Employee Relations Director jobs in Oakland, CA

For UCOP internal applicants, please login to the internal candidate gateway at:

UC OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

At the University of California (UC), your contributions make a difference. A world leader producing Nobel and Pulitzer prize recipients with over 150 years of groundbreaking research transforming the world. Choose a career where you can leverage your knowledge, skills and aspirations to inspire and support some of the greatest minds in the world, and those who will follow in their footsteps. Working at the University of California is being part of a unique institution, and a vibrant and diverse community. At the University of California, Office of the President, we propel our mission through impactful work locally, in government centers and systemwide. We are passionate people, serving the greater good.

The University of California, one of the largest and most acclaimed institutions of higher learning in the world, is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and public service. The University of California Office of the President is the headquarters to the 10 campuses, six academic medical centers and three national laboratories and enrolls premier students from California, the nation and the world.

Department Overview
Systemwide Employee Relations is responsible for facilitating the development and implementation of strategies and initiatives that build an environment of employee engagement in which people can do their best work. The Employee Relations unit collaborates with staff organizations and local Human Resource departments on matters involving staff engagement, fair treatment under policy, complaint resolution, and EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance. We work closely with the ten campuses, five medical centers and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to strengthen the employee/employer relationship. Employee Relations supports managers to be effective supervisors who promote excellence by successfully utilizing available tools and resources as well as a policy framework that facilitates an effective operating environment for staff at the university.

Position Summary
Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Systemwide Employee and Labor Relations, the Executive Director of Employee Relations is responsible for building a strategy of engagement and retention for employees across the University of California. The strategy will support the institution's goal to be an employer of choice that attracts and retains a highly engaged workforce and promotes a healthy and inclusive workplace. The Executive Director leads a team that builds and maintains systemwide collaborative partnerships with campus/location human resource offices, employee groups, employee relation units, and campus/location leadership. In addition, the ED and the Employee Relations unit collaborates with systemwide staff organizations and local Human Resource departments on matters involving staff engagement, fair treatment under policy, complaint resolution, and EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance. The ED will lead the development of appropriate metrics to measure effectiveness of employee relations initiatives. Based on the metrics, the ED, in collaboration with others, will establish new programs and policies in alignment with industry best practices in areas such as engagement, and retention. The ED makes decisions on issues related to fair treatment under policy and complaint resolution and ensures achievement of objectives including establishing a protocol and/or amending/creating policies for managing sensitive investigations and disciplinary actions for non-represented staff. Further, the Executive Director oversees EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance matters and business processes to increase institutional effectiveness on collecting data as mandated by the OFCCP. The Executive Director of Employee Relations works collaboratively with the Executive Director of Labor Relations and the Director of the Workforce Commitment office, ensuring alignment of the institution's people strategies and obligations across its employee groups.

Key Responsibilities

40% COORDINATE SYSTEMWIDE STRATEGIES, PROCEDURES AND POLICIES Develop, evaluate, recommend and implement the University's employee relations strategies, programs, policies, procedures and practices to align policy-covered employee interests with UC strategic objectives, policies, priorities, financial constraints and legislative relations; help solve employee relations issues as they arise consistent with this vision. Provide strategic and operational guidance on enterprise-wide employee relations policies, programs, and procedures. Assist and work closely with the 10 UC Campuses, 5 Medical Centers, Lab, AN&R, Academic and HR clients to ensure that local employee relations practices and priorities are in line with established University policies, guidance standards and goals. Assist local employee relations staff with employee relations related issues. Recommend and collaborate with others on strategic UC policy goals and changes to programs consistent with systemwide/campus/location needs/requests and best practices. Maintain liaison with HR management at UC locations to ensure effective implementation and management of HR policies and programs. Shepherd implementation of changes in Employee Relations policies throughout the UC system in consultation with appropriate key UC administrators and decision-makers.

