Labor Relations Specialist

The University of Alaska is hiring a Labor Relations Specialist who will join a top notch team of professionals in labor and employee relations who support employees system wide.  If you are interested in joining a dynamic institution of higher education as we seek to build a better quality of life and a strong tomorrow for all Alaskans, we encourage you to apply. At the University of Alaska, we are on a mission to empower Alaska.

In this role, you will leverage your knowledge of HR best practices, labor regulations, and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) to advise leadership, process grievances, and support employee relations matters. You’ll analyze labor issues, conduct thorough investigations, and provide timely, well-researched recommendations on complex matters such as contract interpretation, arbitration, and performance management & reviews, feedback, discipline, mediation, reorganization, and layoff guidance.

To excel, you’ll need:

• Strong knowledge of labor relations principles, collective bargaining methods, and applicable UA policies, federal/state labor laws, and CBAs.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise advanced analytical thinking, excellent listening skills, conduct effective research, fact-finding, and witness interviews in a confidential, sensitive, highly organized, timely and well documented process.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills to clearly and persuasively convey ideas in written and verbal formats. Able to maintain composure during stressful/intense interactions with others.
• Exceptional organizational abilities to manage multiple tasks, maintain thorough records, and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to successfully establish/maintain effective professional working relationships with leadership, supervisors, administrators, labor representatives, and employees.
• Technical proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) and Google applications.

Preferred qualifications include a PHR certification and the ability to quickly adapt to labor union environments. If you thrive in dynamic, fast-paced settings and enjoy building meaningful professional relationships while handling complex labor relations, we encourage you to apply today and contribute to our mission of fostering a collaborative and compliant workplace!"

Minimum Qualifications:

A professional Labor Relations Specialist will hold a Bachelor's degree with courses and degree emphasis in Labor and Employee Relations, Human Resources, Communication, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience working in a Labor Relations field in Alaska. Master's Degree preferred.

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, business, or similar and two (2) years in a labor relations position or similar will set our new team member up for success. Advanced professional writing experience required and investigation experience preferred.

Evidence of experience with employee relations, training, or investigation work. Strong knowledge of labor laws and employee relations with the ability to handle sensitive/confidential information with discretion.

Position Details:

This position is located on campus at UAA (Anchorage) or UAF (Fairbanks) locations. Flexible on-site/hybrid work arrangements may be considered in accordance with UA regulations. This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 80, based on education and experience.

The University of Alaska reserves the right to require employees to work on site at University of Alaska facilities. Remote work may be approved for employees who are based in Alaska at the discretion of the University. Remote work for employees who are based outside the State of Alaska may be approved only in exceptional circumstances or where required by the job duties of the position.

Applications will be reviewed immediately and on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Sarah Morisky, UA System Office HR Coordinator, at ua-so-hr@alaska.edu or (907)450-8245.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

UA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.