Description:
Overview:Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the State of New Jersey's preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. As one of the largest employers in the State of New Jersey, Rutgers University is committed not only to the students and the State that we serve, but also to the faculty and staff who work on our campuses.
For two consecutive years, Rutgers is ranked on Forbes' list of America's Best Large Employers. Rutgers holds #64 of 500 employers and is the #1 New Jersey employer on the publication's 2023 list. Rutgers' commitment to its employees includes maintaining and fostering a safe, diverse, and respectful workplace environment, creating employment opportunities for our nation's military veterans, and ensuring accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities.
Posting Summary
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking an Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and General Counsel, this position leads the Office of University Labor Relations (OULR), which acts as the primary liaison between the university and its labor unions and as the central resource for universitywide labor relations. The Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel provides strategic direction and oversight for all labor relations matters, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, collective negotiations agreements (CNAs), and university policies, and supervises OULR personnel. In partnership with attorneys in the Office of General Counsel, this position plays a leading role in negotiating and implementing labor contracts affecting Rutgers' faculty and staff.
Among the key duties of this position are the following:
Minimum Education and Experience:
Certifications/Licenses
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Preferred Qualifications:
Equipment Utilized
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
This role requires the ability to travel to various Rutgers campuses and external venues for collective negotiations, grievance proceedings, and consultations with stakeholders. Due to the nature and sensitivity of labor relations matters, the incumbent must be available beyond standard business hours to address emergent issues, respond to time-sensitive matters, and ensure continuity in high-stakes negotiations or legal proceedings.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking an Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and General Counsel, this position leads the Office of University Labor Relations (OULR), which acts as the primary liaison between the university and its labor unions and as the central resource for universitywide labor relations. The Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel provides strategic direction and oversight for all labor relations matters, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, collective negotiations agreements (CNAs), and university policies, and supervises OULR personnel. In partnership with attorneys in the Office of General Counsel, this position plays a leading role in negotiating and implementing labor contracts affecting Rutgers' faculty and staff.
Among the key duties of this position are the following:
- Serves as the university's senior leader for labor relations strategy, including the development of negotiation frameworks and the oversight of implementation of collective bargaining agreements across all unions recognized by the university.
- Partners with the Associate VP and Deputy General Counsel for Labor and Employment and the Labor and Employment legal team to ensure that negotiation strategies and outcomes are legally sound, effectively implemented, and consistently applied across the university.
- Provides executive-level counsel to university leadership, Chancellors, University Human Resources, and other stakeholders on labor relations issues, ensuring that bargaining approaches and implementation plans align with institutional priorities.
- Collaborates with the General Counsel and OGC attorneys to ensure legal consistency and risk mitigation related to labor practices.
- Coordinates input and recommendations from stakeholders for labor negotiations and employment-related policies.
- Leads collective negotiations with all staff and faculty unions, overseeing OULR negotiation teams and stakeholder participation.
- Directs the preparation, review, and presentation of negotiation proposals in coordination with University leadership and OGC.
- Serves as primary liaison with union representatives throughout the negotiations process.
- Provides strategic briefings to the Executive Vice President and General Counsel and other senior stakeholders.
- Oversees and ensures consistent administration and implementation of CNAs in collaboration with UHR, Payroll, Academic Affairs, and other departments.
- Provides training, guidance, and interpretation of CNAs to University departments.
- Provides representation of the university in grievance hearings, disciplinary and other labor-management forums.
- Evaluates policy changes and legislative developments impacting labor relations.
- Leads and manages the Office of University Labor Relations, overseeing staff responsible for labor relations strategy, collective bargaining, contract administration, and implementation of labor agreements.
- Oversees the coordination of grievance processes, disciplinary reviews, and labor-management committees.
- Coordinates closely with the OGC, including Deputy Counsel for Labor and Employment, to ensure the alignment of labor relations efforts with university objectives and OGC strategy.
- Acts as a senior advisor to the Executive Vice President and General Counsel on university-wide labor relations matters.
- Coordinates with the Deputy General Counsel for Labor and Employment to ensure alignment on overlapping matters within OGC.
Minimum Education and Experience:
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
Certifications/Licenses
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Admission to the New Jersey State Bar and in good standing, or eligibility for admission within one year of hire.
- At least fifteen years of experience counseling clients on employment and traditional labor law issues, conducting labor negotiations, drafting responses to administrative charges, and representing clients in employment and labor matters.
- Demonstrated experience leading and supervising teams of professional staff responsible for labor relations strategy, negotiations, and dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated ability to develop labor strategy, lead negotiations, and manage complex, high-stakes labor matters with significant organizational impact.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with New Jersey public sector and higher education labor relations.
- Experience with academic labor law.
- NetDocuments (electronic document management system) – creating, scanning, searching, and retrieving documents.
- Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint.
- Westlaw.
- LexisNexis CounselLink.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
This role requires the ability to travel to various Rutgers campuses and external venues for collective negotiations, grievance proceedings, and consultations with stakeholders. Due to the nature and sensitivity of labor relations matters, the incumbent must be available beyond standard business hours to address emergent issues, respond to time-sensitive matters, and ensure continuity in high-stakes negotiations or legal proceedings.