Labor and Employee Relations Senior Manager Position Available In Chittenden, Vermont

Labor and Employee Relations Senior Manager Grade 16 Non-Bargaining Unit FLSA Exempt

BASIC FUNCTION

Under the direction of the Dean of People and Culture, serve as a labor and employee relations expert on behalf of the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) institutions (the Community College of Vermont and the Vermont State University) in labor and employee relations issues. Serve as management representative in collective bargaining and help ensure compliance with union contracts and VSCS policies/procedures. Provide consistent, professional and timely services to assigned servicing areas. Develop supervisory and management collective bargaining and grievance mitigation training materials; lead and facilitate system-wide training. Guide supervisors and other human resources staff in addressing employee performance and misconduct and general human resources matters. Serve as a key contributor to the development and maintenance of comprehensive Human Resources policies and strategies. Collaborate with the Office of General Counsel to negotiate and implement settlement agreements. Actively engage in conflict resolution, problem solving, and continuous learning.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Serves as a management representative; provides advice, guidance, and assistance to VSCS managers and supervisors with respect to sensitive labor relations matters, including grievances, employee performance, and disciplinary actions. Administers, interprets and ensures compliance with collective bargaining agreements, VSCS policies, procedures and practices and Federal and State regulations (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, Workers’ Comp, ADA, etc.) Develops and maintains positive employee relations by promoting open communications, supporting quality performance, and addressing workforce concerns. Facilitates on-going communication and strong working relationships with employee representative organizations including coordination of joint labor-management committees. Conducts, collects and assesses evidence in administrative inquiries associated with potential policy or regulatory violations. Makes systemic and individual recommendations for corrective action or measures, as appropriate. Analyzes information and data to identify and discern resource implications for evolving practices at the VSCS institutions, as well as management and union proposals regarding compensation and benefits, working conditions, and other circumstances. Develops and manages collective bargaining priorities and strategies. Collaborates with legal counsel and others to prepare for and participate in negotiations with labor unions. Supports legal counsel in arbitrations and hearings related to unfair labor practice complaints, unit determinations, grievances, and other legal proceedings. Maintains knowledge of employee and labor relations trends, legal decisions, and statutory changes; conducts research necessary to support contract negotiations and employee relations. Train and coaches managers and supervisors with respect to supervising employees; assists managers in identifying employee relations issues and determining appropriate courses of action. Trains managers and supervisors in employee relations best practices and strategies. Develops and delivers management training programs designed to advance the skills of VSCS employees. Advises institutional leaders in organizational development activities and provide guidance and insight when operating decisions intersect with or are affected by VSCS policies, procedures, and practices, Federal and State regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. Develops and recommends Human Resources strategies, policies, and procedures concerning business operations and personnel practices. Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

General supervision and direction are received from the Dean of People and Culture.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration or other closely related field plus five or more years progressively responsible, professional experience in collective bargaining and labor and employee relations activities or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills could be derived.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Previous work experience in a higher education setting highly desirable. SHRM certified.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of employee and labor relations, collective bargaining agreements and employment laws (state and federal), such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the State Employees’ Labor Relations Act. Human Resources practices and techniques. Dispute resolution and compensation administration.

Skills in:

Effective written and oral communications, keen listening and presentation. Effective use of negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution strategies. Computerized systems for word processing, spreadsheets and databases to retrieve and analyze data and/or create reports. Effective project and time management.

Ability to:

Comprehend, interpret, and apply applicable laws, agreements and policies. Build trust with colleagues and reconcile labor and employee relations issues. Remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in controversial and/or confrontational situations. Present and defend a position in front of an audience. Manage multiple complex matters in parallel.

LOCATION

Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions. This position is based in Vermont and is partially remote. The incumbent must report to a VSCS center or campus at least two days per week.

Physical Requirements:

Duties performed cause slight fatigue of eyes, fingers, or other faculties as a result of repetitive motion and/or long periods of standing or sitting. Duties require little physical effort in work with light to moderate (up to 25lbs) easy-to-handle materials. Duties will occasionally require the climbing of ladders.

Working Conditions:

Job is performed in a general office or comparable working area with many and frequent distractions such as noise and interruptions. Work schedule may vary during high volume periods. This general outline illustrates the type of work which characterizes the job classification. It is not an all-encompassing statement of the specific duties, responsibilities and qualifications of individual positions assigned to the classification. VSCS values individual differences that can be engaged in the service of learning. Diverse experiences from people of varied backgrounds inform and enrich our community. VSCS welcomes all qualified applications, including those from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. VSCS is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with ADA requirements, and will make reasonable accommodations for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant. Please contact Human Resources for assistance with accommodations at CCVHR@ccv.edu . All new full-time employees and certain part-time employees will be subject to a criminal background check. Any offer of employment is contingent upon the satisfactory results of this check.

Application Instructions:

In order to be considered, please submit a complete application package which includes a cover letter, resume/CV, employment application and contact information for three professional references at: www.vsc.edu/employee-resources/job-postings .