Associate Director, Employee Relations

Position Focus :

The Associate Director, Employee Relations, leads a team of Human Resource Business Partners and Human Resource Generalists assigned to the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and serves as a key member of the Employee Relations leadership team.

The Employee Relations function plays a central role in supporting staff at all levels across Yale University, fostering collaborative work environments, adhering to policies and labor laws, and partnering with leaders to advance the mission of the university by leveraging our people.

Associate Directors help set the strategic priorities of the Employee Relations team, lead project teams focused on university-wide process improvement, partner with and guide leaders and managers across various units and analyze people data to inform decisions on strategy and programs.

The Associate Director will collaborate and partner with YSM senior leadership on organizational priorities while supporting positive change in the culture and management practices.

This role is robust and wide-ranging in its impact, driving progress and influencing stakeholders across functional areas.

Where needed, the Associate Director may engage in conflict resolution, investigations, misconduct, leaves of absence, grievances and other matters requiring advanced subject matter expertise in employment practices.

Additionally, the Associate Director will collaborate with the Human Resources Centers of Excellence, including Labor Relations, Compensation Planning, Organizational Effectiveness, Talent Acquisition and HR Operations to help advance HR’s priorities and efficacy throughout the university.

Essential Duties

1. Partners with senior leadership in policy making; develops and strategically positions human resources goals and objectives to successfully attract, retain, and motivate a highly talented and diverse workforce.

2. Responsible for short and long term planning for the operation of various human resources functions managed by their staff.

3. Identifies and directs human resources staff and resources to drive financial, operational, and budgetary success within the human resources department.

4. Determines and develops goals for the work of their managerial and professional staff to execute human resources initiatives efficiently and effectively.

5. Directs and monitors work assignments to ensure they are proceeding on schedule and meet the established quality standards.

6. Translates HR Department level goals into functional level goals; writes and approves functional level goals.7. Guided by HR Department level strategy;

anticipates issues; develops new solutions and / or improved solutions executes changes new and enhanced programs consistent with University goals for maintaining a highly talented and diverse workforce.

8. Recommends, analyzes and suggests policies, procedures and practices for consideration by senior leadership.9. Directs a staff of exempt and non-exempt employees.

10. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Minimum requirement of Bachelor’s Degree and six years of experience.

Required Skill / Ability 1 :

Ability leading, managing and developing a team or direct reports. Demonstrated experience advising management teams on HR strategies in performance management, succession planning, performance improvement and policy interpretation and execution.

Proven success in building employee relations foundational processes in a complex and matrixed organization.

Required Skill / Ability 2 :

Demonstrated advanced working knowledge of HR best practices within employee relations, staffing, compensation, employment law, labor relations, training and development.

Demonstrated ability managing or directing project teams or process improvement work streams for organizational effectiveness.

Required Skill / Ability 3 :

Demonstrated excellence in critical and strategic thinking ability, as well as strategic agility. Proven ability to direct and influence change.

Ability to collaborate with leaders to drive change in the culture and management practices. Ability to initiate actions and solve problems using sound judgment.

Required Skill / Ability 4 :

Demonstrated ability to facilitate collaborative problem-solving strategies with multiple constituencies, peers, partners, and employees.

Excellent oral and written communication skills. Experience with change management, facilitation and navigating through large matrix environments is required.

Required Skill / Ability 5 :

Well-developed organizational, interpersonal business skills and business acumen. Superior customer service orientation and ability to respond in a constructive and timely manner.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills :

Experience working in a unionized environment preferred.

Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements :

Drug Screen

Health Screening

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

The University maintains policies pertaining to COVID-19. All faculty, staff, students, and trainees are required to comply with these policies, which may be found here :

Posting Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position.

Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.

EEO Statement :

University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.

Additionally, in accordance with Yale’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment, and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.