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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Empl Rel Spec
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-Madison’s 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
- 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 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.
As an Employment Relations Specialist, you will support the workforce behind FP&M’s complex, 24/7 operation comprised of more than 1,300 employees across eight departments; this includes employees that do not speak English. Find out more about our Division: https://inside.fpm.wisc.edu/about-fpm/.
Compensation:
The minimum salary for this position is $62,000 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: Bachelor’s 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, (608) 497-4469, emma.degan@wisc.edu
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for 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 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, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
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 Divisional 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 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.