Emploee Relations Partner

CU Denver; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado Denver invites applications for the Employee Relations Partner role, a hybrid, full-time position focused on employee relations support across the campus. The role reports to the Assistant Director of Employee Relations and collaborates with HR colleagues.

Responsibilities include conducting investigations, advising on performance management and disciplinary actions, and developing training and SOPs to support HRBPs and supervisors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, organizational leadership, public administration, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of professional experience performing employee relations work, advising managers/employees on workplace issues, performance management, policy interpretation, and workplace investigations.
• Substitution: education/experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultation and guidance to supervisors, managers, and employees on employee relations and policy interpretation.
• Lead impartial workplace reviews and investigations with thorough documentation.
• Coach leaders on performance expectations, feedback, and corrective actions.

Skills

Employee relations

Consultation

Risk assessment

Coaching

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/related field

Job description

Position Details

University of Colorado | Denver

Official Title: Human Resources Principal Professional

Working Title: Employee Relations Partner

FTE: Full-time 1,0 (100%) FTE | Hybrid

Salary Range: $80,000-$85,000

Position #00852666 - Requisition# 40967

Join the University of Colorado Denver40967

About the University of Colorado Denver

Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We're the state's premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners-at any stage of their life and career-for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state's largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $665 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.

Job Description

The Employee Relations Consultant supports employees, supervisors, and leaders across the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) to provide consultation and guidance on a broad range of employee relations matters, including performance management, workplace concerns, conflict resolution, corrective and disciplinary actions, policy interpretation, and organizational workplace issues. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Employee Relations.

The Employee Relations Consultant partners with university leaders and Human Resources colleagues to promote consistent, equitable, and effective employment practices. The position independently manages employee relations matters of varying complexity, conducts workplace reviews and investigations, assesses risk, recommends appropriate courses of action, and supports leaders in addressing employee concerns in a timely and constructive manner.

Employee Relations Partner

What you will do:

General

• Provide consultation, guidance, and proactive solutions to supervisors, managers, and employees regarding employee relations matters, workplace concerns, performance issues, and university policies and procedures.
• Advise leaders on appropriate approaches to performance management, coaching, corrective action, disciplinary action, and other employment decisions.
• Assess employee relations situations, identify potential risks, and recommend practical and consistent solutions.
• Support employees and leaders in resolving workplace conflicts and concerns through consultation, facilitated conversations, mediation, coaching, and other appropriate interventions.
• Partner with the Assistant Director of Employee Relations on complex, sensitive, and/or high-risk employee relations matters and build offerings for the employee population in anticipation of future concerns and current trends.
• Promote consistent application of university policies, procedures, and employment practices across departments.

Workplace Reviews and Investigations

• Conduct impartial and thorough reviews and investigations of workplace concerns, including gathering and analyzing relevant information, interviewing involved parties and witnesses, and documenting findings.
• Prepare clear, well-organized investigation reports, summaries, correspondence, and other documentation.
• Identify policy, unit themes, or organizational concerns arising from investigations and recommend appropriate follow-up actions.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive employee information.

Performance Management and Corrective Action

• Coach supervisors and managers on establishing performance expectations, providing effective- timely feedback, and addressing performance or conduct concerns.
• Review and assist in developing performance improvement plans, corrective actions, disciplinary documentation, and related communications.
• Help leaders distinguish performance, workplace conflict, and/or organizational issues to recommend appropriate responses.
• Support consistent and well-documented employment decisions through SOP creation and guideline, recordings, and training build outs for HRBPs and supervisors.

Policy and Compliance

• Interpret and provide guidance regarding CU Denver and University of Colorado's employment policies, procedures, and applicable employment requirements.
• Stay informed regarding changes in employment laws, university policies, and employee relations best practices.
• Collaborate with appropriate HR colleagues and university partners when matters involve areas such as accommodations, leave, compensation, benefits, employment decisions or other specialized HR functions.
• Identify trends or recurring issues and recommend improvements to policies, processes, training, or management practices.

Partnership, Training, and Organizational Support

• Build collaborative relationships with university leaders, employees, HR colleagues, and campus partners.
• Develop and deliver training, tools, and resources on employee relations topics such as employee engagement, performance management, difficult conversations, documentation, conflict resolution, and workplace expectations.
• Participate in HR initiatives and projects that strengthen employee experience, manager effectiveness, and organizational culture.
• Maintain accurate and timely employee relations case records and documentation.
• Track case activity and contribute to reporting and analysis of employee relations trends and their connection to retention, turnover, and solutions for positive employee experience.

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, organizational leadership, public administration, or a related field. A combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered in accordance with university requirements.
• Three (3) years of professional experience performing employee relations work, including experience advising managers and employees on workplace issues, performance management, corrective action, policy interpretation, conflict resolution, and/or workplace investigations.
• Experience independently managing employee relations cases or workplace concerns.

Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)

• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible employee relations or human resources experience.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations, including interviewing witnesses, evaluating information, documenting findings, and preparing written reports.
• Employee relations experience in higher education, government, public-sector, or another complex organization.
• Experience advising leaders regarding performance improvement plans, corrective actions, disciplinary matters, and complex workplace conflicts.
• Knowledge of federal and Colorado employment laws and HR practices.
• Experience or certification in mediation, coaching, facilitation, and/or conflict management.
• Experience working in an environment with multiple employee groups, employment classifications, or governing policies.
• Professional HR certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong employee relations consultation and case-management skills.
• Ability to remain objective and impartial when addressing sensitive or contentious workplace matters.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk-assessment abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish credibility and trust with employees and leaders at all organizational levels.
• Ability to navigate difficult conversations with professionalism, empathy, clarity, and appropriate firmness.
• Strong writing skills, including the ability to prepare clear case documentation, reports, recommendations, and employment-related correspondence.
• Ability to interpret and consistently apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage multiple cases and priorities while meeting deadlines.
• Sound judgment and the ability to recognize when matters should be escalated.
• Commitment to professional, respectful, and equitable workplace practices.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within Human Resources and across a complex university environment.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex workplace situations, exercise sound judgment, and develop practical recommendations.

Conditions of Employment

• This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks. Working from the office is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements

• This position may be performed in a hybrid environment, requiring the ability to work effectively in a remote setting. This includes maintaining a dedicated workspace free of excessive noise or distractions, reliable internet connectivity, and the ability to participate in virtual meetings for extended periods. Employees must be able to independently manage time, remain stationary for prolonged computer-based work, and transport necessary equipment (such as a laptop and peripherals) between their remote work location and the office as needed.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Employment Sponsorship

Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $ 80,000- $85,000.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training. The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

This position is not eligible for overtime compensation. Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted until September 7, 2026.

Background Check Policy

The University of Colorado Denver strives to maintain a safe and productive educational, clinical, research and employment environment. All prospective employees and current employees must, therefore, consent to and pass background checks prior to any final appointment/employment.