Labor & Employee Relations Manager
Kutztown Univ - HR
Harrisburg, PA
Full-time
Human Resources
Posted on May 17, 2023
Job Summary
Please note, this position is with the System Office at the PA State System of Higher Education, not Kutztown University. KUHR is only providing HR administrative support for this search.
Although this is a remote position, the successful candidate would be a resident of Pennsylvania.
This Office of the Chancellor position within the Labor Relations division performs labor relations activities of a centralized nature in support of the 10 State System Universities and the Office of the Chancellor. This position requires significant professional experience in labor relations, employee relations and the ability to work with considerable independence. The individual in this position serves as a State System member in meet and discuss sessions and as a staff member assigned to State System negotiating teams; investigates and responds to grievances submitted to the Office of the Chancellor; drafts interpretations and guidelines for the implementation of contract provisions and arbitration awards. Additionally, this individual provides day-to-day consultation and advice to State System universities and Office of the Chancellor managers on the interpretation and application of the various collective bargaining agreements/memoranda, arbitration awards, and labor and employee relations policies; and participates in the preparation and presentation of the State System's position in arbitrations, regulatory processes and hearings; and provides technical consulting and training for management.
This position is primarily remote, but requires travel to the main office in Harrisburg PA, as well as the 10 State System Universities.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Contract Administration
A bachelor's degree in labor relations, industrial relations, personnel management or related field of study is required, but a MA or MS degree in Human Resources or Industrial Relations is preferred. At least six years of progressive professional and administrative experience in labor and employee relations with at least three years in a public sector labor relations environment preferred and contract and grievance administration, including at least one year of experience as an employer's chief spokesperson for labor relations meetings, or any other equivalent combination of experience and training.
Preferred Qualifications
Please note, this position is with the System Office at the PA State System of Higher Ed, not Kutztown University. KUHR is only providing HR administrative support for this search.
Applications & Resumes will be accepted until position is filled, however; to ensure full consideration, application materials should be received no later than end of day May 21, 2023.
All applications for this position must be submitted via our online application/resume system ONLY. Please do not fax, mail, or e-mail any documentation.
Successful interview, reference checks, background clearances (PA Criminal, Child Abuse Clearance & FBI Clearance), and demonstration of ability are requisite qualifications for all positions.
The State System is very interested in hiring employees who have had extensive experience with diverse populations.
Kutztown University is an AA/EOE/member of the PA State System of Higher Education and
actively solicits applications from women and minority candidates.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University and the State System does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the University's Title IX Coordinator located in the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by e-mail at pena@kutztown.edu or the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by e-mail at OCR@ed.gov.
All applications for this position must be submitted via our online application/resume system ONLY. Please do not fax, mail, or e-mail any documentation.
The anticipated starting salary is based on the current applicable CBA or Management pay scale, depending on the job classification.
Successful interview, reference checks, background clearances (PA Criminal, Child Abuse Clearance & FBI Clearance), and demonstration of ability are requisite qualifications for all positions.
Both Kutztown University and the PA State System of Higher Education are very interested in hiring employees who have had extensive experience with diverse populations.
Kutztown University is an AA/EOE/member of the PA State System of Higher Education and actively solicits applications from women and minority candidates.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator located in the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by e-mail at pena@kutztown.edu or the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by e-mail at OCR@ed.gov.
Please note, this position is with the System Office at the PA State System of Higher Education, not Kutztown University. KUHR is only providing HR administrative support for this search.
Although this is a remote position, the successful candidate would be a resident of Pennsylvania.
This Office of the Chancellor position within the Labor Relations division performs labor relations activities of a centralized nature in support of the 10 State System Universities and the Office of the Chancellor. This position requires significant professional experience in labor relations, employee relations and the ability to work with considerable independence. The individual in this position serves as a State System member in meet and discuss sessions and as a staff member assigned to State System negotiating teams; investigates and responds to grievances submitted to the Office of the Chancellor; drafts interpretations and guidelines for the implementation of contract provisions and arbitration awards. Additionally, this individual provides day-to-day consultation and advice to State System universities and Office of the Chancellor managers on the interpretation and application of the various collective bargaining agreements/memoranda, arbitration awards, and labor and employee relations policies; and participates in the preparation and presentation of the State System's position in arbitrations, regulatory processes and hearings; and provides technical consulting and training for management.
This position is primarily remote, but requires travel to the main office in Harrisburg PA, as well as the 10 State System Universities.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Contract Administration
- Investigates and responds to employee grievances submitted to the Office of the Chancellor and recommends resolutions, where appropriate.
- Providesday-to-day advice and assistance to university management representatives on contract interpretations, application and implementation, and interpretation of arbitration awards and Labor Relations Board decisions, and general labor and employee relations issues.
