Director, Employee & Labor Relations

Fashion Institute of Technology; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plans

Health care plan

4-day Summer Workweek

Tuition exemption

PSLF eligibility

Job summary

The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY seeks a Director of Employee & Labor Relations to lead investigations, enforce the CBA, and advise college leadership on employment matters. This role drives policy interpretation, handles grievances, and collaborates with legal and benefits teams.

The position partners with the HR team to ensure compliance with laws and college policies, while supporting professional development through FIT’s Center for Professional Development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, HR, labor studies, psychology/organization development, or related field.
• A minimum of five years' experience in HR, LR, or related unit in a unionized environment.
• Strong knowledge of CBA interpretation and compliance with college policies.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply the CBA and college policies for all employment-related matters.
• Lead investigations into employee misconduct and prepare confidential reports with recommendations.
• Coordinate disciplinary processes and advise leadership on appropriate actions.
• Plan impartial investigations and maintain records of complaints, investigations, and grievances.

Skills

Labor relations

Conflict resolution

Policy interpretation

Discretion & confidentiality

Communication skills

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, HR, labor studies, psychology/organization development, or related field

Master's degree in labor or employee relations / HR / higher education administration

Tools

HRIS

Database applications

Excel & Word

Job description

Location: New York, NY Category: Professional / Administrator Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Tue Sep 22 2026 Job Description:

The Director of Employee & Labor Relations supports the HR team in implementing and reviewing best practices for responding to employee-related and contractual matters. This position plays a key role in managing internal employee and labor relations complaints, investigations, union grievances, disciplinary matters and ensuring compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and college policies and procedures. The position provides proactive advice and recommendations for appropriate courses of action involving all college employees and facilitates the resolution of employee matters and participates in special projects as needed.

Human Resource Administration

• Work with HR leadership to interpret and apply CBA and college policies and procedures for all employment-related matters.
• Liaise with legal, HR leadership and the Benefits Team regarding ADA Accommodations.
• Manage the review of allegations and complaints of employee misconduct, leading investigations to determine if the allegations have been substantiated, providing confidential reports on investigations with recommendations to leadership for review on disciplinary actions for any substantiated misconduct.
• Conduct research and gather information in preparation for internal labor-management meetings; schedule meetings and provide follow-up on meeting outcomes.
• Identify staff and administrator training and development needs and collaborate on implementation through the Center for Professional Development @ FIT.
• Serve on various policy-making committees; participate in the formulation of policy.

Employee Relations

• Develop and maintain positive relationships to ensure collaborative problem-solving and goal achievement.
• Assist supervisors with Performance Improvement Plans (PIP), ensuring all the appropriate supporting documentation is collected and compiled.
• Coordinate the disciplinary process which may include but not limited to providing guidance to leadership and employees on matters involving performance, behavior, conflict prevention and dispute resolution
• Prepare and draft charges and specifications for disciplinary actions, facilitate disciplinary charge meetings
• Consult with and advise supervisors regarding complex, sensitive, and confidential workplace issues, including work performance issues, complaints, fitness-for-duty, conduct, and disciplinary issues.
• Plan, organize, and conduct impartial, thorough investigations to timely address/remedy sensitive employee issues/complaints. Analyze situations and recommend the most appropriate action(s) for resolution.
• Review requests for reevaluation of bargaining and non-bargaining positions in accordance with CBA procedures and in collaboration with the UCE of FIT; perform job analysis to determine appropriate salary schedule placement and make recommendations to the HR Vice President.
• Responsible for maintaining records and databases (complaints, investigations, grievances, and other related matters).

Contract and Grievance Administration

• Provide advice, information, guidance, and assistance in interpreting, implementing, and administrating the CBA.
• Plan, organize, and conduct research for negotiations, grievances, arbitration, and other related proceedings.
• Prepare clear and succinct reports, correspondence, and investigation documents.
• Facilitate joint labor-management meetings including scheduling, soliciting discussion items, compiling and distributing agendas, and maintaining accurate documentation of all discussion, action items, and memorandums of understanding.
• Develop options for resolution of issues and settlement alternatives instead of proceeding to arbitration; or facilitate all appeals/hearings according to the CBA.

Collective Bargaining

- Participates in negotiations as required.

Legal Matters and Regulatory Compliance

• Support leadership in ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations as applicable.
• Serve as liaison to the Offices of Compliance and Title IX to support the development, implementation, and compliance with employment-related college policies and procedures.
• Consult with legal counsel for responses to complaints and third-party proceedings, including Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), New York State or New York City agencies.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, labor studies, psychology/organization development, or related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years' experience in HR, LR, or related unit in a unionized environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in labor or employee relations, human resources, higher education administration, or other related field.
• Additional training and certification in employment law.
• Experience in human resource management and supervision.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• In-depth understanding of all aspects of employment and human resources-related laws, regulations, policies, principles, concepts, and practices, including Title VII, ADA, ADAA, and FMLA.
• Comprehensive and profound understanding of general principles, practices, and trends of labor-management relations, public administration, human resources, and higher education.
• Ability to interpret and implement appropriate measures to ensure compliance with relevant labor laws, including federal, state, and local labor employment and wage and hours laws.
• Ability to perform research and data collection, evaluate information, and construct clear summaries and reports that communicate findings.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong conflict resolution skills with the ability to make effective decisions and achieve desired results.
• Ability to handle stressful and sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to effectively work independently as well as a collaborator in a diverse teamwork environment.
• Ability to successfully interpret and apply collective bargaining agreement language.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of discretion and confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products; specifically, Word, Excel and Database applications as well as HRIS and web-based software solutions.

Additional Information

Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.

Salary

Salary: $140,000 - $150,000 per year; commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Work Schedule

Days/Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm, primarily in person (ability to work remotely one day per week); work schedule subject to change based on needs of the department.

Benefits

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures.

• Retirement Plans
• Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• FIT Tuition Exemption Program
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holidays)
• 4-day Summer Workweek
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage.

Pay Equity by State Employers

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people from a range of backgrounds. FIT is firmly committed to creating a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability. The FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, uniformed service, height, weight, any lawful source of income, status as a victim of domestic violence or as a victim of sex offenses or stalking, whether children are, may be or would be residing with a person or conviction or arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Chief Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212.217.3360.

Annual Security Report

The safety and well-being of FIT's students, faculty, staff, and visitors is of paramount importance. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, FIT publishes an annual report containing crime statistics and statements of security policy, accessible here: Safety Statistics. A paper copy of the report will be provided upon request by contacting Public Safety's administrative office number at [phone].

Physical Requirements And Work Environment

The working conditions for this position will be on campus primarily in an office environment. The physical requirement for this position will require constant sitting, occasional standing, occasional walking, and occasional lifting 10 lbs. or less.