Senior Faculty Relations Partner

This position within the Employee Relations team of Human Resource and Workforce Strategy provides a broad range of faculty relations support functions, including but not limited to:
● Faculty consulting, conflict resolution, complaint investigation, policy interpretation, and the preparation and delivery of related summary reports and recommendations.
● Exemplifies strong emotional intelligence skills in working with supervisors and employees during conflict or discipline, executing team building, or implementing organizational
change.
● This position will be the primary HR point of contact for Faculty and will interact with all levels of leadership regarding legal compliance, discipline, terminations, and negotiated separations.
● Works with a high degree of autonomy and some independent decision-making in executing responsibilities. The incumbent works in close coordination with the Office of the Provost—especially the Vice Provost for Academic Leadership and Faculty Affairs (AL-FA)—to ensure alignment of HR processes with academic structures, policies, and faculty personnel systems.

Essential Functions:
● Provide counsel on faculty issues related to compliance with regulations and laws, assist in the development and delivery of appropriate feedback or corrective/disciplinary actions across academic units.
● Acts as a primary coordinator with faculty and academic business units to navigate HR processes, procedures, and transactions while liaising with internal HR teams.
● Facilitates employee access to ADA resources and may support accommodation processes.
● Manages and facilitates employment separations and due process for faculty employee relations matters. May represent Boise State University at personnel-related hearings, mediations, and depositions.
● Supports workplace resolution processes, including mediation or facilitated conversations.
● Participate in HR strategy discussions regarding continuous improvement in supporting faculty through an employee relations lens.
● Develops and conducts training on faculty-related human resources matters in coordination and partnership with Academic Leadership and Faculty Affairs and the Office of the Provost, including: performance reviews, discipline, terminations, ethics, and faculty policies and regulations.
● Promotes the use of Human Resources services within colleges and faculty departments, and collaborates with Organizational Development and Training and the Director of Faculty Success and Development to assess the professional development needs of faculty and staff. Identifies opportunities to integrate HR training initiatives into faculty orientation, performance management, leadership programs, and more.
● Collaborates with the Office of the Provost and Faculty Senate to support faculty policy implementation and compliance by identifying and providing input on HR and other related impacts as appropriate.
● Identifies legal requirements and government reporting regulations affecting human resources regarding faculty positions and functions, and ensures policies, procedures, and reporting comply with policy.
● Maintains a working knowledge of tenure, promotion, sabbatical, workload release, evaluation processes, and other general benefits to inform investigations or consultations.
● Conduct investigations concerning faculty/academic unit inquiries and/or complaints, draft summary reports, and provide recommendations in line with university guidelines.
● Coordinates with internal HR teams to facilitate and manage faculty contracts, and provides support for faculty hiring and background checks related to employee relations matters. Serves as the primary HR point of contact for academic units and adjunct faculty related to adjunct faculty contracts and related issues.
● Provide data analysis and reporting solutions based on university and college/ department needs, highlighting key trends in faculty relations to actively drive proactive solutions to improve faculty engagement, reduce risk, and minimize reactive work. May review and update faculty data within our human capital management system.
● Serves as a collaborator and/or participant in employee relations or other projects related to faculty or human resource matters.
● Support department or faculty employee relations actions outside of normal business hours.
● Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
● Functional knowledge of Faculty Senate Bylaws and Processes, Tenure Guidelines, Shared Governance, Title I and Title II of the ADA, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) , Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and related state and federal regulations
● Demonstrated knowledge of employment law, conflict resolution practices, and HR compliance in a university or similarly complex environment.
● Ability to advise faculty through sensitive HR issues to resolve conflict and seek workable solutions; conduct individual and/or group facilitation to foster effective communication and healthy workplace relationships among faculty members and between faculty and their supervisors (Department Chairs/Heads/Directors)
● Ability to investigate work-related or compliance issues and prepare summary reports, conclusions and recommendations.
● Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, Department Chairs/Heads/Directors, Deans, and various agencies at all levels of the organization; use reason and de-escalation skills to manage difficult or emotional situations; present facts and recommendations verbally and in writing; plan, design, implement, and conduct pieces of training to a diverse level of management and employees while maintaining strict confidentiality.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree and 5 years of professional experience or equivalent relevant experience.

Good knowledge of human resource administration, equal employment opportunity concepts, and legal requirements, including participation in resolving complaints and providing human resource consultation to staff.

Experience in analyzing human resource management problems and developing alternatives and recommendations; resolving complaints; providing human resource consultation to management and administrators; counseling supervisors in management practices and organizational design, and a general understanding of position development and compensation.

Preferred Qualifications:
● Experience working in a higher education setting with faculty employment matters.
● Experience working in a human resource generalist or senior employee relations partner role
● Familiarity with academic organizational structures and shared governance models.
● Understanding of faculty-related policies such as tenure, promotion, sabbatical, and faculty code of conduct.

Salary and Benefits:
 
Salary starts at $88,004.80 annually and is commensurate with experience. Boise State University provides a best-in-class benefits package, including (but not limited to):
● 12 paid holidays AND the University is closed between Christmas and New Year's (requires use of 3 vacation days)
● Between 12-24 annual paid vacation days for full-time Professional and Classified staff depending on position type and years of service
● 9.27% University contribution to your ORP retirement fund (Professional and Faculty employees)
● 11.96% University contribution to your PERSI retirement fund (Classified employees)
● Excellent medical, dental and other health-related insurance coverages
● Tuition fee waiver benefits for employees, spouses and their dependents
● See our full benefits page for more information!