Sr. Director for Employee and Labor Relations

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 200,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) seeks a Senior Director of Employee and Labor Relations to lead the university’s labor relations function within a highly unionized environment. The role provides strategic vision, judgment, and expertise across bargaining, contract interpretation, dispute resolution, investigations, policy development, and faculty and staff relations.

You will guide negotiations as first-chair, interpret agreements, advise senior leaders, and promote a collaborative

Qualifications

• Significant progressive experience leading employee and labor relations in complex, highly unionized environments.
• Demonstrated first-chair collective bargaining experience, including strategy development and contract negotiation.
• Extensive knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, labor laws, employment regulations, and institutional policies.
• Ability to translate complex labor and employee relations matters into actionable guidance.
• Familiarity with faculty environments, shared governance, and resolution of complex personnel matters.

Responsibilities

• Guide a workforce of approximately 2,200 employees represented by eight collective bargaining units.
• Lead collective bargaining negotiations as the first-chair, including developing bargaining strategy, building internal consensus, negotiating agreements, and managing contract administration.
• Interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements, labor laws, employment regulations, policies, and contractual obligations to provide practical guidance for managers, HR colleagues, employees, faculty, and institutional leaders.
• Advise senior leaders on complex workforce matters, facilitating clear, diplomatic, and sound decision-making.
• Build and maintain credibility with union leaders, campus stakeholders, and the broader university community.
• Support the modernization of HR systems and promote a culture of proactive, solutions-oriented labor relations.

Skills

First-chair bargaining

Labor relations strategy

Policy development

Stakeholder management

Workplace investigations

Senior leadership advisory

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree or JD preferred

Job description

Senior Director of Employee and Labor Relations at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) leads the university’s employee and labor relations function within a highly unionized environment. The role provides strategic vision, judgment, and expertise across collective bargaining, contract interpretation, dispute resolution, workplace investigations, policy development, faculty and staff relations, and labor‑management partnership.

Responsibilities

• Guide a workforce of approximately 2,200 employees represented by eight collective bargaining units.
• Lead collective bargaining negotiations as the first‑chair, including developing bargaining strategy, building internal consensus, negotiating agreements, and managing contract administration.
• Interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements, labor laws, employment regulations, policies, and contractual obligations to provide practical guidance for managers, HR colleagues, employees, faculty, and institutional leaders.
• Advise senior leaders on complex workforce matters, facilitating clear, diplomatic, and sound decision‑making.
• Build and maintain credibility with union leaders, campus stakeholders, and the broader university community.
• Support the modernization of HR systems and promote a culture of proactive, solutions‑oriented labor relations.

Qualifications

• Significant progressive experience leading employee and labor relations functions within complex, highly unionized organizations, preferably in higher education, public sector, healthcare, or similar mission‑driven environments.
• Demonstrated first‑chair collective bargaining experience, including leading spokesperson duties, strategy development, and contract negotiation.
• Extensive knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, labor laws, employment regulations, and institutional policies.
• Ability to translate complex labor and employee relations matters into actionable guidance.
• Familiarity with faculty environments, shared governance, and resolution of complex personnel matters in academic settings.
• Strong technical depth, strategic judgment, emotional intelligence, resilience, and a proven track record as a trusted advisor to senior leaders.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree, J.D., or other relevant graduate degree preferred.

Benefits

• Salary range: $200,000 - $225,000.

As an EEO employer, NJIT is committed to building a diverse and inclusive teaching, research, and working environment and strongly encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women.