Job Title: Employee Relations Consultant
Location: Human Resources
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 604555

Workplace Culture

NAU is a community devoted to student success and sustained by an unshakable commitment to our shared mission, vision, and values. We—faculty, staff, and administrators—thrive by combining our efforts and working side by side to further NAU’s culture of excellence.

Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Job Description

Employee Relations Consultant

Provides advice and assistance to managers, supervisors and employees regarding employee relations and management practices. Consults with department chains of command to resolve conflict in university work units; advises managers on the effective administration of employee discipline; coaches employees and supervisors toward the resolution of work environment issues. This position requires the flexibility to work extended and non-standard work hours as needed to accomplish objectives.

Responsibilities include:

• Advising and assisting University department leadership and employees with issues related to managing employee performance and resolving conflict. Performance management strategy advice may include effective performance evaluation techniques, performance documentation practices, methods to assess and research work environment issues and general policy and procedure advice.
• Works closely with management and employees to improve working relationships and move toward improving department and University effectiveness and efficiency and improving employee retention.
• Consults with managers and supervisors on the proper methods of administering employee disciplinary action up to and including termination processing. This includes negotiating resolution that mitigates university risk while balancing the business need of the department.
• Guides employees and managers through the University’s grievance process when necessary.
• Investigates problems and complaints that pertain to assigned organizational units. Develops and communicates effective recommendations for corrective action and problem resolution. Involves others, including supervisor, as appropriate.
• Collaborates with the Equity and Access Office, NAU Legal Counsel, and Employee Assistance and Wellness as appropriate.
• Acts as a resource to employees and managers on issues of HR policy. Interprets policy and provides advice on the appropriate application of policy for both employees and managers.
• Maintains appropriate documentation and records according to ER team procedures.
• Researches best practices, policy issues and other employee relations project related issues.
• Develops and provides training (one-on-one and group) to supervisors and employees on a variety of employee relations issues.
• Leads Employee Relations projects, which includes developing project plans/timelines and directing the work of others. May also serve on project teams and University committees that pertain to area of assignment.
• May have oversight of some combination of regular employee relations programs such as the performance appraisal process, unemployment reporting, record retention or employee relations web page management.

NAU is currently engaged in an Organizational Growth and Effectiveness Initiative, which focuses on positioning the University for future success of its operational practices. As a result, some aspects of this position may be subject to change, such as, but not limited to: duties, titles, reporting structure, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of professional human resources experience OR
• Nine years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience OR
• Any equivalent combination of experience, education and/or training approved by Human Resources.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with advising employees and managers in appropriate employee relations practices.
• Experience supervising professional staff.
• Public Sector and/or Higher Education human resources experience.
• Experience in interpreting and applying state and federal laws and rules.
• Experience developing and delivering formal training programs for managers, supervisors and staff.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively with people from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work with all levels of employees.
• Ability to form productive working relationships.
• Skill in solving problems using logic, diplomacy and reasoning.
• Ability to supervise staff, including hiring, coaching, and evaluating staff to perform satisfactorily.
• Ability to organize, track and prioritize assignments and tasks in order to meet multiple demands and deadlines.
• Skill in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and automated Human Resources Information Systems.

Background Information

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting.

Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

Finally, each year the Northern Arizona University Police Department releases an annual security report. The report is a result of the federal law known as the Clery Act and contains policy statements that address the school’s policies, procedures and programs concerning safety and security including policies for responding to emergency situations and sexual offenses. The report contains three years of data for Clery reportable crime statistics for the campus along with the most current year’s Fire Safety Report, which includes policy statements and fire statistics for Flagstaff on-campus student housing.

The report may be viewed at nau.edu/clery or by visiting the NAUPD website. A printed copy of the report is available upon request by contacting the NAU Police Department, Records Department at (928)523-8884 or by visiting the department at Building 98A on the NAU Mountain Campus.

Salary

Commensurate with experience.

**The starting salary will be determined by the qualifications of the selected applicant balanced with departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

FLSA Status

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

Benefits

This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available at https://in.nau.edu/human-resources/eligibility-enrollment/

NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.

Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each 6 months according to terms of the Conditions of Professional Service, which may be found at: https://public.azregents.edu/Policy%20Manual/6-303%20Conditions%20of%20Service%20for%20Service%20Professionals.pdf

Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed staff, will begin to participate on the first day of employment. Additionally, the long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of employment. More information is available at: https://in.nau.edu/human-resources/eligibility-enrollment/

Learning and Development

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days (https://in.nau.edu/Human-Resources/Required/). If your position includes the supervision of a benefit-eligible employee, we offer the NAU Supervisors Academy for you to complete within your first 2 years.

Application Deadline

Open until further notice.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on line at https://in.nau.edu/human-resources/ or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process please contact the Office of Equity and Access at: 928-523-3312/TDD - 928-523-1006 or PO Box 4083, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

EEO is the Law Poster and Supplements

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Please see nau.jobs for full job descriptions and details on how to apply online!  NAU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.