Senior Labor & Union Relations Specialist

Penn State University; State College (Centre County); Hybrid; USD 810 - 122,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University is seeking a Labor and Employee Relations Senior Specialist to advance positive labor and employee relations across all University locations. You will act as a subject matter expert on union relations, supporting faculty and graduate assistants, and serve as a primary contact for HR partners, managers, and staff on employee and labor relations matters.

The role involves advising on disciplinary issues, interpreting contracts, coordinating investigations, and assisting in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with a minimum of 6+ years of relevant experience
• Experience advising management and employees on labor and employee relations issues
• Background in unionized environments and higher education settings preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert on union relations and day-to-day administration of labor agreements.
• Advise on employment and disciplinary issue resolutions and risk mitigation.
• Counsel employees and leaders on sensitive workplace concerns and resolution pathways.
• Interpret, apply, and develop policy and contract language; assist in drafting labor documents.
• Coordinate investigations from grievances, hotlines, and escalations; synthesize findings and recommend outcomes.
• Represent the University in grievance hearings and support bargaining strategy and documentation.
• Assist with implementation of negotiated agreements and provide guidance/tools for consistent application.
• Train management and HR colleagues on contracts and administration expectations.

Skills

Union relations

Employee relations

Policy interpretation

Investigations

Advising managers

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Penn State University is seeking a Labor and Employee Relations Senior Specialist to advance positive labor and employee relations across all University locations. You will act as a subject matter expert on union relations, supporting faculty and graduate assistants, and serve as a primary contact for HR partners, managers, and staff on employee and labor relations matters.

The role involves advising on disciplinary issues, interpreting contracts, coordinating investigations, and assisting in