Job Details

Executive Director of Employee Relations and Faculty Resources

Location: Ramapo College, Main Campus - Mahwah NJ

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 202300358

Core: Teaching & Learning Core

Department: Office Of The Provost

Opening Date: 12/15/2025

Closing Date

FLSA: Exempt

Bargaining Unit: MN


Description


ABOUT RAMAPO COLLEGE:

Ramapo College of New Jersey (RCNJ) develops ethical leaders who serve as change agents across all sectors. The College's unique interdisciplinary academic structure, its liberal arts core, its size (approximately 5,500 students), and its setting in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains on the New Jersey/New York border provide an optimal environment for individualized, student-centered learning and leadership development. RCNJ's designation as "New Jersey's Public Liberal Arts College" by the State legislature is the foundation from which the College's commitment to an accessible and transformative undergraduate and graduate education is realized.

Established in 1969, CondeNast Traveler named Ramapo one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America. The barrier-free campus occupies 300 acres and is home to 52 bachelor's degree programs spanning the arts, business, data science, humanities, education, nursing, social work, social sciences, and the sciences. Ramapo College boasts an average student/faculty ratio of 16:1 and an average class size of 21; affording students the opportunity to develop close ties to the College's exceptional faculty. In addition, the College offers graduate programs leading to fmaster's degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work, and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Every degree program is designed and delivered through the collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts of student-centered faculty scholars and staff who are committed to serving the public good through the delivery of an academically rigorous, inclusive, and a transformative collegiate experience. Ramapo is ranked #1 among New Jersey public institutions by College Choice and is recognized as the State's top college on the list of Best Disability Schools by Great Value Colleges. Further commendations include designation as a "Military Friendly College" in Victory Media's Guide to Military Friendly Schools, and as a leading college by U.S. News & World Report, Kiplinger's, Princeton Review, and Money Magazine, among others.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:

This is a full-time, managerial position, and days of work and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Note: This position is in the "Non-Limited (NL)" category of employment (non-fixed work week) and individuals in this role have no claim or entitlement to time off or cash compensation for hours worked beyond their normal schedule. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. It is the policy of the College to grant hour for hour compensatory time off, with advance approval, only when employees are required to work on a regularly scheduled day off, Saturday, Sunday or a holiday. Time earned must be used within one fiscal year from the time it is earned.

Salary Range
$150,000-$185,000

US work authorization is required. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US. Ramapo College currently has a no-sponsorship policy.

Job Summary:

The Executive Director of the Employee Relations (ER) serves as the chief administrator for a comprehensive employee relations program that includes providing strategic leadership on the AFT Master Contract and local Ramapo negotiations and MOUs.

Major Objectives:

• The Executive Director of ER reports to and acts as a strategic partner and advisor to the Provost/ Vice President for Teaching, Learning, and Growth in all aspects of ensuring compliance to the AFT Master Contract with the State of New Jersey and coordinates with People Operations to ensure compliance with all federal, State of New Jersey, and local laws, policies, and regulations pertaining to Ramapo College of New Jersey (RCNJ) faculty and professional staff.

• Strategically and professionally aligns the actions and activities of the employees of ER in full support of the RCNJ Strategic Plan "Boldly Ascending" and the directives of the Office of the Provost. Provides strategy linked advice to the Mission Element Team (MET), Cabinet of Agents (COA), Faculty Leaders, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Leaders, Faculty Assembly (FA); Faculty Assembly Executive Council (FAEC), other Faculty Leaders to include Deans, Directors, Conveners and various All College Committees and Chairs that will positively effectively and efficiently support the College's mission and vision.
• Coordinates and collaborates with People Operations & Employee Resources Department to generate practical approaches to solving problems that impact the College.

• Coordinates with colleagues within the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU) to share best business practices and share information.
• Collaborates with the Provost on the strategic development of faculty and professional staff personnel programs, policies, and procedures, while promoting long-term professional development.

