ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSITION VACANCY Title (Function):  Directorof Employee Relations and Compliance Department:  People & Culture / Human Resources Reporting To:  Chief People Officer and Assistant Vice President for Human Resources and Culture FLSA Status: Exempt Compensation:  $89,, Commensurate with education and experience. Excellent health and retirement benefits package: Open Date: 10/01/2025 Close Date: To ensure consideration apply by October 10, open until filled. SECTION I - OUR VALUES CULTIVATE OUR VISION AND CULTURE At CMU, we believe in acting from a foundation of goodwill. This belief gives us the courage to form meaningful relationships, embark on joint endeavors and take risks in the pursuit of new possibilities. It’s this courage that enables the Mavily to explore new ways of thinking and doing, knowing that there is no perfect solution, no perfect idea.

From this place of humility and courage, we’ve built a culture of resilience. We invest in the future by continuously adapting to change, overcoming challenges, and seizing new opportunities. We recognize that change is constant, and our resilience allows us to embrace it with confidence. Endless curiosity drives us to approach the unexpected as if it were expected, seeing opportunities for discovery and renewal in every challenge. In this community rooted in love and dignity, curiosity thrives, leading to endless opportunities for growth and advancement.

Inspired by the soul of the West—the spirit that our region embodies—we emerge as a force for positive change, harnessing our collective power to build a Human Scale University that reflects our values and brings to life our shared vision of the world we aspire to create.

Colorado Mesa University Core Values Love -  Extending oneself for nurturing the growth of self and others Dignity -  Respecting the intrinsic value of each person and believing that others act from a foundation of goodwill Courage - Taking risks in the pursuit of new possibilities Humility - Suspending one’s ego and pride to recognize that no idea is perfect and being open to the input of others Resiliency - Investing in the future by adapting to changes, overcoming challenges and pursuing Opportunity Curiosity - Cultivating awe and exploring the unknown Power - The strength to act collaboratively with individual agency to achieve our goals SECTION II – THE SEAT At CMU, we look at every position as a seat. Every seat is vital and the individual in the seat contributes significantly to our mission of providing an affordable and accessible education and forming meaningful and mutually enriching partnerships that support the well-being and vibrancy of our community. As a human centric organization, a priority is to ensure we have the “right seats” in our organization, and that the expectations, ownership and accountabilities are defined and communicated clearly for the success of the individuals holding the seats.

OVERVIEW AND ROLE SCOPE OF TEAM AND/OR TASKS The Director of Employee Relations and Compliance in coordination with the Chief People Officer is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and oversight of employee relations strategies that foster a positive, productive, and legally compliant workplace environment. This role serves as a senior advisor on the Human Resources team on complex employee issues, ensuring consistency in the application of policies, conflict resolution, performance management, and disciplinary actions. The director collaborates closely with legal, professional staff and faculty, and HR team members. This position plays a critical role in supporting organizational culture, engagement, and retention through fair and transparent employee practices that align with the values of Colorado Mesa University.

ROLES Employee Engagement and Culture: • Assists with fostering a values-based organizational culture that promotes employee satisfaction, well-being, and engagement. • Develop and implement programs and initiatives to enhance employee morale and job satisfaction.

Employee Relations: • Assist with employee relations activities, including conflict resolution, investigation, grievance procedures, and disciplinary actions. • Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations. • Coordinates with State of Colorado Labor Relations for State of Colorado Classified employees. • Works closely with CPO on compliance with COWINS agreement, Partnership agreement and State Board Rules. • Partner with outside counsel when determined necessary for investigating and resolving employee concerns and/or complaints including bringing best practices in investigation, documentation, and ensuring equity in resolution. • Collaborate with Director of Leadership Training and Development to ensure leaders are educated on how to ensure positive relational outcomes and uphold employment laws and regulations to mitigate risk.

HR Policies and Compliance: • Assists in the development and management of HR policies, procedures, and guidelines consistent with legal requirements, university policies, and industry best practices. • Stay updated on changes in employment laws and regulations affecting the university and advise university leadership accordingly. • Assist in the creation of HR Compliance strategy, linked through common departmental or organizational goals and strategies including those related to licensure and certification. • Offer guidance and advice on interpretation and implementation of policies. • Assists in the education of the HR People Team on employment law and ensuring compliance across the HR function.

Other duties may be assigned as needed by our business. SECTION III – OUR DESIRES FOR RIGHT FIT For the success of our mission and our teams, we desire to have individuals who are a “Right Fit” in our seats. We define “Right Fit” as those who embrace our culture, demonstrate our values, understand the seat and what is required. We seek individuals who want this seat, desire to be a part of a bigger vision and have the capacity to be a successful member of our CMU team.

CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS Capacity for this seat includes knowledge, skills and emotional intelligence and ability to commit to this seat.

• Understanding and knowledge of federal, state and local labor laws. • Strong knowledge of HR operations, policy development and alignment of organizational values. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills • Ability to handle confidential information. • Ability to analyze data and provide insights for improvement. • Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE FOR RIGHT FIT • Master’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field. • Prior experience managing full-time employees. • Prior experience and expertise in handling workplace investigations, conflict resolution, disciplinary action, grievance procedures and risk mitigation. • Experience in leadership roles within higher education or a related field. • Knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and best practices in higher education. • Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence and drive change in a complex organizational environment. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. • Extensive knowledge of CMU culture and an understanding of how to animate the CMU core values in the workplace. • Experience in organizational development, change management, and strategic planning. • Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams. • Demonstrated ability to think strategically and execute tactically. • Proficiency in HR software and analytics tools. Experience with Workday preferred.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DISCLAIMER - This position description is only a summary of the typical functions of this seat, and not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and areas of accountability.

DIRECT INQUIRIES CONTACT:  Brenda Moore,