Workforce Relations Specialist

University of California, Irvine•Irvine, CA

9h•Onsite

About The Position

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. UCI Human Resources (HR) serves the UCI enterprise in three distinct business units: Health (Academic Hospitals and Community Network), College of Health Sciences, and Main Campus. UCI HR's vision is to empower people to drive a culture of innovation, learning, and service that requires us to enable the success of individuals within the UCI community and those who aspire to join. The HR enterprise consists of the Partnership for Strategy and Innovation (Partnership), People Services, Health HR, Campus HR, and the Office of the Senior Vice President and Vice Chancellor, Human Resources. The Partnership serves as a strategic center responsible for planning and implementing strategic initiatives across the entire UCI HR enterprise. People Services is a trusted partner in providing administrative support functions that allow the UCI community to focus on their core functions to accomplish the UCI mission of teaching, research, public service, and patient care. This Workforce Relations Specialist role reports to the Senior Director, Workforce Relations, and provides essential support to the broader Workforce Relations team in delivering consistent, high-quality labor and employee relations services across the UCI enterprise. This role contributes to the fair and consistent application of HR policies and procedures and supports operational efficiency within the Workforce Relations unit.

Requirements

Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills to conduct analysis and develop recommendations.
Thorough knowledge of other areas of HR.
Thorough knowledge of organizational policies and procedures; knowledge of functional area and understands how work impacts other areas.
Thorough knowledge of union / labor contracts.
Thorough knowledge of applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
Thorough knowledge of employee relations practices and programs.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrated experience with conflict resolution.
Demonstrated ability to handle very difficult or volatile situations / individuals effectively.
Experience providing employee relations related support to assigned client groups.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, and reporting to support business decisions.
Demonstrated experience with applying employee relations specific concepts.
Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
3+ years relevant experience performing related employee and/or labor relations functions in a complex organization.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a higher education or healthcare institution.
Experience in project management and/or applying lean process improvement methodologies.
Current PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP Certification
Association of Workplace Investigators Certification

Responsibilities

Manages the union representation petition process, including accretions and new unit petitions. Responsibilities may include intake, tracking, communications, identifying statutory exclusions, and delivering related training to internal stakeholders.
Partners with HR teams and enterprise stakeholders to ensure the petition process is administered accurately, consistently, timely, and in accordance with applicable legal and procedural requirements.
Serves as a primary coordinator for requests for information (RFI) from unions and public records requests, key stakeholders to gather, compile, and respond to requests in compliance with applicable timelines and legal requirements.
May conduct workplace investigations, including intake, fact-finding, and documentation, in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
Supports the Workforce Relations investigations team by assisting with accurate and up-to-date case data entries within the ServiceNow platform.
Conducts due process (Skelly) hearings as assigned.
Supports Workforce Relations Consultants with collective bargaining activities, including preparation, research, data gathering, and coordination efforts as needed.
May assist with drafting union notices in compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements and legal requirements.
May participate in strike planning and provide onsite support activities.
Cultivates strong, collaborative relationships with HR colleagues and organizational clients and serves as a reliable resource for assigned functional areas.
Applies employee relations expertise to address and resolve questions, concerns, and workplace matters for a diverse group of employees in creative and effective ways.
Performs other related duties as assigned