Employee Relations Specialist

The Employee Relations Specialist serves as a dedicated resource within the Office of Human Resources, supporting the University’s commitment to fostering a workplace culture grounded in respect, professionalism, accountability, and inclusion. The position plays a key role in advancing employee relations initiatives that support UNE’s strategic goals and institutional values while contributing to a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Guided by the UNE Nor’easter Competency Model, the Employee Relations Specialist demonstrates excellence in Leading Self, Collaborating with Others, and Driving Results through the effective management of employee relations concerns, workplace investigations, case management, reporting, consultation, and project coordination.

The Employee Relations Specialist serves as a trusted partner to employees, managers, and campus stakeholders by conducting intake and assessment of workplace concerns, managing employee relations cases, supporting investigations, analyzing workplace trends, and recommending proactive strategies that foster positive employee experiences. The position also provides administrative and case management support to the Office of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance, including assisting with case intake, documentation, and coordination of lower-level complaints and inquiries.

UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

• Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
• Up to 8% retirement plan match.
• Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.
• Educational benefits
  • UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners.
  • UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full-time service.
  • 50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full-time service.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations concerns, workplace complaints, policy inquiries, and conflict resolution matters.
• Conduct intake meetings, assess concerns, and manage employee relations cases through resolution, ensuring timely follow-up and accurate documentation.
• Provide guidance to managers and employees regarding performance management, workplace concerns, policy interpretation, and conflict resolution.
• Conduct workplace investigations involving misconduct, policy violations, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other employee relations matters.
• Prepare investigative reports, findings, recommendations, and related case documentation.
• Partner with Human Resources Business Partners and Employee Relations leadership to ensure consistent, fair, and legally compliant practices.

• Conduct exit interviews, analyze findings, identify trends, and recommend strategies to improve engagement, retention, and workplace culture.
• Track, analyze, and report employee relations data and metrics to support organizational decision-making.
• Identify opportunities for proactive interventions, training, policy enhancements, and workplace climate improvements.
• Assist in the development of…