Workforce Relations Consultant

University of California - Irvine; Anaheim (CA); On-site; USD 123,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California - Irvine is seeking a Workforce Relations Consultant to provide employee and labor relations support to managers, supervisors, and HR teams, resolving workplace disputes informally and reducing employment liability.

The role serves as the expert on staff collective bargaining agreements, leads meetings with unions, represents the university in grievances and arbitrations, and coordinates with law and compliance offices.

Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years of experience in labor and employee relations.
• Expert knowledge of dispute resolution and labor contract administration.
• Ability to bargain complex issues and handle volatile situations.
• Bachelor's degree in a related area (or equivalent experience).
• Juris Doctorate is preferred for this role.

Responsibilities

• Advise managers, supervisors, and HR staff on complex labor and employee relations issues.
• Facilitate meetings among union representatives, employees, and management to settle disputes informally where possible.
• Represent the university in grievances, arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, and wage claims.
• Prepare written analyses and present the university's position at hearings under the Senior Director's direction.
• Coordinate with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, Campus Counsel, Risk Management, and outside counsel on litigation and information requests from unions.

Skills

Labor relations

Dispute resolution

Grievance procedures

Labor contract administration

Negotiation / Bargaining

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Juris Doctorate preferred

Job description

University of California - Irvine is hiring a Workforce Relations Consultant. The role provides employee and labor relations support to managers, supervisors, and Human Resources teams, with the goal of resolving workplace disputes informally and reducing employment liability claims. The consultant reports to the Senior Director for Workforce Relations and serves as the university's expert on its staff collective bargaining agreements.

Highlights

• Advise managers, supervisors, and Human Resources staff on complex labor and employee relations issues, and facilitate meetings among union representatives, employees, and management to settle disputes informally where possible.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on UCI's staff collective bargaining agreements, represent the university in systemwide bargaining, and potentially lead local negotiations such as successor agreements and meet-and-confer sessions.
• Represent the university in grievances, arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, and wage claims, including preparing written analyses and presenting its position at hearings under the direction of the Senior Director.
• Document disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal, and refer employees to resources such as the Life Resources Program, the HR Mediation Program for Staff, Disability and Management, and Workers' Compensation.
• Coordinate with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, Campus Counsel, Risk Management, and outside counsel on pending litigation and information requests from union organizations, and support strike contingency planning.
• Bachelor's degree in a related area or equivalent experience, plus 7 to 10 years of experience in labor and employee relations; a Juris Doctorate is preferred.
• Expert knowledge of dispute resolution, grievance procedures, and labor contract administration, with demonstrated skill in bargaining complex issues and handling difficult or volatile situations.
• Pay range of $123,000 to $209,100 per year.
• Work sites may include Irvine, Orange, and other locations, with the employee providing their own transportation between them.