Provides direction and guidance to assigned staff and consultants for the satisfactory performance of projects.
Provides mentoring to Employee Relations Consultants and other staff including providing input to reviews, training and developing staff.
Maintain relationships with managers to proactively identify, manage and resolve employee relations concerns.
Manage and resolve employee relations matters.
Propose resolutions to complex and highly sensitive employee relations issues.
Write comprehensive fact finding reports on completed investigations.
Advise and influence all levels of management regarding resolution employee relations decisions.
Coach and counsel management and staff on the performance management process.
Ensure consistency, communication and collaboration in a matrixed environment.
Conduct exit interviews.
Uses HR employee relations metrics to identify trends, root causes and propose proactive solutions, programs and best practices in support of the HR strategy.
Use HR employee relations metrics to determine trends and develop proactive strategies to minimize employee relations issues.
Assists Director of Employee Relations in preparing reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing data and trends.
Proactively minimize legal risk by ensuring client’s comply with UMass Chan S policies and procedures.
Ensure employee relations tracking systems are accurate and complete.
Supports and promotes the HR mission.
Collaborate with HR services to develop and deliver solutions to support client groups.
Partners/collaborates with other HR functions to deliver excellent service to the customer.
Perform other duties as assigned.