Director, Employee Relations & Contract Faculty Affairs

NYU is seeking a seasoned Employee and Labor Relations professional to join our University Human Resources team as a strategic partner to both academic and administrative leaders. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Employee and Labor Relations, this role will serve as the lead liaison for full-time contract faculty labor matters, supporting the anticipated implementation of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between NYU and the union representing eligible contract faculty.

This is a unique opportunity to help build a new function from the ground up. The role will primarily support contract faculty labor relations, acting as the bridge between University Human Resources, the Office of the Provost, school-based academic affairs teams, and HR units across NYU. While formally reporting into Employee Relations, the position will have a strong dotted-line relationship to the Provost’s Office and will work closely with leaders there to navigate faculty-related labor issues.

The ideal candidate will bring both a strong foundation in labor and employee relations and meaningful experience working with faculty in a higher education setting. This includes understanding the nuances of academic culture (e.g. academic freedom, shared governance, and decentralized structures) and the ability to build trust and credibility across schools and units.

In this role, you’ll:

• Serve as the go-to expert on the new CBA for full-time contract faculty, ensuring consistent interpretation and compliance across the university.
• Collaborate with schools to proactively plan for workforce needs and support the consistent administration of faculty appointments.
• Assess appointment and data systems, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide guidance on policy and process enhancements.
• Serve as a partner to the Office of the Provost, ensuring alignment on how faculty-related issues are handled across academic units.
• Provide guidance on contract administration, grievances, and other ER-related matters, especially for professional research staff.
• Engage closely with the Office of General Counsel and other senior leaders to navigate sensitive issues with legal and institutional implications.
• This role is ideal for someone who has successfully partnered with provost-level stakeholders, understands the complexity of labor relations in an academic setting, and can manage a high degree of ambiguity while working across multiple constituencies.

Required Education:
Master’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Law, Public Administration, or a related field.

Preferred Education:
Juris Doctorate (J.D.)

Required Experience:
10+ years of experience in labor management and employee relations across union and non-union settings.Professional background in human resources, academic affairs, or compliance with demonstrated experience interpreting policies and applying past practices to complex decision-making.Experience partnering with legal counsel and leadership in a highly matrixed or regulated environment.

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum 2 years in a college/university setting.
• Experience supporting faculty populations, ideally including full-time or contract faculty.
• Familiarity with collective bargaining agreements in higher education contexts.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of employment and labor laws at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and ability to handle complex and sensitive matters.
• Exceptional interpersonal, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with academic leadership and navigate university structures.
• Strong analytical and consulting capabilities; able to make data-informed recommendations.
• Skilled communicator, with strong written, verbal, and presentation abilities.
• Proficient with database tools and HR systems.

Preferred Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience developing and delivering training on labor/employee relations topics.
• Familiarity with academic appointment processes and related HR systems.

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is USD $180,000.00 to USD $220,000.00. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, clinical compensation, or other items.

NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/nyugreen.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply at all levels.