- Recommends and drafts guidelines for the implementation of contract provisions and arbitration awards.
- Participates in the Accelerated Grievance Procedure contained within the AFSCME and SCUPA collective bargaining agreements.
- Represents the State System in APSCUF Third Step grievance meetings.
- Assists university representatives in the preparation of cases, maintains records of decisions, and communicates decisions to all universities, as appropriate.
- Assist in the resolution of complex labor relations issues.
- Assists in planning, developing, and conducting labor relations training.
- Assists in coordinating and maintaining a System-wide placement procedure for furloughed employees.
- Communicates with Commonwealth agencies, as necessary.
- Serves as the State System's chief negotiator or as a member of the State System's negotiating teams. Responsibilities include researching and drafting State System proposals and counterproposals; preparing cost estimates; preparing responses to union proposals; preparing negotiation status reports for the Board of Governors, Chancellor, and Presidents; preparing and maintaining website updates; and preparing and participating in contract briefings at all levels.
- Serves as the State System's spokesperson/team member in meet and discuss sessions. Responsibilities include researching and responding to union agenda items, preparing and presenting State System agenda items, preparing minutes for distribution to university representatives, and maintaining all records.
- Assists in the preparation and presentation of the State System's position in faculty and non-faculty arbitrations.
- Drafts instructions to university representatives regarding implementation of arbitration awards.
- Researches arbitration awards to provide recommendations/advice to State System managers.
- Assists in the preparation and presentation of cases before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board
- Collaborates with Legal representatives, as necessary
- Provides performance management guidance (coaching, counseling, professional development, disciplinary action) to management.
- Provides human resource policy guidance and interpretation.
- Conducts investigations
- Partners with the Office of Chief Counsel to resolve employee issues.
- Partners with System's Benefit and Human Resources Staff to resolve employee issues.
- Assists in the development and maintenance of a grievance tracking system for all unions.
- Assists in design and maintenance of the labor relations website.
- Prepares reports, grievance responses, negotiation proposals and cost estimates, and other documents using various computer software applications, such as SAP and Microsoft Office, etc.
A bachelor's degree in labor relations, industrial relations, personnel management or related field of study is required, but a MA or MS degree in Human Resources or Industrial Relations is preferred. At least six years of progressive professional and administrative experience in labor and employee relations with at least three years in a public sector labor relations environment preferred and contract and grievance administration, including at least one year of experience as an employer's chief spokesperson for labor relations meetings, or any other equivalent combination of experience and training.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of the general principles of labor and employee relations
- Knowledge of the methods, practices, and techniques of collective bargaining including the evaluation of existing contracts, assessment of contract proposals, preparation of recommended approaches for negotiations, contract interpretation, grievance administration, and rules and procedures regarding the arbitration of contractual disputes.
- Knowledge of federal and state labor and employee relations laws.
- Ability to express ideas clearly, effectively, and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to analyze labor relations issues accurately and to provide advice in a timely manner.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with management and labor representatives.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Ability to meet deadlines and objectives.
- Must have a strong capacity to utilize computer software applications.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
Please note, this position is with the System Office at the PA State System of Higher Ed, not Kutztown University. KUHR is only providing HR administrative support for this search.
Applications & Resumes will be accepted until position is filled, however; to ensure full consideration, application materials should be received no later than end of day May 21, 2023.
All applications for this position must be submitted via our online application/resume system ONLY. Please do not fax, mail, or e-mail any documentation.
Successful interview, reference checks, background clearances (PA Criminal, Child Abuse Clearance & FBI Clearance), and demonstration of ability are requisite qualifications for all positions.
The State System is very interested in hiring employees who have had extensive experience with diverse populations.
Kutztown University is an AA/EOE/member of the PA State System of Higher Education and
actively solicits applications from women and minority candidates.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University and the State System does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the University's Title IX Coordinator located in the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by e-mail at pena@kutztown.edu or the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by e-mail at OCR@ed.gov.
All applications for this position must be submitted via our online application/resume system ONLY. Please do not fax, mail, or e-mail any documentation.
The anticipated starting salary is based on the current applicable CBA or Management pay scale, depending on the job classification.
Successful interview, reference checks, background clearances (PA Criminal, Child Abuse Clearance & FBI Clearance), and demonstration of ability are requisite qualifications for all positions.
Both Kutztown University and the PA State System of Higher Education are very interested in hiring employees who have had extensive experience with diverse populations.
Kutztown University is an AA/EOE/member of the PA State System of Higher Education and actively solicits applications from women and minority candidates.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator located in the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by e-mail at pena@kutztown.edu or the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by e-mail at OCR@ed.gov.