Employee & Labor Relations Specialist / Senior ELR Specialist, UC Human Resources, Hybrid

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

Next Lives at the University of Cincinnati

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 350,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $88.8 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The university contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the state of Ohio. At UC, next is all of us. Learn more at uc.edu.

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service. We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC’s success.

Job Overview

Support the university’s employee and labor relations function by providing guidance, coordination, and day-to-day expertise to ensure compliance. consistency and fairness across the institution.

This position may be hired at a Senior level dependent on candidate experience.

Essential Functions

• Advise managers and staff on employee relations matters, including HR policies, performance management, discipline, and conflict resolution.
• Assist in interpreting collective bargaining agreements, university policies, and employment laws to ensure consistent application.
• Support labor relations activities such as grievance handling, arbitration preparation, and contract negotiations.
• Conduct fact-finding and assist with investigations of HR-related complaints, escalating complex cases as appropriate.
• Participate in Labor Management Committee meetings and provide logistical and research support for labor negotiations.
• Gather and analyze employee relations data to identify trends and recommend process improvements.
• Help develop and deliver training programs for supervisors and employees on employee and labor relations topics.
• Perform related duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.

Required Education

• Bachelors degree required

Required Experience

• At least four (4) years of experience in Employee & Labor Relations or a related field.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• JD is ideal.
• Experience in the public sector is ideal.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. ( UC Benefits Link ) Highlights include:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won’t contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you’ll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14–18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary ranging from $68,000 - $85,000 annually based on level hired at and experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at

UC is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. A list of acceptable documents can be seen here:

Important : To apply you must create a profile and submit a complete job application through the UC applicant portal. We are unable to consider “easy apply” applications submitted via other websites. For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]

Equal Opportunity Employer. Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.

REQ: 100050

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