Director of Employee Relations

SUNY Cortland; City of Cortland (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

SUNY Cortland is seeking a Director of Employee Relations within the Human Resources Office to lead the university's employee and labor relations, ethics, ADA compliance, and related programs. The Senior Personnel Associate reports to the AVP and partners with HR staff to ensure compliance with bargaining agreements and university policies.

The role involves supervising staff, managing investigations, negotiations, and grievance processes, and delivering training on employee relations and policy

Responsibilities

• Respond to employee-related and contractual matters and advise on appropriate actions.
• Manage internal employee and labor relations complaints, investigations, and disciplinary matters.
• Maintain confidential records of employee and labor relations matters in compliance with laws and policies.
• Collaborate with HR and campus leadership to address performance and engagement issues.

Job description

Position Details

Position Information

Budget Title

Senior Personnel Associate

Campus Title

Director of Employee Relations

School/Division

Finance and Management, Division of

Department

Human Resources Office

Staff Sub-Type

Staff & Administration

Salary Level

MP4

Salary Range

$105,000+ depending on experience (DOE).

Salary Determination

Starting salary rates are based on multiples factors which mayinclude the position’s major responsibilities, the applicant’sbackground including education, work experience, and keycompetencies, the university’s strategic priorities, internal peerequity and external market analyses, applicable federal, state, andlocal laws and negotiated labor contracts.

Salary Range: $105,000 + depending on experience ( DOE)

Position Effort

Full-Time

If Part-Time, enter FTE:

Is this a temporary position?

No

If Temporary, enter End Date:

Position Summary

The Director of Employee Relations is responsible for responding toemployee-related and contractual matters. This position plays a keyrole in managing internal employee and labor relations complaints,investigations, union grievances, disciplinary matters and ensuringcompliance with the collective bargaining agreements. The Directorprovides proactive advice and recommendations for appropriatecourses of action involving all university employees andfacilitates the resolutions of employee matters. Works closely withand provides guidance to the Employee Relations Specialist.

Salary Range: $105,000 + depending on experience ( DOE)

Watch this video to learn more about careers at SUNY Cortland: https://youtu.be/krNjgXC95M0?si=k2l13TUB9mJ9YjD8

What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?

Major Responsibilities

SUNY Employee and Labor Relations

• Serve as the President’s designee for employee and laborrelations on campus.
• Participate in investigations, interrogations, counseling,fact-finding, grievance meetings with union officials andemployees. Make determinations of facts and contractual/policyobligations.
• Maintain accurate, thorough and confidential records ofemployee and labor relations matters, including investigations,grievances, consultations, disciplinary actions and related caseactivity in accordance with applicable laws, policies and recordretention requirements.
• Responsible for contract administration with CSEA, GSEU,NYSCOPBA, PBANYS, PEF, and UUP bargaining units.
• Hold fact-finding first step grievance meetings with unionofficials and employees. Make determinations of facts andcontractual obligations.
• Facilitate grievance resolution by making appropriaterecommendations to the President or designee.
• Participate as management representative in all Step 2, Step 3and arbitration hearings.
• Communicate with System Administration regardinginterpretation, clarification, and deficiencies in contractlanguage.
• Participate in labor management meetings with the variousbargaining units.
• Inform campus employees about changes in contractual rights andresolve conflicts arising from these.
• Consult with supervisors and university leaders regardingemployee performance concerns and ensure applicable policies,procedures and collective bargaining agreement provisions areappropriately applied.
• Partner with Human Resources colleagues responsible forperformance management administration to addressperformance-related employee relations matters and supportcorrective action processes.
• Facilitate resolution of employee and labor relations mattersby meeting with employees/supervisors to provide advice and counselregarding employee performance and engagement matters andcontractual, legal, policy, and procedural issues.
• Develop and deliver training, guidance, and informationalsessions related to employee and labor relations, workplaceconduct, conflict resolution, contractual obligations, andapplicable employment policies.

Research Foundation (RF)

• Serve as the primary employee relations resource for ResearchFoundation employees and supervisors, providing consultation andguidance regarding workplace issues, performance concerns, policyinterpretation, investigations, conflict resolution, and correctiveaction.
• Partner with Research Foundation leadership and Human Resourcesstaff to address employee relations matters and ensure compliancewith applicable policies and employment practices.

