ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR LABOR RELATIONS
Req #: | 168173 |
Department: | HUMAN RESOURCES: LABOR RELATIONS OFFICE |
Job Location Detail: | Roosevelt Commons West |
Posting Date: | 05/30/2019 |
Closing Info: | Open Until Filled |
Salary: | Salary is commensurate with experience and education. |
Shift: | First Shift |
Notes: | As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here. |
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years.
University of Washington Human Resources has an outstanding opportunity for the assistant vice president for Labor Relations.
The assistant vice president for Labor Relations reports to the vice president of Human Resources and is responsible for distinct service areas:
The assistant vice president for Labor Relations leads a team that includes a director of negotiations, a director of dispute resolutions/administration, two negotiators and three support staff/analysts.
In this highly visible position, the assistant vice president is tasked with balancing competing interests and navigating complex legal and political environments. Guided by the responsibility to uphold the integrity and financial viability of the University and doing right by our employees, the assistant vice president fosters long-term and productive working relationships with labor unions, is responsible for timely and successful collective bargaining agreements, and proactively advances contract implementation requiring the ability to lead large cross-functional projects to ensure contract provisions are widely understood and operationalized in an effective manner that does not jeopardize compliance in other areas. The assistant vice president must be able to identify a proposal’s impact and risks and create opportunities to strengthen the HR/labor acumen of UW managers as it relates to the collective bargaining agreements and day-to-day supervisory challenges. This position must foster and maintain a collaborative relationship with the UW at its three campuses, UW Medicine leadership and partners in Academic HR, the Integrated Service Center (ISC), the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, and the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC).
COMPLEXITIES:
Highly dynamic environment, which encompasses 10 unions, 33 bargaining units, and twelve unique contracts covering nearly 19,000 employees (both staff and academic positions) across three campuses and three medical centers, requires a strong strategic leader able to communicate clearly and persuasively about complex policies, programs and decisions, and think creatively in developing new approaches and resourceful techniques to ensure that the Labor Relations team can maintain efficient operations with built in flexibility to pivot to developing trends and University needs.
This position will have frequent and substantive interactions with a variety of internal and external constituents, serving as the direct representative of the vice president for Human Resources as directed. Requires an effective leader with individual initiative, excellent communication skills, and the desire to motivate and serve multiple stakeholders while working within UW and state regulations and policies and ensuring overall compliance.
Success in this role requires the ability to understand and appreciate departmental and University priorities, to advise HR managers on labor/management practices and solutions, manage a high-volume of union information requests and grievances, and represent the University in matters brought to the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC).
DIMENSIONS AND IMPACT:
The assistant vice president for Labor Relations plays a significant role in creating and maintaining a diverse and dynamic work environment by creating and advocating for forward-thinking labor and negotiation strategies with campus and medical center executive leadership teams. In promoting and ensuring best practice for labor relations/human resources and in exercising a commitment to sustain positive and mutually-rewarding relations between the University, labor unions and represented employees, the position is a key partner is ensuring University practices are fair, equitable and meet the changing needs of a diverse workforce.
The decisions and recommendations made may affect individuals, specific organizational units, and entire organization, the entire institution and, because of our relationship to other state higher education institutions, there can be a state-wide impact. Labor relations strategy and compliance-driven contract administration has University-wide implications that will carry into the future.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic leadership & consensus building
Team development & management
Advancing a positive labor environment
SUPERVISORY:
Provides inspiring, visionary, and supportive leadership to the Labor Relations team while planning, and managing daily operations. Responsibilities for Labor Relations unit staff include making the final decision on hiring, recommendations for salary levels, employee performance evaluations, documenting requests for promotions and position reviews, merit process, disciplinary counseling, handling complaints and providing leadership in creating a positive team environment for the highest possible work productivity.
REQUIREMENTS:
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
DESIRED:
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Problem solving, independent judgment and decision-making are a daily component of the position. Substantial tact, flexibility and discretion are necessary in dealing with clients under pressure of deadlines and/or politically sensitive issues. The ability to maintain a consultative approach with major administrative or organizational heads, managers and supervisors is essential. The employee in this position must model a collaborative style in facilitating partnerships between the operations units and Labor Relations. Position may be required to travel for meetings and accommodate early morning and evening work as needed for negotiations.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.
The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 / 206-543-6452 (tty) or dso@uw.edu.