Director of Employee Relations

Position Information

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Director of Employee Relations to provide systemwide leadership and expertise on complex employee relations matters across the CSU. This position serves as a trusted advisor to campus administrators, HR, and Faculty Affairs leaders, offering guidance on employee relations matters including discipline, performance management, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, and policy compliance. The Director develops and implements systemwide policies, procedures, and training programs to ensure consistent and legally sound practices, while fostering collaboration through a community of practice. Working closely with Labor Relations, the Office of General Counsel, Civil Rights, and other stakeholders, the Director ensures alignment with the California Education Code, California Code of Regulations and collective bargaining agreements and obligations under HEERA and proactively identifies systemic issues and risks. This role also functions as the escalation point for high-risk cases with potential litigation or arbitration implications, safeguarding the CSU’s commitment to fairness, compliance, and effective employee relations.

This position is approved for telecommuting (two days telecommuting, three days in office (in-person)) with onsite work at the main headquarters located in Long Beach, California.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Senior Director, Labor & Employee Relations, the Director of Employee Relations will:

-Provide case-specific consultative services to campus administrators and leaders on complex employee relations matters, ensuring consistent, legally sound, and practical outcomes.

-Serve as a systemwide liaison with campus HR and Faculty Affairs leadership to advise on complex and high-visibility employee relations issues.

-Advise campus leadership on a broad range of employee relations topics, including discipline, performance management, workplace investigations (not related to Nondiscrimination Policy violations), workplace complaints, conflict resolution, and the proper documentation needed in various situation.

-Coordinate cross-functional partnerships with Labor Relations, the Office of General Counsel, Civil Rights, and other subject matter experts to address complex or sensitive employee relations issues.

-Design, direct, and deliver training on employee relations topics such as workplace investigations, performance management, conflict resolution, and corrective action.

-Partner with HR colleagues to ensure training programs are consistent, effective, and implemented across all CSU campuses.

-Provide leadership and coordination for a systemwide community of practice in employee relations, fostering consistency, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing.

-Direct the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of systemwide employee relations policies, procedures, and best practices, ensuring alignment with CSU’s mission, strategic goals, collective bargaining agreements, and legal obligations.

-Interpret and apply federal and state law, collective bargaining agreements, and CSU policy to provide accurate and consistent guidance to campuses.

-Partner with Systemwide Labor Relations staff to align employee relations practices with bargaining obligations under HEERA and to provide input on bargaining proposals and contract interpretation.

-Oversee the collection and analysis of employee relations data, trends, and metrics to identify systemic issues, recommend preventive strategies, and drive continuous improvement.

-Serve as an escalation point for high-risk or sensitive employee relations matters, including those with potential litigation or arbitration implications.

Qualifications

This position requires:

-Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Studies, Business Administration, Public Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or a related field.

-At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in employee relations, labor relations, or human resources, including significant experience in a unionized environment.

-Expert knowledge of federal and state employment law including FMLA/CFRA, Reasonable Accommodations, HEERA, and collective bargaining agreements.

-Demonstrated ability to conduct and oversee complex workplace investigations.

-Strong policy development and program evaluation skills.

-Exceptional consultative and advisory skills.

-Advanced written and verbal communication skills.

-Analytical and data interpretation skills.

-Strong conflict resolution and mediation abilities.

-Strong leadership and collaboration skills.

-High degree of discretion, judgment, and integrity.

-Strong knowledge of the principles of disciplinary processes, including due process, and progressive discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

-Experience in a unionized, public-sector environment.

-Experience representing management in administrative hearings, grievance or arbitration proceedings.

-Professional HR or labor relations certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CLRP).

-Change management and organizational development experience.