POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Director of Employee & Labor Relations, the Senior Employee Relations Consultant provides guidance, support and expertise in employee relations matters to include discipline, coaching, performance management, HR policy interpretation. Key objectives include ensuring legal compliance and adherence to UMass Chan's policies and procedures are met in a consistent, objective and fair fashion. Provide guidance to managers and employees on employee relations issues, investigate formal complaints, make recommendations on UMass Chan's response, and ensure legal requirements are met in terms of employee relations in order to minimize liability to UMass Chan. This position also collaborates with other HR team members to address organizational needs and contributes to a range of projects to implement HR strategies (i.e., organizational behavior, change management, policy implementation).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Lead assigned major/complex projects in a variety of employee relations-related areas. Provide direction and guidance to assigned staff and consultants for the satisfactory performance of projects.
• Provides mentoring to Employee Relations Consultants and other staff including providing input to reviews, training and developing staff.
• Partner with and serve as a resource to employees and managers to promote and maintain positive employee relations.
• Maintain relationships with managers to proactively identify, manage and resolve employee relations concerns.
• Manage and resolve employee relations matters.
• Propose resolutions to complex and highly sensitive employee relations issues.
• Conduct investigations regarding potential misconduct and violations of UMass Chan policy.
• Write comprehensive fact finding reports on completed investigations.
• Advise and influence all levels of management regarding resolution employee relations decisions.
• Interprets and applies UMass Chan policies and procedures, applicable federal and state laws and regulations to decision impacting employer-employee relations.
• Coach and counsel management and staff on the performance management process.
• Ensure consistency, communication and collaboration in a matrixed environment.
• Conduct exit interviews.
• Uses HR employee relations metrics to identify trends, root causes and propose proactive solutions, programs and best practices in support of the HR strategy.
• Use HR employee relations metrics to determine trends and develop proactive strategies to minimize employee relations issues.
• Assists Director of Employee Relations in preparing reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing data and trends.
• Proactively minimize legal risk by ensuring client's comply with UMass Chan S policies and procedures.
• Participate in employee training programs as required.
• Ensure employee relations tracking systems are accurate and complete.
• Supports and promotes the HR mission.
• Collaborate with HR services to develop and deliver solutions to support client groups.
• Partners/collaborates with other HR functions to deliver excellent service to the customer.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 7 years of employee relations experience.
• Experienced in the interpretation and application of state and federal employment laws & regulations, including but not limited to, the Family Medical Leave Act, MA Paid Family Medical Leave law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the MA Wage Act, state and federal anti - discrimination statutes.
• Ability to provide credible HR guidance to and influence management at all levels.
• Proven experience coaching and counseling all levels of staff on a wide variety of issues, and a thorough understanding of employment law.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates credibility and integrity in communications.
• Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution, mediation, facilitation.
• Demonstrated team player.
• Strong customer focus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in order to successfully interface at all levels of the organization.
• Computer skills in MS office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), PeopleSoft and HRIS.
• Strong business acumen and a working knowledge of multiple HR disciplines.
• Analytical and problem solving skills including the ability to analyze data, understand trends, develop recommendations.
• Ability to travel between business locations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• PHR or SPHR Certification
• Lean experience a plus
• Prior experience in a lead role or with facilitating large complex projects
• Prior experience with electronic case management systems

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