**29901BR** **Job Title:** Employee Relations Specialist Senior **Department:** Human Resource **Primary Campus:** University of Kansas Lawrence Campus **Job Description:** **70% - Performance Management & Employee Relations Consulting:** + Provide expert consultation to managers and employees on performance management, progressive discipline, policy interpretation, and best practices. + Engage with supervisors and employees with goal setting activities and best practices in the employee feedback and evaluation process. + Advise on complex employee relations cases, including terminations, layoffs, and sensitive personnel issues, in collaboration with HR Partners and campus leadership. + Facilitate cross-unit discussions to identify systemic issues, recommend improvements, and enhance communication channels across departments. + Serve as a strategic partner with HR Business Partners, General Counsel, and department leaders to align employee relations strategies with organizational goals. **10% - Program Support, Compliance, and Policy Development:** + Engage with or support initiatives related to labor relations, union negotiations, unemployment, workplace accommodations, and leave programs. + Participate in exit interview activities as required. + Interpret and provide guidance on university policies, procedures, and federal/state regulations, consulting with Employee Relations colleagues, General Counsel, and other stakeholders. + Collaborate with HR units/leadership and campus partners to draft, review, and revise policies and procedures, ensuring consistency and legal compliance. + Engage with offices such as Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, Ombuds, and Faculty Development on employee matters. **10% - Training and Proactive Communication:** + Design, coordinate, and deliver training programs for supervisors and employees on topics such as performance management, supervisory training, employee relations best practices, and compliance. + Partner with Learning and Development to integrate employee relations content into broader leadership development initiatives for new and existing employees. + Continuously evaluate and update training materials based on feedback and emerging campus needs. **10% - Special Projects and Professional Development:** + Lead or contribute to special projects addressing emerging HR trends, campus priorities, and strategic initiatives identified by HR leadership. + Participate in professional development activities to stay current with best practices in employee relations, labor law, and HR management. **Req ID** **(Ex: 10567BR)** **:** 29901BR **Disclaimer:** The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. **Work Schedule:** M-F 8:00-5:00 **FLSA Status:** Administrative **Contact Information to Applicants:** Katie Varner kdvarner@ku.edu 785-864-8374 **Required Qualifications:** 1. Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of four years of professional-level HR experience, OR a high school diploma/GED plus a minimum of eight years of related HR experience. 2. Demonstrated effective written communication skills as evidenced by application materials. 3. Minimum of two years of experience working collaboratively in a team environment. 4. Experience in Employee Relations, program management, performance management, progressive discipline, and/or case investigations. **Employee Class:** U-Unclassified Professional Staff **Advertised Salary Range:** Starting at $70,000 **FTE:** 1.0 **Preferred Qualifications:** 1. Master’s degree in a related field or Juris Doctor (JD). 2. Minimum of one year of experience in higher education. 3. Proven ability to design and deliver training on supervisory practices, performance management, and employee relations topics. 4. Experience investigating policy violations, managing grievances, and writing comprehensive reports and disciplinary documents. 5. Supervisory experience, including direct employee supervision or program management oversight. **Position Overview:** The Employee Relations Specialist Senior provides innovative, high-quality support to employees, supervisors, and campus leaders at the University of Kansas Lawrence & Edwards Campuses. This position delivers professional-level expertise through consultation with Employee Relations team members, General Counsel, and other key leaders to offer a broad range of services, including consulting, training, conflict resolution, policy interpretation, and reporting. Areas of focus include performance management, progressive discipline, legal compliance, union contract matters, notices of non-reappointment, and other sensitive employee issues. This role collaborates to support issues related to workers' compensation, background screenings, and works with HR Partners and Leave Specialists to ensure compliance with university policies and legal requirements. The senior-level specialist is expected to exercise independent discretion in decision-making while working collaboratively within a cohesive team focused on employee support and risk mitigation. **About the University of Kansas:** The University of Kansas is a major educational and research institution with approximately 30,000 students across five campuses and 10,000 employees. The main campus is in Lawrence, a vibrant community of more than 90,000, located 40 miles west of Greater Kansas City and 20 miles from the state capital. The Human Resource Management Office emphasizes high-quality customer service and engagement through cross-collaborative activities within its seven Centers of Excellence: Talent Acquisition, People Support, Total Rewards, Employee Relations, Learning and Organizational Effectiveness, HR Systems, and HR Partners. The University of Kansas HR organization is also a critical office in the One KU initiative whereby looking at operations, policies, processes, and systems synergistically across all campus locations. The Employee Relations Center of Excellence is and active partner with the Office of the General Counsel, the Office Civil Rights and Title IX, University Ombuds, Faculty Development, and other campus units. This position is in-person at the Lawrence Campus Office. **Reg/Temp:** Regular **Application Review Begins:** 05-Mar-2025 **Anticipated Start Date:** 01-Apr-2025 **Additional Candidate Instruction:** In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position: + Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications. + Resume/CV. + List of three (3) professional references. **Only complete applications will be considered.** **Application review begins Wednesday, March 5th. For consideration, please apply no later than Tuesday, March 4th.** **Job Family:** Administrative/Management-KUL **Work Location Assignment:** Hybrid