Ethics

• Serve as Ethics Co-Officer to apply and enforce the rules ofpublic integrity consistent with the standards provided by the NYSCommission on Ethics.
• Serve as a resource to provide ethical guidance to the campuscommunity.
• Administer ethics related training and respond to New YorkState reporting requirements.

ADA Compliance

• Supervise the ADA Coordinator and provide oversight of the ADAaccommodation process.

Supervision

• Articulate a vision that unites team members/staff and definedepartmental objectives and goals to establish a commonpurpose.
• Assign duties to staff based on their roles and adjustassignments as needed. Plan, organize and monitor the progress ofwork and goal completion.
• Hire, onboard, and train staff. Provide clear instructions,regular feedback, and coaching. Communicate performanceexpectations and goals, complete performance programs andevaluations in a timely manner. Nurture the development of staff byidentifying opportunities for training and career development.
• Confirm staff complete required training to maintain compliancewith university policies and state and federal laws.
• Act as a liaison between staff and senior management, relayinginformation in both directions. Facilitate open communication andcollaboration within the office. Address and help resolve staffissues and workplace concerns.

Analytics and Assessment

• Prepare and analyze employee relations, labor relations,ethics, RF, ADA accommodations and related human resources reports,metrics, and assessments, as well as ad hoc reports asrequested.

Service

• Attend at least 3 events on campus per year. One event will bedirectly related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, DEI, and theother events can be determined by the employee, including eventssuch as lunch and learns, training and speaking events, performanceevents, sporting events, etc.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships

• Reports to the Associate Vice President for HumanResources
• Works closely with all HR staff
• Works closely with campus managers and supervisors
• Works closely with SUNY System Administration
• Supervises professional and classified staff employees

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Several years of experience in employee relations, laborrelations or related unit in a unionized environment
• Experience conducting employee relations investigations,conflict resolution, and/or disciplinary processes
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply collectivebargaining agreements, policies, and procedures
• Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws andregulations

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in human resources, laborstudies, psychology/organizational development or relatedfield
• Professional certification in human resources, such as PHR,SHRM -CP, HRIC, or similar
• Experience working in higher education
• Experience administering employee and labor relations programsin a public sector environment
• Experience with grievance administration, contractinterpretation, and labor-management relations
• An understanding of ADA accommodations and the interactiveprocess

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate understanding and appreciation ofdiversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Effective oral, written and presentation skills including theability to prepare reports, recommendations, correspondence, andother communications related to sensitive personnel matters.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, organizational skills, andability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent independent judgment and discretion in handlingconfidential and sensitive matters while maintaining the highestlevel of ethics, confidentiality and integrity.
• Ability to develop collegial working relationships withindividuals at all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of ateam.
• Superior analytical, critical thinking, problem solving anddecision-making skills.
• Ability to be creative, flexible, self-motivated, qualityoriented, and committed to providing high level customerservice.
• Ability to harness software and technology to improveefficiency.
• Ability to build trust, influence outcomes, and effectivelyadvise managers and employees on complex employee and laborrelations matters.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies,procedures and collective bargaining agreements; conductinvestigations; assess complex situations; evaluate facts; and makesound recommendations.
• Ability to facilitate conflict resolution and manage difficultor sensitive workplace conversations.

About the University

EEO Statement

SUNY is committed to providing equal employment opportunities toall applicants, including individuals with disabilities. Applicantswho require a reasonable accommodation to participate in theapplication, interview, or hiring process may request anaccommodation by contacting our HR ADA Coordinator in Miller Room302, 607-753-2302, [e-mail]. Requests for accommodation willbe considered consistent with applicable law. This process isseparate from, and does not require, any voluntaryself-identification of disability status.

Job Close Date

Posting Number

S26044

Review Start Date

Open Until Filled

Yes

Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting

https://jobs.cortland.edu/postings/11781

Special Instructions

Special Instructions to Applicant

Special Instructions to Applicant

Supplemental Questions

1. Are you currently employed by SUNY Cortland? If so, pleaseindicate what type of employee.
   • UUP Professional
   • UUP Faculty
   • Management Confidential
   • Research Foundation
   • Represented by CSEA, PBANYS or PEF
   • Full Time Lecturer
2. * Will you now or in the future require employment visasponsorship?
   • Yes
   • No

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

1. Curriculum Vitae or Resume
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents