Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Labor and Employee Relations 

Labor and Employee Specialists develop, interpret, apply, and enforce employment policies, procedures, practices, guidelines, collective bargaining agreements, and labor law legislation/regulations; advise unit management, employees, and Human Resources partners; conduct investigations; facilitate conflict mediation and negotiations; conduct grievance hearings in accordance with various collective bargaining agreements; participate in grievance, arbitration, and other labor proceedings; participate with bargaining unit contract negotiation.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for workplace issues, policies, and conflict resolution; address and resolve workplace concerns promptly, ensuring fair and consistent solutions
• Advise leadership, managers, and HR partners on policy and contract application for disputes involving pay discrepancies, safety matters, harassment allegations, disciplinary actions, performance issues, layoffs, terminations, workplace conflicts, and other management/employee/labor union concerns
• Ensure the university’s policies and procedures are up-to-date and comply with all federal, state, and local labor laws; advise both management and HR partners on policy interpretation and implementation
• Lead investigations into employee grievances, complaints, and workplace conflicts; maintain documentation of findings and outcomes; recommend resolutions in alignment with university policies
• Provide guidance to managers on handling sensitive employee situations
• Develop and deliver training programs related to employee relations best practices, conflict resolution, and effective communication
• Assist with performance management processes, providing guidance on addressing performance issues and developing improvement plans
• Collaborate and consult with university partners, including Ethics and Compliance, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, General Counsel, and University Police
• Serve as grievance hearing officer in accordance with various collective bargaining agreements; conduct hearing and provide written decision
• Participate in grievance, arbitration, and labor/legal proceedings; facilitate attorney requests for information
• Draft contract proposals or counterproposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations
• Maintain accurate records of employee relations cases, resolutions, and trends; provide reports to HR leadership on employee relations matters and metrics
• Stay informed of changes in labor laws and regulations, ensuring the university’s practices remain compliant and mitigate potential legal risks
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Intermediate Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates ability to perform intermediate tasks in defined skill areas. Demonstrates intermediate knowledge of internal procedures. Works under general supervision, performing assignments that may be varied and sometimes difficult. Supports team decisions and follows through with team responsibilities. Interprets and communicates information clearly and accurately. Demonstrates intermediate problem–solving skills.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers or volunteers

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems; occasionally faces more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems
– Applies knowledge of larger unit goals, priorities, and related procedures in determining course of action

Independence of Action:

– Work is generally monitored by supervisor
– Detailed instructions and procedures are generally provided
– Uses available guidelines to make appropriate adaptations to routine situations and refers other situations to supervisor

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and/or the University
– May communicate with external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 9
• Minimum – $56,200.00
• MidPoint – $68,800.00
• Maximum – $81,500.00