• Leads strategic efforts to improve employee relations operations, and faculty and professional staff administrative processes and procedures through creative and innovative automation intervention in support of College and Board of Trustees decisions. Provides operational oversight over the daily operations of employee relations.

• Responsible for ensuring that the ER administers, tracks, reports, and records faculty reappointments, tenure, promotions, career development, faculty scholarship funding procedures, as regulated by the State of New Jersey Collective Bargaining Agreement between the College and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the local Faculty Handbook. As required, directs other labor management relations matters to include the administration of disciplinary, reappointment, performance appraisals, and professional procedures pertaining to College employees.
• Serves as a member of the RCNJ Collective Bargaining Team and ensures compliance with College policies and other applicable laws, Collective Bargaining Agreements, Memorandums of Agreement (MOA's), Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), Faculty Handbook, and other guidelines.

• Professionally creates an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and demonstrates professional loyalty, dignity, and respect for others; competently leads, develops, and mentors a talented and highly productive team of assigned personnel.

Examples of Duties


Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Interprets, facilitates, and complies with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Collective Negotiations Agreement (CURRENT CONTRACT). Provides assistance, advice, and guidance for all related American Federation of Teachers staff and faculty personnel processes and actions to include calendars, administrative and academic regulations, related training sessions, and contractual reporting requirements; participates in the development and implementation of policies and procedures. Provides staff assistance and streamlines the business practices of the Director of Employee Relations to administer faculty and professional staff processes and procedures for the following actions: Career Development, Promotions, Reappointment, Tenure, Sabbatical, Faculty Scholarship Funding, Personal Leaves, etc.

2. Collaborates with the Office of the Provost, Faculty Assembly Executive Council (FAEC), other Faculty Leaders to include Deans, to continuously improve Faculty and Professional Staff personnel policies, processes, and procedures. Responsible for managing the revisions, improvements, reviews, rewrites, and publishing of the RCNJ Faculty Handbook, which is essential to the administration of the Faculty and Professional Staff personnel processes.

3. Performs related work, as required, within the context of established College policies, contracts, legal guidelines, and procedures and stays abreast of policy and process changes as they occur and ensures compliance. Supports planning, development, organization, and supervision of staff or programs designed to assist in carrying out the Employee Relations function. Conducts quality control reviews of all correspondence for AFT employees as required.

4. Monitors compliance with the College's policy on Conflict of Interest, Intellectual Property, Code of Professional Responsibility, conducts fact-finding investigations, training, and policy development, as well as other policies, statutes, regulations, and procedures aimed at improving employee relationships across RCNJ.

5. Assists in the oversight of the budget and the coordination of activities and projects assigned to the Office of Employee Relations; responsible for the budget proposal, allocation, and tracking the distribution of faculty travel funds to each School, tracking of the budget, bill payments, review of Travel Authorization Requests, overload payments, adjunct budgets, and special payments. Maintains up-to-date account balances using automated systems as implemented.

6. Manages Academic Operations and its efforts to monitor, reconcile, and report faculty overload and underload; strives to operate in a cost-controlled environment. Provides oversight of Adjunct Contracts and Special Payments for Faculty members.

7. In collaboration with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and the Office of People Operations and Employee Resources (POER) applies investigatory leadership competencies of communication (professional development counseling) both orally and in writing (investigative reports, summary letters, and interview notes) while promoting conflict resolution, resolution of workplace disputes and conducting workplace environmental and behavioral related investigations.

8. Advises and supports the Provost and Deans in requesting full-time, adjunct, and emergency faculty hires.

Strategic Initiative duties and responsibilities:

1. Coordinates with the Provost's Office and School Deans to conduct annual training for faculty in executing their responsibilities as it relates to Faculty Processes outlined in the Faculty Handbook.

2. Contract Interpretation and Implementation: Serves as one of the lead communicators regarding the AFT Contract. Ensures College policy initiatives reflect AFT Contractual obligations. Facilitates questions, reconciliation, concerns, and the process of addressing any problems that may arise. Participates in the development and revision of other policies, processes, and procedures beneficial to the College.

