Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

In addition to labor relations, the Student Employee Labor Relations Partner will coordinate the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) that relates to student employment, ensuring accurate data management, payroll and reporting for both unionized and non-unionized employees. The Partner will use the HRIS to streamline processes, monitor compliance with collective agreements, and provide insights that support decision-making and strategic planning. Their work with the HRIS will be integral in maintaining fairness and equity across the workforce, enabling the Partner to effectively support the student employment.

This a project-employment position ending no later than September 2026.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

33% - Program Development & Administration

• Lead the conceptualization and design of the Student Employment Program
• Oversee program planning, management, and evaluation
• Develop and administer systems for tracking required program and employment outcomes
• Facilitate meetings with stakeholders to gather feedback, discuss program developments, and address concerns
• Ensure workflows, trainings, and implementation of student employment program administration is developed cohesively
• Identify potential risks associated with program operations and develop plans to mitigate these risks
• Support the Director with monthly joint labor management meetings, coordinating meetings, taking notes, researching questions, and responding in a timely manner.
• Provide support to WWU's bargaining team during contract negotiations, including conducting research, compiling data, and attending negotiation sessions and preparing meeting notes as needed
• Stay updated on changes in employment laws, regulations, and industry trends related to staff unions and personnel groups
• Identify opportunities to enhance employee morale and satisfaction, contributing to a high-performance work environment.
• Promote a positive work culture and resolve conflicts in a professional and confidential manner.

33% - Student Employee & Labor Relations, Consultation, Guidance

• Serve as a trusted advisor and partner to student employees, supervisors, and university leadership to provide expert guidance on a range of student employee and labor relations issues.
• Interpret and apply Student Employment collective bargaining agreements, university policies, and relevant state and federal laws. Responsible for ensuring consistent application of rules and regulation.
• Offer proactive solutions to enhance employee satisfaction and foster a positive working relationship between management and staff.
• Deliver guidance on conflict resolution, communication skills, and other relevant topics.
• Ability to review employee and supervisor concerns holistically, anticipate potential issues and diagnose the root cause through active listening and conscientious inquiry
• Facilitate on-going communication and working relationships with employee representative organizations and other university stakeholders

33% - HRIS, Payroll, and Data Analytics

• Maintain and update the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) specific to student employment and job entry
• Ensure accurate data entry and integrity of student employee records
• Generate reports and analyze HRIS data to inform decision-making and improve HR processes
• Provide training, support, and best practices as it relates to student employment record creation and tracking
• Collaborate with the payroll department to ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll for Student Union employees, including student workers.
• Assist with timekeeping systems and ensure compliance with payroll policies and procedures.
• Address and resolve payroll-related issues, discrepancies, and inquiries from staff and student employees.
• Work with HRIS and payroll systems to streamline payroll processes, ensuring efficient integration and accuracy of data.
• Provide support and training to staff on payroll systems and procedures, promoting adherence to best practices.

This is a full-time project employment position ending no later than September 2026.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience
• Three (3) years of relevant Human Resources experience
• Experience that encompasses the main aspects of employee relations such as labor relations, collective bargaining, grievances, employee relations and performance management
• Demonstrated commitment to support a workplace culture in which diversity is honored, respected, and celebrated
• Demonstrated experience using sound judgement and problem-solving skills and making recommendations on complex issues
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to negotiate and resolve complex issues.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to assess situations, identify potential issues, and develop effective solutions.
• An appreciation for working collaboratively in a collegial, team-oriented department

• Master's degree with focus in employee/labor relations, human resources or other related field and five years of relevant experience or equivalent education and experience
• Experience in the public sector
• Proven track record of working with classified staff unions
• SHRM­-CP, PHR, SPHR and/or CCP certification

Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.

A cover letter and resume are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications. Please include the names and contact information of three professional references. References will only be contacted if necessary, with notice provided beforehand.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs.  See WWU’s Policy on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class (Interim). . Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.