Assistant Director Of Employee And Labor Relations

Brown University

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Job Description

Reporting to the Director of Employee and Labor Relations, the Assistant Director provides operational leadership and oversight for Brown University's employee and labor relations (ELR) programs. This role is central to the university's mission of creating a collaborative, engaged, and thriving work environment that enables every employee to be high-performing and contribute their best toward the university's strategic goals. While serving as a champion for employee excellence, the Assistant Director ensures a policy‑compliant workplace by acting as a trusted advisor to managers and HR Business Partners on matters of conduct, performance, and collective bargaining. The Assistant Director partners with HR and campus leadership to develop and review workplace policies that promote both fairness and organizational health, consults on departmental reorganizations and employee impacts, and ensures that structural changes align with university policies, contractual obligations, and best practices for a high‑performing and productive workforce.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the development and administration of the university's labor relations strategies for approximately eleven staff and student bargaining units;
• Coordinates and leads negotiations for successor contracts and ensures compliance with existing collective bargaining agreements;
• Ensures strict adherence to applicable labor and employment laws;
• Manages grievance procedures to maintain a stable, respectful labor‑management environment;
• Manages HR investigations and resolution of complex employee relations issues, including disciplinary actions and hotline complaints, with a focus on equitable outcomes;
• Provides coaching on performance management and conflict resolution, fostering a supportive culture for managers and staff;
• Drives operational excellence by leveraging technology for case‑management tracking and developing training resources that promote policy compliance and a high‑performance culture.

Major Responsibilities

• ELR Operations, Policy Implementation and Compliance
• Labor Relations Support
• Investigations and Conflict Resolution
• Training and Compliance Management
• ELR Project Management and Strategic Initiatives

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field required; Master’s degree or Juris Doctor preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive employee and labor relations and/or human resources experience, with significant exposure to negotiations and unionized work environments.
• Expertise in navigating complex unionized employee work environments and negotiations; strong technical proficiency with HRIS systems (Workday and/or Salesforce preferred).

Job Competencies

• Deep understanding of federal and state labor laws (e.g., NLRA, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title IX) and ELR best practices; exceptional negotiation and mediation skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, and ability to build credible, influential partnerships across the organization.
• Superior critical‑thinking skills, and the capacity to develop proactive, data‑driven ELR solutions while maintaining professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Results‑oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment; proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems (Workday/Salesforce) and data‑analytics case‑management tools.
• Commitment to a team culture of communication, productivity, inclusion, equity, and belonging.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Benefits Of Working At Brown

Information on the Benefits of Working at Brown can be found here.

EEO Statement

Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person's race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, in the administration of its policies, programs, and activities. The University recognizes and rewards individuals on the basis of qualifications and performance. The University maintains certain affirmative action programs in compliance with applicable law.

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