Senior HR Business Partner

Who we are:

The University of New Haven, founded in 1920, is a private university whose mission is to prepare students to excel and lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a global society. The university offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs and has been recognized for academic excellence, nationally and internationally. In addition to its main campus in West Haven, the university has a campus in Tuscany, Italy. Learn more at newhaven.edu.

The Senior Human Resources Business Partner (SHRBP) serves as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to university leaders, managers, and employees on a broad range of human resources matters, with primary responsibility for employee relations and labor relations.

The SHRBP provides timely, practical, and consistent guidance regarding employee performance, workplace concerns, conflict resolution, corrective action, policy interpretation, organizational change, and compliance with applicable employment laws and collective bargaining agreements.

Working collaboratively with internal colleagues, the SHRBP promotes effective employee-management relationships, supports a positive and respectful workplace culture, and helps ensure that employment decisions and practices are fair, consistent, well-documented, and aligned with university policies and priorities. This role will also support labor relations activities, including contract interpretation and administration, grievance handling, preparation for labor-management meetings, and collective bargaining.

You will:

• Serve as a primary HR advisor to leaders and employees on employee and labor relations, including performance management, coaching, corrective action, disciplinary matters, workplace conflict, and employee concerns.
• Conduct and support workplace investigations, including interviews, document review, fact assessment, and preparation of findings and recommendations.
• Advise on employee separations and workforce changes, including involuntary terminations, position eliminations, reorganizations, and restructuring.
• Review employment and disciplinary actions for consistency with University policies, collective bargaining agreements, applicable laws, and established practices.
• Administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements and participate in grievance administration, disciplinary proceedings, arbitration preparation, labor-management matters, and contract negotiations. Develop effective working relationships with union representatives and leaders.
• Partner with leaders to identify employee and organizational challenges, assess employee-relations implications, and develop practical HR solutions.
• Interpret and administer HR policies and assist with the development and revision of policies and procedures.
• Provide guidance on applicable federal and state employment laws, including FMLA, ADA, FLSA, paid leave, and anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation requirements.
• Identify emerging employee and labor relations issues and recommend appropriate strategies to HR leadership.

You need:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or related field required; graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible HR experience, with demonstrated employee and labor relations experience; higher education experience preferred.
• Experience advising managers on performance management, corrective action, workplace conflict, employee complaints, and sensitive employment matters.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or supporting workplace investigations required.
• Experience with collective bargaining agreements, grievances, labor-management matters, and/or arbitration preparation required.
• Strong knowledge of employee and labor relations practices and applicable federal and state employment laws, preferably including Connecticut employment practices.
• Strong consultation, conflict-resolution, analytical, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to interpret policies and collective bargaining agreements and translate requirements into practical guidance for managers, including providing appropriate training when required.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex and confidential matters with sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
• Ability to effectively balance employee concerns, management needs, institutional priorities, contractual obligations, and legal requirements.

What’s In It for You:

• Health & Welfare Programs: Employees and their eligible family members, including spouses and dependent are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Programs.
• Wellness & Fitness: On-campus Recreation and Fitness Center for employees and families; Employee Assistant Program
• Commitment to Educational Excellence: Tuition assistance for employees and eligible dependents; Tuition exchange opportunities
• Employee Discounts on products, services and educational opportunities
• Work/Life Benefits: Generous paid time off programs; progressive paid holiday schedule (including holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s); 4 weeks of parental paid leave; flexible work schedules including summer hours where applicable;

*The University of New Haven is not a qualifying E-Verify employer and its use of E-Verify is limited to specific government projects. For that reason, candidates with STEM OPT authorization cannot be considered for employment.

*Note - the budgeted salary for this position is $85,000