Human Resources

Summary

The Workforce Relations Specialist is responsible for mitigating risk for the institution and creating capacity and competency for managers and supervisors in counseling and guiding them through complex employee issues; and balancing both the need to mitigate risk and to positively impact the employee experience in addressing employee concerns and reaching fair and equitable solutions. Areas of primary responsibility will include investigations, corrective action, coaching and counseling with managers and supervisors, policy and contract interpretation. This position serves on the leadership team within the Human Resources Department.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. Service as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters across the institution.
2. Provide efficient, consistent and prompt consultative services, thereby creating capacity for managers and supervisors.
3. Provide consultative, advising, and coaching services in areas to include: conflict resolution, performance issues, and disciplinary actions.
4. Mediate workplace disputes effectively
5. Provide effective advising services to managers during performance improvement plans.
6. Assist managers with preparing for difficult conversations with employees that will assist in leading to effective concern resolution.
7. Advising managers on how to handle difficult performance issues, disciplinary actions, and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)
8. Serve as a Labor Designee for bargaining units which includes serving as the contract liaison, host labor/management meetings, serve as the employer representative in labor negotiations, draft and publish contracts.
9. Respond to grievances, written complaints and assist General Council with legal matters as they relate to Human Resources.
10. Provide leadership in investigations into misconduct or policy violations.
11. Develop, interpret and enforce institutional policy, and collective bargaining agreements in a fair and equitable manner.
12. Partner with HR colleagues and other stakeholders in areas of FMLA and ADA and other leaves of absences.
13. Provide education to managers and employees on policies, rights and best practices. This may be through individual conversations or group trainings.
14. Manage Unemployment claims and respond and represent as needed.
15. Develop tools and templates for managers to utilize.
16. Partner with the Chief Human Resources Office on complex or sensitive cases.
17. Perform appropriate referrals to University or community resources.
18. Provide varying levels of final outcome letter development support from drafting, reviewing drafts written by others or issuing and delivering final outcomes.
19. Track appropriate level of detail by case to ensure ability to identify and address trends through reporting and training opportunities or policy needs.
20. Utilize exceptional written communication skills to prepare appropriate documentation for each matter with discoverability in mind
21. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University and departmental continuous improvement initiatives.
22. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Labor Relations or other related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

Required Experience

Experience or education/training in one or more of the functional areas of responsibility

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Specialist: less than three years experience in one or more of the functional areas of responsibility
• Senior Specialist: three or more years experience in one or more of the functional areas of responsibility
• Experience working in higher education Human Resources.
• PHR or SHRM-CP certified preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations with the ability to interpret and apply.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building and oral/written communication skills (including electronic communications).
• Excellent time management skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, with particular attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to make administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive, confidential topics.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex information and to define and solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently under limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to give presentations to audiences of all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects in a timely and professional manner in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible, diplomatic, patient, service-driven, a self-starter, and have a willingness to learn.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with complex, high stress, and confidential issues.
• Demonstrated the ability to initiate and lead projects or improvements, identifying areas for enhancement and effectively translating ideas into actionable plans.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a team.
• Demonstrated commitment to preserving documentation.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following training courses:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Annual Data Security Training
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Additional training will be required by the department on a periodic basis.

Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

1

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

-

Pay Rate/Salary

The minimum salary for this position is $65,000 . The final salary will depend on experience and qualifications.

Title of Position Supervisor

Chief Human Resources Officer

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

The successful candidate will be assigned the job title level that most closely aligns with their related work experiences, skills and abilities.