Employee & Labor Relations Consultant 3 (8080U), People & Culture #89640

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

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Departmental Overview

• People & Culture Objective: People & Culture is valued as UC Berkeley's proactive people partner.
• People & Culture Strategies: One HR - Bring clarity and efficiency to HR processes and structures through cross-team collaboration and transparent communication.
• People - Use development opportunities beyond training to create deeper engagement, higher trust, and better performance.
• Culture - Apply Berkeley brand to developing a shared enterprise contributor mindset among all employees.

If you believe your qualifications exceed the requirements for this position and are seeking more advanced opportunities, please consider applying to our Employee Labor & Relations Consultant 4 (0495U), People & Culture #89643 position on our UC Berkeley Careers website. Please note that we're hiring one position collectively from the 2 postings as only one position is available.

Position Summary

The Employee & Labor Relations Consultant 3 contributes to all areas of employee and labor relations university-wide, independently and with limited supervision. Assigned to one of three teams within Employee and Labor Relations (ELR) with assigned campus regions and collective bargaining agreements, this position interprets, explains, drafts, administers, and enforces policy and contract language. The Employee & Labor Relations Consultant 3 provides guidance on performance management, corrective actions, separations, and grievances, while also conducting investigations and drafting reports. Additionally, this position performs administrative duties and maintains metrics to ensure operational efficiency.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is November 13, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Labor Relations - 35%

• Manage and administer collective bargaining agreements, including the management of the grievance program, information requests, reporting, contract negotiations, union business leave, equity increases, reclassifications, parameter requests, participate in labor management meetings and the negotiation of labor disputes, draft settlement agreements, meet and confers, and union noticing.
• Provide direct services to client groups as assigned.
• Act as a resource to managers, supervisors, and employees to interpret collective bargaining agreements.

Employee Relations - 35%

• Handle all facets of employee relations, including performance management, investigations including reports, discipline, separations, reclassifications, equity increases, and resolutions to employment disputes. Provide guidance regarding layoffs, terminations, corrective action, and/or policy grievances (PPSM 70s).
• Must facilitate sound and consistent employee and labor relations decisions.
• Provide guidance regarding and/or create and maintain accurate documentation of investigations or other employment or labor matters.
• Provide direct services to client groups as assigned.
• Act as a resource to managers, supervisors, and employees to interpret policies and procedures.
• Provides advice and counsel regarding leave administration, e.g., FMLA, CFRA, and compliance with the Americans with Disability Act and the requirements under this law, e.g., the interactive process.
• Act as an objective intermediary for employees and supervisors.
• Participate in conflict resolution, problem solving, and negotiation with/between supervisors and employees.

Relations With Employee Unions, Campus Business Partners, Supervisors and Employees - 10%

• Establish and maintain positive and appropriate union/management and campus business partner relations.

Communication and Administrative Duties - 15%

• Provide communication of potential employment litigation and/or risks to legal counsel and obtain legal counsel on employment matters as needed.
• Assist with template and process updates, metrics, document preparation, and record keeping.
• Review trends and practices in labor/employee relations, and recommend programs that will enhance employee and labor relations at the university.
• Assess current functions and provide input to achieve unit best practices.

Special Projects and Training - 5%

• Supports team or legal counsel responses related to employment litigation and government agency charges.
• Co-design and/or co-deliver training for employees, supervisors, managers, and HR Partners pertaining to employee and labor relations and related compliance (e.g., training concerning policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, performance management, and/or applicable state and federal legal requirements).
• Independently or in collaboration with other Consultants or the Director, prepare briefing memos, instructional manuals, job aids, and tool kits.

Required Qualifications

• 3-4 years of experience equivalent to an Employee and Labor Relations Consultant performing professional level human resources work requiring use of the knowledge and abilities listed herein.
• Demonstrates analytical skills to conduct analysis and develop recommendations, demonstrating organization and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to write detailed, well organized, concise, emails, position statements, analytical reports, procedures, web content and training documents.
• Knowledge of and/or the ability to learn campus policies and procedures. Experience with and/or the ability to learn University of California systems and programs.
• Knowledge of labor/employment law. Knowledge of employee and labor relations best practices and programs.
• Knowledge of the principles of advocacy in order to represent the campus in various dispute forums.
• Ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with all levels of the UCB community, system-wide and with outside professionals. Demonstrated interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of National Labor Relations Act, California Labor Code, California Government Code, Fair Labor Standards Act, DFEH, EEOC, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, FFCRA, CFRA, ADEA, Title VII, etc., including recent developments and practices, applicability to the public sector. General knowledge of the Information Practices Act, Public Records Act or HEERA requirements for information release, including release of personnel type records, creation of data for bargaining and knowledge of other areas of human resources.
• Ability to work with a high degree of confidentiality and independent judgment, including skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters. Experience in a customer service environment.
• Strong skill and ability to communicate with a high level of professionalism, clarity, accuracy including demonstrated ability to handle difficult or volatile situations/individuals effectively.
• Skills to independently manage, organize and prioritize work to achieve timely progress on simultaneous projects, distribute efforts appropriately among competing projects, meet competing deadlines, and maintain a high level of productivity.
• Demonstrated skills and ability to actively listen, observe, identify information requested, ask questions to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives, interests, and underlying needs of others, responding appropriately to a wide variety of requests.
• Technical skill and ability to accurately utilize the MS Office suite of business software applications, Outlook, Excel, Word, etc. Ability to learn, master and utilize new applications as they become available.
• Knowledge of and/or the ability to learn University of California System-wide personnel practices, policies, procedures, labor contracts and agreements.
• 2-3 years experience and professional training in labor contract administration, employee relations and related employment and labor laws.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated labor contract administration experience.
• Detail oriented and dedicated to meeting deadlines in a fast paced environment.
• Strong decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated experience successfully coaching managers and supervisors at all levels of an organization.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish and/or Chinese Mandarin, with strong verbal and written communication skills.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in related area such as human resources management, labor law, organizational behavior and 2-3 years or relevant experience, or a combination of education and equivalent experience/training. (Required)

Licenses / Certifications

• SHRM-CP or PHR certification (Preferred).

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $105,000.00 - $145,000.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This position is eligible for up to 5 days per week of remote work within the United States, determined in partnership with the supervisor and subject to change based on operational needs. The employee must be available to report to campus or attend off-site bargaining sessions in person as business needs require.
• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.