Employee Relations Partner - Faculty Relations

StartupNWA; Fayetteville (AR); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, life and disability保险

Tuition waivers for employees and your

12 official holidays

Immediate leave accrual

Retirement programs with university 5–

Job summary

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is seeking an Employee Relations Partner – Faculty Relations to provide expert consultation, conduct investigations, and support faculty concerns within the HR Partner and HR Coordinator team.

You will collaborate with the Provost’s Office and academic leaders to address faculty workplace issues, develop training, and deliver resources. A strong background in higher education and policy interpretation is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• At least three years of professional experience in human resources, employee relations, faculty affairs, academic administration, or a related field.
• Experience working in higher education or supporting faculty-related matters.
• Experience advising employees, supervisors, faculty, or administrators on workplace or employee relations matters.
• Experience interpreting and applying organizational policies and procedures.
• Experience conducting or supporting workplace investigations.
• Experience developing or delivering training or presentations.

Responsibilities

• Provide employee relations consultation and guidance on faculty workplace concerns, including performance, conduct, conflict, and related matters.
• Partner with the Provost’s Office, department chairs, deans, academic administrators, and HR colleagues to address faculty employee relations matters.
• Conduct assigned faculty and employee relations investigations, including planning, interviewing, reviewing documentation, evaluating information, and documenting findings.
• Consult with the Director and appropriate university offices on complex, sensitive, or higher-risk matters requiring escalation or referral.
• Develop and deliver employee relations training and resources on topics such as performance management, workplace conduct, conflict resolution, difficult conversations, and documentation.
• Identify recurring employee relations issues and recommend opportunities for education or process improvement.
• Maintain appropriate case documentation and confidentiality.
• Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Skills

Employee relations

Higher education

Investigations

Training delivery

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (Preferred)

Job description

Current University of Arkansas System employees, including student employees and graduate assistants, need to log in to Workday via MyApps.Microsoft.com, then access Find Jobs from the Workday search bar to view and apply for open positions.

Students at all University of Arkansas institutions will view open positions and apply within Workday by searching for “Find Jobs for Students.”

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville students will view open positions and apply within Workday by searching for “Find Student Jobs at UAF.”

All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated).

If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application process will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through “My Draft Applications” located on your Candidate Home page.

Closing Date: 11/09/2026

Type of Position:

HR Partners and Support

Workstudy Position: No

Job Type:

Regular

Sponsorship Available: No

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Applicants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Department:

HR Partners, Coordinators and Representatives

Summary of Job Duties:

The Employee Relations Partner – Faculty Relations provides specialized employee relations support for faculty matters. The role is responsible for formal employee relations consultation, case assessment, investigation, documentation, and resolution support.

The Employee Relations Partner works as part of the HR Partner and HR Coordinator team collaborating with the Provost’s Office, academic leaders, and Human Resources to address faculty workplace concerns.

The position applies knowledge of higher education, faculty employment practices, and faculty policies and processes to provide consultation, conduct investigations, and support the resolution of employee relations matters. The position also develops and delivers employee relations training and conducts assigned investigations outside the scope of Title IX and OEOC.

The position reports to the Director of Human Resources and Employee Relations, with a dotted line to the Vice-Provost for Faculty Affairs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide employee relations consultation and guidance on faculty workplace concerns, including performance, conduct, conflict, and related matters. This includes matters requiring formal assessment, documented intervention, corrective action, or other HR-led follow-up.
• Partner with the Provost’s Office, department chairs, deans, academic administrators, and HR colleagues to address faculty employee relations matters.
• Conduct assigned faculty and employee relations investigations, including planning, interviewing, reviewing documentation, evaluating information, and documenting findings.
• Consult with the Director and appropriate university offices on complex, sensitive, or higher-risk matters requiring escalation or referral.
• Develop and deliver employee relations training and resources on topics such as performance management, workplace conduct, conflict resolution, difficult conversations, and documentation. Coordinate with the Office for Faculty Affairs to avoid duplicating the Provost's Faculty Resource Fellow’s developmental, climate‑focused, and faculty‑success programming.
• Identify recurring employee relations issues and recommend opportunities for education or process improvement.
• Maintain appropriate case documentation and confidentiality.
• Regular, reliable, and non‑disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• At least three years of professional experience in human resources, employee relations, faculty affairs, academic administration, or a related field
• Experience working in higher education or supporting faculty-related matters
• Experience advising employees, supervisors, faculty, or administrators on workplace or employee relations matters
• Experience interpreting and applying organizational policies and procedures
• Experience conducting or supporting workplace investigations
• Experience developing or delivering training or presentations

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field
• Five or more years of professional experience in human resources, employee relations, faculty affairs, academic administration, or a related field
• Three or more years of employee or faculty relations experience in higher education
• Experience working with a Provost’s Office, faculty affairs function, deans, department chairs, or academic leadership
• Experience conducting faculty or academic personnel investigations
• Experience interpreting and applying faculty‑specific policies and procedures
• Training or certification in workplace investigations, mediation, conflict resolution, or employee relations

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of employee relations principles and practices
• Knowledge of higher education, faculty employment practices, and academic structures
• Strong investigation, consultation, conflict resolution, and problem‑solving skills
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills
• Ability to interpret and apply faculty and institutional policies and procedures
• Ability to build effective working relationships with faculty, academic leaders, and HR colleagues
• Ability to manage sensitive matters with confidentiality, professionalism, and sound judgment

Additional Information:

Salary Information: Commensurate with education and experience

Required Documents to Apply: Cover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Resume

Optional Documents: Proof of Veteran Status

Recruitment Contact Information:

Tina Paul, Director of Human Resources and Employee Relations, [e-mail]

Crystal Ellis, Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist, [e-mail]

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:

Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non‑discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical Activity:

Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding, Sitting

Frequent Physical Activity:

Talking

Occasional Physical Activity:

Repetitive Motion, Walking

Benefits Eligible:

Yes