The Academic Labor and Employee Relations Specialist serves a vital role in supporting and advancing effective labor and employee relations at the university. Reporting to the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs with a dotted line to the Human Resources Senior Director of Labor Relations, this position operates at the intersection of academic personnel management and labor contract compliance. The Specialist will collaborate closely with key stakeholders, including the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Provost, Human Resources, academic deans, department chairs, supervisors, union stewards, and union members.

The Specialist is responsible for ensuring consistent and compliant implementation of the university’s collective bargaining agreements, providing guidance to university leaders and supervisors on contract interpretation, and helping resolve labor and employee relations matters in a timely and effective manner. The role includes active participation in collective bargaining, serving as a key support to the Office of Faculty Affairs, the Senior Director of Labor Relations, and designated university counsel. The Specialist will also contribute to proactive labor relations strategies, policy development, and training initiatives to support a positive and productive work environment for academic employees covered under the bargaining unit.

The specialist should be excellent in communications, building relationships and project management with the ability to oversee cross campus working groups to implement and administer the contract and establishing consistency across campus units.

20% - Labor and Employee Relations Management:

• Serve as the initial point of contact for academic labor and employee relations issues and communications, including grievances, disputes, and contract requirements. Works with key partners and supervisor on documentation, facilitation and tracking of action steps.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and first point of contact to university administrators on contract provisions.
• Works with all parties to proactively identify and have concerns addressed to mitigate escalation for formal conflict resolution.
• With the HR Sr. Director of Labor Relations develops and maintains a strong working relationship with the union steward(s).

20% - Policy Compliance and Alignment:

• Works with unit leaders and administrators to ensure compliance of institutional policies and procedures with collective bargaining agreement.
• Engages and collaborates with campus partners to develop, update and maintain policies, processes, procedures to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, university policy, memoranda of agreement and best practice.
• Identifies areas in the collective bargaining unit which may require proposed article updates. May participate in drafting language updates with the collective bargaining team.
• Ensures required reporting, training and communication requirements are fulfilled.

20% - Training, Development, and Communication:

• Under the direction of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, responsible for the development and delivery of educational sessions and resources for management on academic labor relations, contract administration, and conflict resolution to ensure the contract is well-understood and implemented consistently.
• Collaborates with Human Resources and other partners in creating and delivering programming to provide a cohesive development framework for management. In partnership with communications staff and Senior Labor Relations Officer, draft union related communications for the Provost Office and maintain and update web-based resources as required in collective bargaining agreement.

10% - Collective Bargaining:

• Participate in and provide administrative support for collective bargaining negotiations with the faculty union, ensuring agreements align with institutional goals and legal requirements.

10% - Conflict Resolution:

• Provides support and facilitation for the mediation and resolution of labor and employee disputes and grievances in partnership with human resources and general counsel in a fair and timely manner, consistent with contract terms.

10% - Project management:

• Serves as a project manager for campus project activities related to contract provisions. Tracks the progress of cross-campus partners implementing aspects of the contract and facilitates meetings as appropriate.

• Analyze academic labor and employee relations data and trends to inform strategic decision-making and policy development. In partnership with HR and AIRE, contribute to the development of robust mechanisms for reporting union-related information and disseminate the report as relevant to appropriate campus partners.
• Develops regular reports for distribution to university leadership.
• Works with necessary partners to ensure reporting requirements are developed and delivered by required deadline. Answers or responds to data related questions or inquiries.

5% - Other Duties as Assigned

• This position may require occasional evening or weekend work to meet deadlines or attend meetings.
• The role involves working in an office environment on the University of Kansas, Lawrence Campus, with frequent interaction with faculty, staff, and union representatives, with opportunity for some hybrid work.

• A bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field is required.
• Minimum of three years experience in labor and/or employee relations, negotiation, facilitation, or mediation.
• Experience in managing complex projects, programs or initiatives requiring strong organizational skills.
• Experience working in an academic setting and with the development, interpretation, and application of academic policies and procedures.
• Strong verbal, written communication skills with experience in developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders as demonstrated by experience and references.
• Direct work experience in conflict resolution.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• A Master's degree in the listed areas above or JD is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in labor and employee relations, with at least one year of experience specifically in academic labor relations.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Experience in developing and delivering training in various formats.
• Ability to analyze complex data and develop strategic solutions.

A complete application will include:

• a cover letter detailing how you meet the required qualifications;
• an up-to-date resume; and
• a list of 3 professional references.

First review of this position will be Monday, June 16, 2025 and will continue until the position has been filled.

Terri Osborn
[email protected]

Starts at $70,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications

Monday June 16, 2025

Monday August 4, 2025