Labor and Employee Relations Specialist

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement plans

Paid time off including holidays

Job summary

Penn State seeks a skilled Labor and Employee Relations Senior Specialist to advance labor and employee relations across University locations. The role serves as a subject matter expert in union relations and advises HR Strategic Partners, managers, and staff on employment and labor matters and policy interpretation.

Focused on faculty and graduate assistants, the position handles day-to-day labor agreement administration, investigations, and provides guidance to ensure lawful, fair, and

Qualifications

• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws.
• Solutions-oriented mindset with collaborative problem solving.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and with faculty, staff, admins, and outside agencies.
• Strong judgment and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; strong customer service orientation.

Responsibilities

• Act as subject matter expert on union relations and day-to-day labor agreement administration.
• Advise on resolution of employment and disciplinary issues.
• Counsel employees and leaders on sensitive workplace concerns and risk mitigation.
• Interpret and assist in policy and contract language development; advise audiences accordingly.
• Coordinate investigations arising from grievances and complaints and synthesize findings.
• Represent the University in grievance hearings and bargaining discussions; support bargaining strategy and documentation.
• Assist with implementation of newly negotiated agreements, including templates and guidance for consistent application.
• Train management and HR colleagues on contracts and administration expectations.

Skills

Legal/compliance knowledge

Problem solving

Project management

Independent and collaborative work

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

Penn State is seeking a skilled Labor and Employee Relations Senior Specialist. This position plays a key role in advancing positive labor and employee relations across all University locations. Reporting to the Senior Director of Labor and Employee Relations, the successful candidate will serve as a subject matter expert in union relations and will be actively involved in matters related to faculty and graduate assistant unionization at Penn State. This role serves as a primary point of contact for Human Resource Strategic Partners, managers, and employees on employee relations and labor relations matters and provides consultative guidance in support of the University’s labor strategy.

DUTIES

• With a focus on faculty and graduate assistants, serving as a subject matter expert on union relations, including day-to-day administration of labor agreements and proactive engagement with union representatives on a variety of issues, with an emphasis on higher education academic environments.
• Advising on the resolution of employment and disciplinary issues.
• Counseling employees and advising leaders on sensitive workplace concerns, risk mitigation, and appropriate resolution pathways.
• Interpreting, applying, and assisting in the development of policy and contract language, and advising various audiences on appropriate application; assisting in drafting contract language and related labor documents as needed.
• Coordinating and/or assisting with investigations that arise from grievances, University hotlines, direct complaints, as well as those escalated from colleges and work units; synthesizing findings and recommending outcomes consistent with policy, law, and applicable agreements.
• Representing the University at informal problem-solving meetings and at formal grievance hearings, serving as liaison among management, employees and union representatives; participating at the bargaining table and supporting bargaining strategy, proposals, and documentation.
• Assisting with implementation and administration of newly negotiated agreements, including developing guidance, templates, and tools to support consistent application across colleges and units.
• Training management and HR colleagues on new contracts, interpretation, and administration expectations; serving as a resource for ongoing questions and complex cases.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIRES

• Knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws.
• A solutions-oriented mindset with a proven track record of thoughtful and collaborative problem solving.
• Ability to manage multiple projects.
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively with various levels of faculty, staff, administrators, and outside agencies.
• Excellent judgment and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; an outstanding customer service orientation.
• A commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment; and a vision to assess and respond to rapidly changing issues.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree
• 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Required Certifications: None

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $81,312.00 - $122,016.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Substantial paid time off including holidays, vacation and sick time
• Generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive.

We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

POLICIES

Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information

INTRODUCTION

And across the world is a community of Penn Staters – more than half a million strong – driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities. At Penn State, passion is met with collaboration in an environment that is rooted in shared pride for the accomplishments of our fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Penn Staters cheer each other on to build a culture committed to service and engagement. Our University values represent our core ethical aspirations for all our daily activities and actions as students, faculty, staff, and volunteers at Penn State. Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.