Employment Relations Specialist

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Employment Type:

Job Profile:

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Workforce Relations Lead the Employment Relations Specialist position provides comprehensive support of employee relations activities within the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Division of Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M).

This role requires a strong commitment to customer service demonstrated through the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with managers supervisors coworkers and customers. The Employment Relations Specialist is responsible for handling sensitive information with tact discretion and a high degree of professionalism.

Key functions of this role include:

• Providing consultation and guidance rooted in employment law and policy including but not limited to: performance management due process and just cause progressive discipline termination for cause probationary/evaluation periods grievance/appeal workplace investigations threats in the workplace and the intersection of medical leaves of absence and/or ADA accommodations that overlap with employee relations matters.
• Providing interpretation guidance and best practice on campus human resources policies and procedures.
• Actively listening to a wide range of employee relations cases and offering guidance and options for resolution.

Ongoing/Renewable

Full-Time: 100% FTE

Hours are generally scheduled Monday through Friday 7:45am-4:30pm with occasional night shift hours.

This position is eligible for partial remote work. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA) agreement. An RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Advises employees supervisors managers and human resources staff regarding sensitive employee issues and documents activities according to established polices and procedures

• Schedules logistics and secures resources for managers regarding the resolution of workforce relations issues

• Act as the primary Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) for FP&M

• Assists in the development and delivery of programs and policies aligned with unit objectives and institutional employee relations strategies

• Serves as subject matter expert for employee relations policies and processes within a designated focus area or work unit

• Participates in grievance issues employee disciplinary transactions and terminations and exit interviews

Department:

Division of Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M) Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor Human Resources

About FP&M:

FP&M is a full-spectrum service organization that builds maintains and operates the physical environment of UW-Madison in the universitys education research and outreach activities. We are responsible for everything from the building projects that change the face of campus to the flowers that beautify the grounds.

As an Employment Relations Specialist you will support the workforce behind FP&Ms complex 24/7 operation comprised of more than 1300 employees across eight departments; this includes employees that do not speak English. Find out more about our Division: minimum salary for this position is $62000 but is negotiable and commensurate with experience.

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous paid time off competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance tax-advantaged savings accounts and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits please see the Academic Staff Benefits Summary

Required Qualifications:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to adapt communication style to meet different audiences and situational needs
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to multitask and handle competing priorities in a dynamic work environment
• Experienced with Windows-based software Microsoft Office Suite and secure file sharing
• Comfortable learning new technologies and integrating them into daily workflows

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in employee/labor relations including but not limited to the development and consultation of policies and procedures recommending dispute remedies and establishing strong partnership with all parties (e.g. employees supervisors governance groups etc.)
• Experience working in higher education state or government agency or facilities or manufacturing environment
• Experience working in a multi-shift multi-lingual employee population

Education:

Required: Bachelors Degree with focus in HR Organizational Psychology or related field OR minimum of four (4) years professional experience in Human Resources field.

Preferred: PHR or SHRM-CP

How to Apply:

To begin the application process go to the Apply Now section of the job posting.

The following is required for your application to be considered complete:

• (1) Resume detailing your educational and professional background
• (2) Cover letter describing how your experience relates to the listed required and preferred job qualifications

Please note: There is only one attachment field. You must upload all of your documents in the attachment field either as one combined document or separate documents.

A search committee will review all application materials after the posted deadline. We will notify selected applicants to participate further in the selection process directly.

This position has been identified as a Responsible Employee (RE). Responsible Employees have a duty to report to the Title IX Coordinator any information they receive that suggests a violation of the UW-Madison Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence policy has occurred or is occurring which includes all instances of sexual harassment or sexual violence; this report includes identifying information of known complainants and respondents. As a Responsible Employee you will be required to complete the relevant training on an annual basis.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States a lawful permanent resident a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Contact Information:

Emma DeGan

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. SeeRELAYSERVICEfor further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength creativity and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity culture background experience status abilities and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching research outreach and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students faculty and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to including but not limited to race color religion sex sexual orientation national origin age pregnancy disability or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g. application interview pre-employment testing etc.) please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.