Labor Relations Advisor

American University • Washington, DC

5d • $85,000 - $95,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Under the direction of the Director of Labor Relations, assists with the administration of the University’s labor relations program for staff bargaining units for the University. Program activities include coordination and negotiation of collective bargaining agreements; administering employee grievance program to include coordination of grievance meetings and drafting grievances responses, addressing contract administration and interpretation questions for partners throughout the University; providing contract compliance training for University employees, staffing labor-management forums, compiling and disseminating data consistent with contractual and legal obligations, and providing employee relations support on conduct and performance matters involving union employees. The Labor Relations Advisor is an advisor to academic and administrative departments on routine and complex labor relations matters.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience.
• At least 2 years of professional experience in collective bargaining and labor relations activities.
• Experience must include contract administration, grievance processing, performance management and disciplinary activities, as well as facilitating on-going communication and working relationships with employee representative organizations and other college stakeholders.
• Knowledge of: Principles and practices of employee and labor relations, collective bargaining, and employment laws; Human Resources policies and practices, Labor-management principles, Program development and administration principles and practices.
• Skill in: Practical application of collective bargaining and labor and employment laws; Effective written and oral communications, listening, presentation, group facilitation; influencing and negotiations; Effective use of mediation and conflict resolution techniques; Use of technology tools to, analyze data, create reports and conduct training and presentations, use of spreadsheet applications.
• Coordinating activities with other internal departments and/or external agencies; Effective project and time management.
• Ability to: Reconcile labor relations issues in the context of both existing labor agreements and desired future states of labor and employee relations Work within a diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of university community; Support multiple complex projects concurrently.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advises and trains management officials and other University partners on routine and complex labor relations matters, including questions of contractual compliance, , concerns related to performance issues and disciplinary actions involving union employees.
• Advises and assists managers in identifying labor relations issues, providing technical expertise and strategic guidance, and recommending appropriate course of action.
• Responds to Workday help desk tickets involving labor relations matters.
• Assist the university’s team in contract negotiations including coordination of bargaining meetings.
• Maintains notes at bargaining sessions and maintains records of bargaining and bargaining proposals.
• Prepares bargaining proposals and counterproposals, serving as participating bargaining team member.
• Serves as liaison with Provost, other HR offices, and other University partners to promote alignment between bargaining team and AU stakeholders.
• Supporting administration of employee grievance procedure, arbitration proceedings, and unfair labor practice charges.
• Investigates grievance allegations, sets up grievance meetings with union, drafts and issues grievance responses.
• Provide employee relations support on matters involving union employees including investigations, disciplinary actions, and performance improvement measures.
• Conducts investigations in response to union and employee allegations of management wrongdoing.
• Reviews disciplinary actions including terminations and performance improvement actions involving union employees.
• Advises on workplace policies involving union employees including in areas such as hybrid work, work schedules, leave, and performance management.
• Manage administration of union dues, review remittance reports, make entries in workday, refer to payroll.
• Manage bargaining unit classification in workday including review of all job changes including new hires and categorizing employees based on bargaining unit eligibility and bargaining unit status.
• Compile and disseminate data to unions consistent with contract and law, including new employee lists, current employee rosters, orientation participants, and changes to bargaining unit status.

Benefits

• AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite.

What This Job Offers

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