Assistant Director of Employee and Labor Relations

About the role

The Assistant Director provides operational leadership and oversight for Brown University’s employee and labor relations (ELR) programs. This role is central to the university’s mission of creating a collaborative, engaged, and thriving work environment.

Responsibilities

• Negotiation & Advocacy: Coordinating and leading negotiations for successor contracts and ensuring compliance with existing collective bargaining agreements.
• Regulatory Oversight: Ensuring strict adherence to applicable labor and employment laws.
• Stability: Managing grievance procedures to maintain a stable, respectful labor-management environment.
• Labor Relations Support: Collaborating with key campus partners to manage complex employee relations issues, including disciplinary actions and hotline complaints.
• Investigations and Conflict Resolution: Providing expert coaching on performance management and facilitating conflict resolution.
• Training and Compliance Management: Driving operational excellence by leveraging technology for case management tracking and developing training resources.
• ELR Project Management and Strategic Initiatives: Assisting in the development and administration of the university’s labor relations strategies.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive employee and labor relations and/or human resources experience, including significant experience in a position that requires knowledge and application of the principles and practices of labor and employee relations.
• Expertise and knowledge in navigating complex unionized employee work environments and negotiations.
• Strong technical expertise utilizing HRIS systems, with a preference for Workday and/or Salesforce systems.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or Juris Doctor (JD) preferred.
• Knowledge of federal and state labor laws (e.g., NLRA, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title IX).
• Exceptional negotiation and mediation skills with a track record of achieving mutually beneficial outcomes in complex unionized environments.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills to convey complex information to diverse audiences.
• Superior critical thinking skills to interpret complex situations and develop proactive, data-driven ELR solutions.
• Results-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems (Workday/Salesforce).

Skills

• Expertise in labor law and negotiation.
• Strong analytical problem-solving and integrity.
• Operational agility and technical proficiency.
• Inclusive collaboration and commitment to inclusion, equity, and belonging.

Benefits

The benefits of working at Brown include:

• Comprehensive health insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Employee assistance programs.