3. Supports the planning, coordination, and execution of the Annual Remembrance Day Program in recognition of faculty and professional staff members; and also in support of the College's internal and external Families, events and programs operations, College Alumni, the Foundation, and the Staff and Faculty.

4. Facilitates the Emeritus processes and procedures for faculty and staff who upon nomination by the President, the Board of Trustees are honored as retired faculty and staff with emeritus status in recognition of their scholarly and professional contributions before retirement.

5. Serve as the Employee Relations representative for an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution on regarding Banner initiatives; strives to automate all ER processes and procedures as it relates to the planning and execution of Faculty and Professional staff administrative processes. Coordinates and collaborates with other College key stakeholders in the functional areas to facilitate the implementation of an ERP solution.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative techniques to serve as a key manager in facilitating broad and critical ER initiatives. Skilled in applying complex fact-finding, analytical and problem-solving methods and techniques to a wide range of ER administrative functions.

Qualifications


EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS:

The successful candidate should possess the following:

-Ability to display a high degree of knowledge of the AFT Contract, the local Ramapo College Faculty Handbook and MOUs, the College Strategic Plan, policies, programs, unit purpose, goals, and objectives;

-Demonstrated knowledge of modern management principles

-Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the laws and regulations, and personnel procedures that impact the program or unit

-Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the college philosophy, goals, and organization

-Ability to acquire and adhere to knowledge of the higher education system and the function of institutions of higher learning

-Understanding of the principles of planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, budgeting, and directing all functional areas of Employee Relations

-Fundamental competencies to include: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Professional Development, Public Service Motivation, and Customer Service

-Understanding of the knowledge of the principles of organization and personnel management, internal and external to Employee Relations

-Ability to acquire knowledge of the State of New Jersey agencies, federal, and local governments, and private organizations that have a working relationship with the College, program and/or section

-Ability to assist in the College-wide planning and administration of a program or unit by developing and recommending goals, policies, and procedures

-Ability to evaluate performance and develop alternative methods to improve performance and processes, and meet established objectives.

-Ability to establish cooperative working relationships and coordinate with other offices or organizations that impact on or relate to the work of the section(s) and program or unit.

-Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with supervisors and staff.

-Ability to develop, administer and monitor the budget.

-Ability to develop and recommend program goals, policies, and procedures.

-Ability to analyze reports and conduct studies that include findings and recommendations.

-Ability to implement and evaluate programs.

-Ability to represent the college at conferences, seminars or meetings.

-Ability to supervise and/or maintain essential records and files.

- Extensive experience in leadership and Senior Management in Higher Education or other related fields with a focus on Labor Management and Employee Relations.

-Extensive experience at the Managerial level in Higher Education and/or other related fields.

-Three to five years of budgetary experience at the Managerial level in Higher Education.

-Evidence of effective Conflict Management skills and abilities with demonstrated effective results.

-Evidence of investigative capabilities to include formal and informal fact-finding, investigative report writing, and the ability to effectively communicate results.

-Excellent written and oral communication skills.

EDUCATION:

Master's Degree or higher in Public Policy and Administration and Program Management, or a related field with a focus on Administration, Labor Relations, or Program Management.

Supplemental Information


EEO Statement:

Ramapo College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Ramapo has a long history of advocating, advising, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. Examples can be found in its mission statement, strategic plans, degree and course offerings, community outreach programs, and other diversity programs. Ramapo's commitment to diversity and inclusion is infused across all facets of the College; where the environment is welcoming, dedicated to social justice, respectful of freedom of expression, focused on educating and having an ongoing conversation regarding cultural competence and the benefits and importance of diversity.





To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/ramapo/jobs/5170914/executive-director-of-employee-relations-and-faculty-resources




jeid-fa8fa3451570ee48bc1c526295863ba3








Copyright 2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency