Job Details

Director Labor Relations
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Position Number: 5961327
Location: Cheney, WA
Position Type: Human Resources

Director Labor Relations

About Eastern Washington University:

Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. As the regions polytechnic, we are recognized for our distinctive approach to hands-on learning that leads to in-demand careers. EWUs 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washingtons second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelors and masters degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a 24-25 College of Distinction (CoD).

Money magazine recently named EWU as one of its Best Colleges in America 2024.

Tribal Land Acknowledgement
Eastern Washington University resides within the traditional homelands of the Spokane People and other tribes who are connected through their shared history of this region. This land holds their cultural DNA and it is their Ancestors who are here and bring forth the knowledge of this place-the knowledge that comes from the land.

Job Summary:

As part of Eastern Washington Universitys ongoing commitment to excellence, we are seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Labor Relations to lead and manage our comprehensive labor relations program.

Position Overview:

The Director of Labor Relations will play a pivotal role in shaping the universitys labor relations strategy and fostering a positive work environment for all employee groups. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, this leadership position will be responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of labor relations, including contract negotiations, discipline, grievances, arbitration, and providing expert guidance and training to both employees and supervisors. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on EWUs workforce while contributing to the universitys mission of student success and community engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

Labor Negotiations: Lead and participate in collective bargaining negotiations, ensuring fair and equitable agreements for all parties.
Grievance and Arbitration Management: Oversee and manage grievance processes and arbitration hearings, working to resolve conflicts in a manner that aligns with university policies and collective bargaining agreements.
Discipline and Conflict Resolution: Provide guidance and support in managing employee discipline, conflict resolution, and investigations, ensuring compliance with labor laws and collective bargaining agreements.
Employee and Supervisor Training: Design and deliver training for faculty, staff, and supervisors on labor relations topics, including contract interpretation, conflict resolution, and legal compliance.
Strategic Guidance: Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on labor relations matters, trends, and policies.
Collaboration: Work closely with university leadership, union representatives, and legal counsel to maintain positive working relationships and proactively address labor-related concerns.

The salary for this position is $91,284 (minimum) up to $127,795. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills. In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/ .

Required Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in human resources, labor relations, business or public administration, or related field.
Five years of human resources or labor relations experience in public organizations, preferably higher education with progressively responsible experience to include:
- Labor contract administration
- Interpretation, and managing grievances
- Arbitration and discipline processes
Candidate must demonstrate interest, ability and/or experience promoting cultural competency, universal accessibility and/or diversity.

Preferred Qualifications:

Masters degree in human resources, labor relations, business or public administration, or related field preferred.
Higher education experience in Human Resources or Labor Relations preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Our ideal candidate will have have experience with the following:

Labor contract administration practices and strategies
Labor and employee relations principles, and practices
Research methods, data collection and analysis
Applicable federal, state and local employee relations laws, rules and regulations related to labor relations
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point; database management (such as Human Resources Information Systems), report generation
Records management requirements
The employee must be able to advise the university concerning labor relations matters producing work that is accurate and thorough to ensure a high-quality product, advice or interpretation
Work confidentially
Ability to effectively multi-task and work in a demanding work environment with short turn-around times
Research bargaining agreements and labor law
Analyze situations accurately and implement effective course of action
Read, interpret, apply and explain policies, union contracts and procedures
Use the computer and other office equipment proficiently
Prepare findings, reports or correspondence using correct English, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary
Develop and facilitate training
Communicate effectively and respectfully possessing excellent verbal and written communication skills
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others

Job Duties:
Coordinating and collaborating with investigative team
members, managing the disciplinary process, working
with supervisors to review performance and
investigative issues and recommending the
appropriate level of discipline; maintaining all
disciplinary backup records and meeting notes;
working with Human Resource Services staff and
supervisors/managers to proactively address issues
as they arise, and conducting or assisting with investigations.Percent of Time: 40

Serving as chair and/or coordinating and participating
in collective bargaining negotiations including
logistics; preparing reports; researching and analyzing
data, consulting with stakeholders, and proposing
strategies and changes; maintaining all negotiation
records and bargaining notes; coordinating and
responding to demand to bargain activities.Percent of Time: 20

Managing grievance cases through all levels of the
grievance process, up to and including arbitration;
work with supervisors preparing for the grievance
meetings and preparing grievance findings; working
with supervisors and Assistant Attorney General
preparing for the arbitration hearings by reviewing all
backup documentation, creating a chronology,
identifying the university position; writing findings;
maintaining all grievance records and meeting notes.Percent of Time: 10

Providing expert advice, guidance and on-going
training for university management/supervisors and
Human Resource Services staff on labor contracts
and practices, discipline and grievances in
conjunction with university policies, regulations and
state and federal laws; serves as primary contact for
labor relations matters with unions and Public
Employment Relations Commission (PERC);
providing monthly union reports and responding to
information requests from the union and PERC;
maintaining tracking records for the union requests;
and assisting with public records requestsPercent of Time: 30
Conditions of Employment:

During the course of university employment this position will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value; as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.
All new employees will comply with EWU Immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.
All new faculty and staff are required to complete DEI/Title IX/Hazing Training after their hire date. This should be completed no later than the first few weeks after hire. In person and Zoom training opportunities will be posted on InsideEWU and are listed on Human Resources site https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/training-resources/ under the required heading.
This is an Administrative Exempt position and is covered by EWU Policy 406- 01, Exempt Employment. https://inside.ewu.edu/policies/knowledge-base/ewu-406-01-exempt-employment/

Salary Information:

$91,284 (minimum) up to $127,795. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills.

Posting Date: 01/28/2025
Open Until Further Notice: Yes
Closing Date:
Screening to Begin: Immediately

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Submit your application materials through our online applications portal provided below. If you are unable to submit through the applicant portal, please contact Human Resources Services at (509) 359-2381.

To apply, visit https://jobs.hr.ewu.edu/postings/13314

EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.