Assistant Director of Employee Relations/ Senior Employee Relations Consultant

About the role

The Assistant Director of Employee Relations/Senior Employee Relations Consultant serves as a senior-level human resources professional and subject matter expert responsible for leading complex employee relations and equal employment opportunity matters across the University. This position provides advanced consultation to leadership, oversees high-risk and sensitive investigations, supervises investigative staff including external contractors, and supports the Director in ensuring consistent, compliant, and effective employee relations practices.

Responsibilities

• Provides advanced consultation, guidance and advice to employees and all levels of management on a wide-range of employee relations topics affecting faculty and staff (EHRA-NF/EPS and SHRA) including disciplinary actions and involuntary separations, performance management, mediation and conflict/resolution, employee conduct issues, consultation on complex workplace issues and work environment concerns, investigations into employee misconduct, harassment, discrimination and disability accommodation.
• Serves as the principal deputy to the Director of Employee Relations & Equal Employment Opportunity (Director) and is authorized to act on behalf of the Director during periods of absence or when delegated, ensuring continuity of operations and leadership within the unit.
• Manages complex and dynamic issues, resolves complicated and unusual problems, and demonstrates a high level of independent decision-making to include conducting complex, high-level investigations.
• Assesses work culture requirements, analyzes EEO/AA data and trends, develops training, collects data and metrics to set strategic goals, leads and/or serves on special project teams and committees as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Labor Relations, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in employee relations, human resources, workplace investigations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading or independently conducting complex workplace investigations.
• Advanced working knowledge of federal and state employment laws applicable to public-sector or higher education environments.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in sensitive, high-risk employee relations matters.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or Juris Doctor (JD).
• Experience in higher education, public-sector, or similarly regulated environments.
• In-depth knowledge of Office of Human Resources, UNC System, University policies and federal and state laws and regulations to provide advice, counsel and support to management staff in the application of HR processes, policies and procedures and implement strategies that support the goals of the University.
• Professional HR certification such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP.
• Formal training or certification in workplace investigations, mediation, or conflict resolution.
• Experience supervising or mentoring professional staff.
• Demonstrated experience delivering training or presentations on employee relations, investigations, or HR-related topics.

Pay

Commensurate with education and experience

Schedule

On-site (Employees are primarily in the office and/or have a critical job requirement that requires dedicated office space on-site)