STAFF & LABOR RELATIONS SR CONSULTANT
Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27703
Staff & Labor Relations Sr Consultant
As a Senior Consultant within Staff & Labor Relations (SLR), you will partner with leadership, managers, and employees to foster a fair, equitable, and supportive work environment. You will provide expert guidance on HR policies, employee relations, and labor relations matters, while recommending strategies and interventions to strengthen workplace culture, ensure compliance, and address systemic issues. This role supports both Duke University and Duke Health. What You'll Do
Lead as a Subject-Matter Expert: Serve in a specialist and liaison capacity for Staff & Labor Relations and assigned entities. Research and evaluate HR trends in specialty areas; educate HR colleagues to ensure consistent and equitable application of policies. Collect and disseminate relevant HR resources; develop and support Duke-wide training and programming to strengthen employee and leader understanding of HR practices. Recommend new policies, programs, or initiatives to enhance HR service delivery and employee experience. Drive Organizational Insight: Inform the Associate Vice President of Staff & Labor Relations on significant organizational issues, trends, and emerging concerns. Prepare reports, analyses, and written recommendations on progress, potential risks, and corrective strategies. Support a Model Workplace: Coordinate and implement HR programs that advance Duke's strategic goalsincluding career advancement initiatives, employee input systems, and leadership development efforts. Provide staff support for major organizational projects (e.g., employee opinion surveys, diversity/sensitivity initiatives, conflict-resolution processes). Identify employee-relations challenges that impede organizational effectiveness and recommend appropriate interventions. Guide ADA, FMLA & Accommodation Processes: Participate in the interactive process to develop reasonable accommodations in accordance with ADA and related regulations. Provide guidance to managers and supervisors on FMLA interpretation, compliance, and enforcement. Lead Investigations & Labor Relations Activities: Investigate labor relations concerns and assist with developing appropriate resolution strategies. Represent Duke during hearings, grievance meetings, and other labor-related proceedings. Ensure application of collective bargaining agreements and collaborate with managers to maintain compliance. Oversee Corrective Action Processes: Evaluate proposed disciplinary actions for appropriateness and ensure compliance with University, Health System, and regulatory requirements. Partner with administrators and managers throughout the disciplinary process. Other Expectations: Support both University and Health System operations, which may require periodic on-call coverage on weekends or holidays. Perform other related duties as assigned to support the mission of Staff & Labor Relations. What You Need to Succeed
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Human Resources, or related field. Master's degree strongly preferred. Experience: Minimum of five years of HR management experience in a complex, multi-mission organization. Experience in health care and/or research environments preferred. Demonstrated leadership experience and deep knowledge of labor laws, collective bargaining, HR programs, and employee-relations practices. Ability to build partnerships and coalitions to achieve shared organizational goals. Skills & Attributes: Strong analytical skills and sound judgment. Ability to deliver HR guidance in sensitive and complex situations. Commitment to equitable, consistent policy interpretation. Strong communication and relationship-building abilities. Be You at Duke
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideasan exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values. Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain roles at Duke may require specific physical or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation processes will be provided by the hiring department. Minimum Qualifications Anticipated Pay Range: USD $77,898.00 to USD $124,598.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/ Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department. Degrees, Licensures, Certifications: N/A
As a Senior Consultant within Staff & Labor Relations (SLR), you will partner with leadership, managers, and employees to foster a fair, equitable, and supportive work environment. You will provide expert guidance on HR policies, employee relations, and labor relations matters, while recommending strategies and interventions to strengthen workplace culture, ensure compliance, and address systemic issues. This role supports both Duke University and Duke Health. What You'll Do
Lead as a Subject-Matter Expert: Serve in a specialist and liaison capacity for Staff & Labor Relations and assigned entities. Research and evaluate HR trends in specialty areas; educate HR colleagues to ensure consistent and equitable application of policies. Collect and disseminate relevant HR resources; develop and support Duke-wide training and programming to strengthen employee and leader understanding of HR practices. Recommend new policies, programs, or initiatives to enhance HR service delivery and employee experience. Drive Organizational Insight: Inform the Associate Vice President of Staff & Labor Relations on significant organizational issues, trends, and emerging concerns. Prepare reports, analyses, and written recommendations on progress, potential risks, and corrective strategies. Support a Model Workplace: Coordinate and implement HR programs that advance Duke's strategic goalsincluding career advancement initiatives, employee input systems, and leadership development efforts. Provide staff support for major organizational projects (e.g., employee opinion surveys, diversity/sensitivity initiatives, conflict-resolution processes). Identify employee-relations challenges that impede organizational effectiveness and recommend appropriate interventions. Guide ADA, FMLA & Accommodation Processes: Participate in the interactive process to develop reasonable accommodations in accordance with ADA and related regulations. Provide guidance to managers and supervisors on FMLA interpretation, compliance, and enforcement. Lead Investigations & Labor Relations Activities: Investigate labor relations concerns and assist with developing appropriate resolution strategies. Represent Duke during hearings, grievance meetings, and other labor-related proceedings. Ensure application of collective bargaining agreements and collaborate with managers to maintain compliance. Oversee Corrective Action Processes: Evaluate proposed disciplinary actions for appropriateness and ensure compliance with University, Health System, and regulatory requirements. Partner with administrators and managers throughout the disciplinary process. Other Expectations: Support both University and Health System operations, which may require periodic on-call coverage on weekends or holidays. Perform other related duties as assigned to support the mission of Staff & Labor Relations. What You Need to Succeed
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Human Resources, or related field. Master's degree strongly preferred. Experience: Minimum of five years of HR management experience in a complex, multi-mission organization. Experience in health care and/or research environments preferred. Demonstrated leadership experience and deep knowledge of labor laws, collective bargaining, HR programs, and employee-relations practices. Ability to build partnerships and coalitions to achieve shared organizational goals. Skills & Attributes: Strong analytical skills and sound judgment. Ability to deliver HR guidance in sensitive and complex situations. Commitment to equitable, consistent policy interpretation. Strong communication and relationship-building abilities. Be You at Duke
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideasan exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values. Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain roles at Duke may require specific physical or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation processes will be provided by the hiring department. Minimum Qualifications Anticipated Pay Range: USD $77,898.00 to USD $124,598.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/ Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department. Degrees, Licensures, Certifications: N/A