25% OVERSEE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS LISTENING AND DATA GATHERING STRATEGY Design, lead, and deliver a continuous listening and data gathering strategy focused on gathering data and developing insights in support of the institution's people strategy and obligations. Define and build a robust and consistent evaluation approach for the quality and effectiveness of all labor and employee relations strategies to determine whether they promote the institution's mission and people goals. Combine operational data and employee voice from multiple touchpoints, including but not limited to, various employee engagement surveys, exit surveys, and other systemwide HR data and analytics. Monitor and analyze key employee relations metrics, such as turnover rates, employee satisfaction, and employee engagement, and recommend improvement initiatives based on the findings. Build and maintain effective relationships with employee and special interest groups such as Staff Advisors to the Regents, Council of University of California Staff Assemblies (CUCSA), other staff organizations to proactively build and improve the UC employment policies and practices for non-represented staff. Partner with systemwide HR leadership and internal Communications to ensure alignment and buy-in of employee engagement strategies and initiatives across leadership levels and create communication plans that keeps employees engaged and in-the-know.

20% OVERSEE COMPLAINT RESOLUTION AND COMPLIANCE EFFORTS Provide oversight and guidance on concerns related to applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws including Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and other similar federal and state laws. Facilitate the adjudication of PPSM 70 and EEO complaints and other investigative situations dealing with employee relations issues as required. Conduct thorough investigations into employee complaints, ensuring fairness, impartiality, and compliance with legal requirements. Collaborate with legal counsel to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations. Proactively identify potential employee relations issues and develop strategies to prevent or mitigate them. Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and changes in employment laws to ensure the organization remains compliant and maintains a competitive employee relations strategy.

15% SUPERVISE SYSTEMWIDE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS STAFF AT UCOP Leads a department of four or more career employees. Full responsibility for creating a healthy and sustainable workplace culture, hiring and terminations, performance management, salary administration, professional development, and all other aspects of people management. The size of this team may fluctuate over time.

Experience
Required Qualifications

Over 10 years 10 years management experience, demonstrated experience providing Human Resources and/or Employee Relations leadership in a complex setting, knowledge of labor and employment laws, and demonstrated ability to develop a strategy of engagement and retention in a public setting.

Skills and Abilities
Required Qualifications

Proven experience to lead, create vision, influence, and motivate a variety of stakeholders, excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. Establishes strong credible, trusting working relationships with stakeholders who have confidence in the work of Employee Relations. Good communicator and highly collaborative. Strong critical thinking skills and excellent research and analytical abilities.

Experience in collaborative, client centered, non-adversarial approaches to fulfilling the UC vision for employment by building strategies, policies, and programs to effectively recruit and retain high quality, professional talent.

Management experience with the ability to create a healthy and strong team culture and to plan and lead the work of staff performing a variety of activities within a complex and highly decentralized institutional environment.

Demonstrated political acumen, broad knowledge base and a successful history when dealing with a variety of employee relations issues, employment laws, and regulations.

Ability to integrate the needs of multiple entities (i.e. UCOP, Campuses, Medical Centers, Lab and AN&R) to address policy & strategic needs.

Proven ability to inspire, set program direction, model desired behaviors, and balance staff needs with the needs of the organization. Project management skills to plan and execute goals within specific timeframes and can balance and prioritize numerous competing objectives.

Interpersonal skills to effectively lead, motivate and influence others.

Advanced problem solving, issue recognition and resolution skills.

Previous demonstrated experience providing Human Resources and/or Employee Relations leadership in a complex setting. Advanced knowledge of other areas with human resources function including recruitment, compensation, labor relations, and employee benefits.

Must have thorough knowledge of UC system policies and procedures for employee relations.

Strong knowledge of the University environment including its infrastructure, goals, objectives, achievements, rules, regulations, and policies.

Education
Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development or a related area, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's Degree in Business, Organizational Development, Public Administration

Travel Requirements
10% as needed for systemwide meetings

Job Title
Employee Relations Manager 3

Job Code
000486

Salary Grade
Grade 28

Payscale:
$200,000 - $245,000

Full Salary Range:
$146,200 - $291,600

The University of California, Office of the President, is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The full salary range shows the growth potential for this position and the pay scale is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position.

Benefits: For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HOW TO APPLY

Please be prepared to attach a cover letter and resume with your application.

APPLICATION REVIEW DATE

The first review date for this job is April 12, 2024. The position will be open until filled.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check Process: Successful completion of a background check is required for this critical position.

Smoke Free Work Environment: The University of California, Office of the President, is smoke & tobacco-free as of January 1, 2014.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California , as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

EEO STATEMENT

The University of California, Office of the President, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: . For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: .

The University of California, Office of the President, strives to make this job board accessible to any and all users. If you have comments regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us at: or email the Human Resource Department at: .