Employee and Labor Relations Officer 1 or 2

Oregon State University; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 75,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

Oregon State University Human Resources seeks one or more Employee & Labor Relations Officers. These are full-time, 12-month professional faculty positions, with appointment as ELR Officer 1 or ELR Officer 2 based on qualifications.

As an ELR Officer, you will support unions, provide expert advice on policy and collective bargaining, and collaborate with HR professionals to ensure program compliance. Start date is anticipated in 2026; OSU emphasizes inclusive excellence and equal opportunity

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of professional level Human Resources experience or strongly transferable work experience.
• Commitment to anticipating, understanding, and responding to customer needs in a positive, confidential, and sensitive manner.
• Ability to analyze complex and sensitive issues and develop valid conclusions and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Support program reviews and recommend process improvements to internal operations and controls.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for employee and labor relation matters for assigned employee groups.
• Collaborate with HR Centers of Expertise and stakeholders on oversight and administration of HR processes.

Skills

Strong oral communication

Strong written communication

Commitment to inclusiveness

Customer service mindset

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Department

University Human Resources

Job Summary

Oregon State University Human Resources is seeking one or more Employee & Labor Relations Officers. These are full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty positions. Appointment may be as an ELR Officer 1 or ELR Officer 2 depending on qualifications.

As an Employee and Labor Relations (ELR) Officer or Senior ELR Officer, you’ll be part of an ELR team that supports multiple employee types at OSU, including academic faculty, professional faculty, sworn police officers and public safety employees, classified staff, graduate assistants and supervisors of these employee populations. You’ll also work closely with representatives from four collective bargaining agreements. You will work closely with the representing unions and will provide expert advice and recommendations that support policy, laws, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. You’ll establish internal program compliance mechanisms for program consistency and collaborate with other HR professionals. You’ll report to an Associate Director for ELR who supports your professional growth and helps you learn the unique context of higher education.

Key Responsibilities

• The ELR Officer will support program reviews and recommend process improvement to internal operations and controls, as well as internal service delivery. Collaborates with HR Centers of Expertise and other stakeholders on the oversight and administration of human resources administrative processes and activities.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for employee and labor relation matters pertaining to assigned employee groups.
• The ELR Officer will support program reviews and recommend process improvement to internal operations and controls, as well as internal service delivery. Collaborates with HR Centers of Expertise and other stakeholders on the oversight and administration of human resources administrative processes and activities.
• Key fact-finder in employee performance and/or departmental compliance. Measures the conduct or report against university policy, known best practices, processes, departmental policies, procedures, rules, laws, collective bargaining agreements and other measures. Recommends resolutions to leadership that are consistent with past practice and reflective of the level of the finding, if any, and of the incident or conduct.
• When assigned, serves as a negotiation team member, acting as alternate for a negotiation team, and/or serving as a note taker. May develop bargaining proposals, assist with preparation for mediation/arbitration/fact finding, and act as an expert witness for administration. Supports strike coordination with the AD-ELR.
• Conducts fact-finding relating to grievance and/or legal actions filed by represented graduate assistants, sworn police officers, and classified employees. Collaborates, when asked, with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, the Office of Audit Services, the Office of University Compliance, Office of General Counsel, and others relating to similar actions or filings.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications for the ELR Officer 1

• Bachelor’s degree, and two years of professional level Human Resources experience or strongly transferable work experience.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to anticipating, understanding, and responding to customer needs, whether in person, by telephone, or email, in a positive, confidential, and sensitive manner.
• Flexibility, adaptability and a willingness to contribute to the success of the team or department goals.
• Strong oral communication skills.
• Prior experience or strong transferable skills in coaching supervisors/employees on performance management matters.
• Ability to analyze complex and sensitive issues and situations, identify alternative solutions, forecast consequences of proposed actions, and implement effective course of action.
• Ability to research, evaluate and analyze complex or conflicting data/information, develop valid conclusions and recommendations, and prepare clear and concise written reports on subject matter.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusiveness, collaboration and teamwork across organizational levels and boundaries.
• A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing inclusive excellence.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Required Qualifications For The ELR Officer 2

• Bachelor’s degree, and four years of professional level Human Resources experience or strongly transferable work experience.
• Experience working in an environment which includes a union represented workforce.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to anticipating, understanding, and responding to customer needs, whether in person, by telephone, or email, in a positive, confidential, and sensitive manner.
• Flexibility, adaptability and a willingness to contribute to the success of the team or department goals.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Prior experience or strong transferable skills in coaching supervisors/employees on performance management matters.
• Ability to analyze complex and sensitive issues and situations, identify alternative solutions, forecast consequences of proposed actions, and implement effective course of action.
• Ability to research, evaluate and analyze complex or conflicting data/information, develop valid conclusions and recommendations, and prepare clear and concise written reports on subject matter.
• Effectiveness in collaborating and building relationships with key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusiveness, collaboration and teamwork across organizational levels and boundaries.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and resolve problems.
• A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing inclusive excellence.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an environment which includes a union represented workforce.
• Professional work experience at a University/College.
• Experience in Title IX matters.
• Complex employee relations communication skills, which may Include: open-ended questioning, withholding judgment, deep/empathetic listening, re-framing/redirecting, discerning credibility of sources, remaining neutral, interacting with angry/emotional people, providing supportive feedback, maintaining boundaries.

Working Conditions/Schedule

Additional ELR staff to meet operational need are essential.

Salary Range

ELR 1 $75k - $95k, ELR 2 $95k - $113k

Anticipated Start Date

2026-11-16

Anticipated End Date

When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job‑related pre‑employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre‑employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [e-mail].