Associate Director, Employee Relations

About the role

The Associate Director of Employee Relations reports to the Director of Employee Relations and supports a respectful, inclusive, and accountable workplace. They partner with leaders, employees, and HR colleagues to address workplace concerns, strengthen performance practices, and ensure alignment with legal and institutional standards.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders and employees to address workplace concerns, resolve conflict, and strengthen performance practices.
• Provide guidance on policy interpretation, workplace expectations, and progressive discipline.
• Support the development and delivery of training on respectful workplace practices, conflict resolution, and compliance topics.
• Conduct timely, well-documented inquiries into complaints and workplace concerns, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
• Support performance management processes, including evaluations and improvement plans.
• Facilitate ADA accommodations through the interactive process and track outcomes for effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate case documentation and identify trends to inform improvements.
• Serve as a resource on Classified Board Rules and the COWINS Partnership Agreement.
• Participate in grievance processes and support resolution of labor-related concerns.
• Prepare documentation and contribute to meetings or hearings related to union matters.
• Provide guidance on employment laws, policies, and compliance expectations.
• Aid in inquiries involving student concerns related to employees and prepare clear summaries of findings.
• Support Title IX compliance efforts as Deputy Title IX Compliance Officer.
• Partner with legal counsel and internal teams on complex or sensitive cases.
• Monitor regulatory updates and recommend improvements to policies and practices.
• Track and analyze employee relations data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Maintain accurate records of cases, ADA accommodations, and labor matters.
• Use systems such as Maxient to document activity and support communication.
• Use insights to recommend improvements that enhance workplace effectiveness and employee experience.
• Partner with Organizational Development & HR and campus leaders to design feedback tools (e.g., surveys, exit/stay interviews) and translate results into action.
• Contribute to proactive strategies that strengthen engagement, inclusion, and organizational effectiveness.
• Participate in cross-functional teams such as the Behavioral Intervention & Threat Assessment (BITA) team to support and escalate relevant issues to ensure coordinated responses to employee concerns.

Qualifications

• Required Education/Training & Work Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Organizational Management, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Four years of increasingly responsible professional HR experience with focused experience in employee relations.
• Knowledgeable in federal and state laws and regulations, personnel theory, and human resource philosophy.
• Knowledge of business practices and policies including budgeting, planning and organization.
• Thorough knowledge of management and supervisory practices and principles.
• Ability to mediate conflict and handle problems related to performance issues.

Who You Are

To apply for this position, visit the State of Colorado’s Career Portal.