Director of Academic Labor Relations

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE: Portland State University is nationally recognized as setting a standard for urban universities in the 21st century. The University is strategically located in the population and business center of Oregon on a 32-acre campus with 41 major buildings in the tree-lined Park Blocks district of downtown Portland. Total enrollment exceeds 23,000 including more than 5,000 graduate students. Portland State was granted university status in 1969 and is a relatively young and growing university with an active continuing education program. The Branford Price Millar Library holds 1.28 million bound volumes and 8,900 serial subscriptions. As an urban university, Portland State serves as the center of the educational network in the Portland metropolitan area.

The Director of Academic Labor Relations (DALR) reports to the Vice Provost for Faculty Success (VPFS) and is the campus lead for academic labor relations and directly collaborates with the VPFS on short and long-range strategic approaches to academic labor relations. This position is responsible for developing, sustaining, and creating a culture that supports positive and professional relationships between academic employees, union representatives, supervisors, managers, and administrators. The academic faculty, staff, and graduate employees are critical to delivering the institution’s primary educational and research mission. Full-time faculty and staff are represented by the PSU Chapter of the American Association of University Professor (AAUP). The part-time faculty and researchers are represented by, PSU Faculty Association (PSUFA). The graduate teaching, research, and administrative assistants are represented by the Graduate Employee Union (GEU).

The Director serves as the lead in managing collective bargaining negotiations, contract interpretation, and contract administration, including responding and coordinating all grievance responses in a timely and contractually compliant manner. The Director oversees and manages the implementation of investigatory meetings, progressive discipline, and employee separation agreements. The Director may appear on behalf of the University at arbitration, mediation, and appeal hearings. The Director has strong leadership skills and a proactive approach to academic employee and labor relations. The portfolio includes coaching and training for supervisors and managers in the areas of performance management, progressive discipline, setting expectations, and workplace interventions for academic employees.

The Director participates in a collaborative team-based environment, working with Human Resources, the Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion, Associate Vice Provost & Special Advisor to the Provost, and the Office of General Counsel’s Office to arrive at equitable, fair, and ethical solutions to the many complex issues that arise in academic labor relations. The Director collaborates with peer directors, managers, administrators, and supervisors at PSU, providing counsel to senior administrators, department heads, directors, managers, and supervisors across the University in an effort to foster employee engagement and guide represented academic employee and labor relations matters.

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

The starting annual salary rate for this position will be dependent upon qualifications and experience / competitive with an excellent benefits package including 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependant at any of the Oregon University System schools."