Director Labor Relations

Oversees the labor relations function within Human Resources. Provides timely and competent legal advice to the University administration with regard to labor relations issues.

• Serves as a member of the human resources management team, including policy development and administration and legal compliance with internal and external regulations and policies. Advises and makes recommendations to the associate vice president for human resources/chief human resources officer and other University officials regarding human resource issues.
• Negotiates and administers collective bargaining agreements between the University and its non-instructional unionized staff members.
• Directs activities of contract negotiation teams. Collaborates with human resources staff, operating unit directors and relevant administrative departments in developing bargaining strategy, establishing protocols and implementing changes to contract language.
• Responds to bargaining-unit grievances, including attending hearings, conducting investigations, negotiating settlements, writing grievance answers, participating in arbitration hearings and coordinating implementation of grievance settlements and arbitration decisions.
• Provides leadership to departments staffed with bargaining unit members in the administration of collective bargaining agreements and University policy to ensure consistency within and across departments.
• Provides guidance to human resources representatives and assistants regarding labor relations matters, including grievance processing and ongoing contract administration.
• Delivers training to supervisory staff concerning contract interpretation and administration, including grievance processing and disciplinary action.
• Acts as a liaison between the University and unions representing bargaining unit members with respect to conditions of employment, fringe benefits, work assignments and related matters.

Minimum qualifications based upon job documentation and industry best practices. Any current employees not meeting these qualifications will be grandfathered until they move to a different job.

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited institution.

• Five years' relevant experience.
• Supervisory or lead experience.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan.

• Higher education or public sector labor relations experience.

Office or other indoor work with minimal physical demands such as occasionally lifting or moving materials less than 25 pounds.

Work is generally performed in a well-lit, temperature-controlled indoor environment with occasional exposure to the outdoors or any number of elements.

Revised: 2019-07-01