• Deputy Director, Compliance, Employee & Labor Relations
  • Northeastern Illinois University

Position Information

  • Northeastern offers a rewarding working environment for our students and employees. Our faculty and staff are smart, dedicated people who work to create an excellent urban university experience for bright and motivated students.

     

    Job Summary:

    Consistent with NEIU’s commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, the Deputy Director, Compliance, Employee and Labor Relations has primary responsibility for leading responses to incoming reports concerning faculty, staff, and third parties. Working with other leaders, the Deputy Director oversees case management and serves as a designated campus resource engaged in addressing workplace conflict, issues, or concerns. The incumbent will partner with NEIU colleagues to assist with labor contracts of five collective bargaining units covering 270+ student employees, 650+ staff, 550+ faculty with non-faculty collective bargaining agreements, grievance administration, support and training of administration and professional staff, and development of policies and procedures related to employee and labor relations. Serves as the University’s Equal Opportunity Officer and Records Officer.

    The duties performed in this role are professional, sensitive, and related to public relations. Extreme judgment is required for confidential employee matters, union contract administration, grievance administration, and discipline. The successful candidate must be able to shift priorities quickly. Problem resolution, research/investigation, analytical, and persuasive skills are vital in this role.

    This position reports to the AVP of Human Resources.

     

    Job Description:

    • Employee and Labor Relations

      • Listens to employees, assesses situations and guides individuals toward effective problem resolutions and options. 

      • Develop, design, deliver and evaluate a range of training programs regarding mediation, negotiation, and other related skills sets to promote constructive communication, conflict resolution and collaborative problem solving. 

      • Consult with department leaders, managers and administrators to establish coordinated efforts to minimize the costs of workplace conflict; develop resources and tools to aid University constituents in fostering a culture of respect, collaboration and problem resolution.

      • Works proactively with management, leadership and union contacts to address employee concerns and conflicts; supports building administration with employee disciplinary processes. 

      • Consults with legal and senior leadership to interpret employment laws, (FLSA, EEOC, etc.) for application to specific employee relations situations.

    • Equal Opportunity

      • Receive, review and investigate complaints of discrimination or harassment.

      • Manage reports involving students, faculty, staff, and third parties from receipt to resolution. 

      • Provide search committees with hiring guidance, EEO search compliance information and track searches.

      • Develop action-oriented programs/activities to address affirmative action goals and diversify the workforce based on current composition and availability. 

    • ADA

      • Oversee the case management and coordinate the accommodation process for all University employees, including working with the employee, management, HR colleagues, vendors, work location, and other stakeholders as necessary.

      • Support the initiation and management of the interactive process with employees, managers, HR, along with applicable stakeholders.

      • Provide support and guidance while performing activities related to short term and long-term accommodations for employees at work or returning to work for medical-based accommodations, including review and consistent treatment of extension of leaves of absence as an accommodation. 

      • Act as liaison between employees, management, Payroll, Benefits, Facilities and other departments/systems as appropriate. 

      • Educate employees and HR on complicated aspects of return to work, accommodations, and complex case processes. 

      • Assists leadership with FMLA/LOA requests.

    • Data Tracking, Reporting and Records

      • Manage and continue to improve the University’s records retention and disposal program.

      • Counsel employees on compliance with the State Records Act and assist with the filing of records destruction requests to the state.

      • Maintain an up-to-date case management database, organizing and tracking all reports. 

      • Monitor activity to track for patterns and systemic concerns and any barriers to reporting. 

      • Assists with regulatory reporting requirements and inquiries.

    • Performs other duties as assigned.

     

     

Organization Information

  • Northeastern Illinois University's Main Campus is located on 67 acres in a residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago. The University has three additional locations in the metropolitan area: the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro and the Center for College Access and Success. Northeastern also is a founding member of the University Center of Lake County consortium campus in suburban Lake County, north of Chicago. Northeastern offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs.
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