What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director Academic Collective Bargaining position at Western Michigan University?
Position Details
Posting Summary
College
Oth Academic Affrs Operations
Executive Area
Provost & VP Academic Affairs
Department
Provost & VP Academic Affairs
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number
S648P
Job Type
Full Time, Regular
Pay Type
Exempt/Salaried
Pay Grade
Z2
Campus Location
WMU-Kalamazoo - Main Campus
Salary Range
Pay is commensurate with qualifications and experience, combined with an excellent benefits package.
General Summary
The incumbent serves as a senior staff member and advisor to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in the areas of academic labor relations issues, conflict resolution, and other major responsibilities as assigned. The incumbent also advises the President in the areas of academic labor relations especially during negotiations with the faculty, teaching assistants and part-time instructors unions.
Major Duties
- Acts as the Director of Labor Relations and Contract Administration as defined in the Agreement between Western Michigan University and the WMU American Association of University Professors (WMU-AAUP) and in a similar capacity with the Teaching Assistants Union (TAU) and Professional Instructors Organization (PIO).
- Represents the University in its relations with the WMU-AAUP, TAU and PIO.
- Implements the existing Agreements between Western and the WMU-AAUP, TAU and PIO. This includes assisting with and/or adjudicating Step One grievances, Step Two grievances and assisting chairs, deans, the provost and the president on disciplinary actions.
- Responsible for timely resolution of all formal complaints brought by faculty, part-time instructors and graduate assistants under the Agreements; intervenes and helps to moderate and/or resolve disputes on an informal basis.
- Provides pertinent information and guidance to chairs, deans, the provost, the president and other University administrators, managers, and supervisors in contract interpretation, conflict resolution, and other administrative matters.
- Organizes the negotiation efforts and participates as part of the negotiating team in contract negotiations with all three academic bargaining units. Makes recommendations on the composition of Western’s negotiating team.
- Maintains Academic Labor Relations webpage and Academic Affairs Master Calendar.
- Designs administrative strategies for achieving, maintaining and fostering positive relationships with faculty, part-time instructors and graduate assistants; undertakes the tactical operations for implementing those strategies.
- Collaborates (daily) with senior academic administrators on any/all issues related to faculty, part-time instructors and/or graduate assistants; including, but not limited to, employment, compensation, leaves of absence, and/or termination.
- Recommends new policy, revises existing policies.
- Serves as principal advisor and resource for the provost and academic affairs in conflict resolution.
- Resolves or recommends resolution of specific issues as assigned by the provost.
Minimum Qualifications
- Earned bachelor’s degree in a related discipline from an accredited institution.
- Familiarity with faculty personnel matters, including appointment, tenure and promotion
- Familiarity with higher education academic labor unions.
- Knowledge of labor and employee relations laws.
- Five or more years of relevant professional experience, specifically in human resources, faculty relations or other directly associated fields of employee relations management.
- Strong organizational, management, leadership and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated interest, skills and experiences in working with diverse groups.
- Demonstrated excellence at both verbal and written communication.
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collective bargaining environment.
- Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, discretion and judgment with highly sensitive information.
Desired Qualifications
- Legal training, earned JD, or earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
- Ten or more years of experience in higher education collective bargaining units.
- Experience working with faculty/personnel processes.
- Familiarity with the WMU-AAUP, TAU and PIO Agreements and University policies and procedures.
- Ability to identify and implement innovative approaches to problem solving.
- An understanding of administering collective bargaining contracts, and familiarity with academic policies and procedures.
- Ability to conduct analyses and synthesize detailed information.
- Demonstrated competence in or willingness to learn relevant technology or software.
Special Instructions to Applicants
- Internal applicants should use the WMU – Internal Application.
- External applicants should use the WMU Application.
Additional Position Information
Review of the candidates will begin March 19, 2024 and continue until an outstanding candidate is selected. Applicants should submit electronically the following information:
- Letter describing background and accomplishments that demonstrates how experience matches position’s requirements..
- Resume.
- Names, telephone numbers, and addresses (including email) of five references who can provide substantive knowledge of leadership and attest to professional qualifications and skills as related to successful employee relations experience.
Please visit https://www.wmujobs.org for detailed information and application procedures. For more information on WMU and the Kalamazoo Community see www.wmich.edu/ and www.kalamazoocity.org.
WMU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and all other qualified individuals are encourage to apply.
Physical requirements and working conditions
- Work is generally performed in a well-lit, temperature-controlled indoor environment with occasional exposure to the outdoors or any number of elements.
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