Employment Relations Specialist

Job Summary:

Under the general supervision of the Workforce Relations Lead, this position is responsible for the full scope of responsibilities related to employee relations within the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Division of Facilities Planning and Management. The incumbent is expected to demonstrate exceptional customer service by establishing and maintaining effective professional relationships with managers, supervisors, coworkers, and all customers, maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information with tact and discretion, and using effective team skills to contribute to the efficient operation of the division.

Key functions include: (1) providing consultation and guidance rooted in applicable employment law and policy to supervisor, managers, customers, and employees on all types of employee relations cases (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; (2) providing interpretation, guidance, and best practice on campus human resources policies and procedures; (3) actively listening to varied employee relations cases and offering guidance and options for resolution; (4) establishing strong business partnerships with all parties.

This position is hybrid, Monday through Friday, 7:45am-4:30pm, with occasional night shift hours.

About the Division of Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M):
Facilities Planning & Management consists of the following departments: Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor; Physical Plant; Transportation Services; Capital Planning and Development; Campus Planning and Landscape Architecture; Environmental, Health and Safety; and Space Management. We are a diverse, complex, 24-hour operation which includes multiple and rotating shifts and employs over 1200 academic and university employees, temporary employees, and students; this includes non-English speaking employees.

Facilities Planning & Management is a full-spectrum service organization that builds, maintains, and operates the physical environment of UW-Madison in the university's 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. For more information, please visit: https://inside.fpm.wisc.edu/. 

Responsibilities:

Identifies, analyzes, and evaluates workforce relations issues and various courses of action to consistently and effectively resolve issues within a work unit to contribute to the efficient operation of the unit.

• 20% Advises employees, supervisors, managers, and human resources staff regarding sensitive employee issues and documents activities according to established polices and procedures
• 20% Serves as subject matter expert for employee relations policies and processes within a designated focus area or work unit
• 10% Assists in the development and delivery of programs and policies aligned with unit objectives and institutional employee relations strategies
• 20% Schedules logistics and secures resources for managers regarding the resolution of workforce relations issues
• 10% Participates in grievance issues, employee disciplinary transactions and terminations, and exit interviews
• 20% Acts as the primary Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) for FP&M

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.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Required
Bachelor's Degree
Focus in HR, Organizational Psychology, or related field OR four (4) years' professional experience working in the Human Resources field

Qualifications:

REQUIRED:
-- Excellent communication skills including verbal and written
-- 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:
-- Experience in a higher education institution, state, or government agency
-- 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 with a multi-shift, multi-lingual employee population

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%

This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Typical Schedule:
Monday-Friday from 7:45 am - 4:30 pm
This position will also have occasional night hours to support 2nd and 3rd shifts as needed.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Salary:

Minimum $62,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The starting salary for the position is $62,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf. 

Additional Information:

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 your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

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, the incumbent is required to complete the relevant training on an annual basis.

How to Apply:

To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. Please submit a resume and cover letter. In your application materials, detail your experience as it pertains to this position.

Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with titles, emails, and phone numbers (including at least one supervisory reference). Please note that references will not be contacted without your prior knowledge.

Contact:

Passion Malotky
passion.malotky@wisc.edu
608-890-1852
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

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Official Title:

Empl Rel Spec(HR016)

Department(s):

A71-FACILITIES PLNG AND MGMT/AVC/HR-PAYROLL

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number:

314473-AS

 

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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 backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Division Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please 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 you and your references to answer questions regarding 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.