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Working Title:

Director of Employee Experience - Human Resources Specialist 3

Institution:

Metropolitan State University

Classification Title:

Human Resources Specialist 3

Bargaining Unit / Union:

217: Commissioner's Plan - Confidential

City:

St. Paul

FLSA:

Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Classified - Unlimited

Salary Range:

Job Description:

The Director of Employee Experience provides strategic leadership in shaping a high-performing, inclusive and engaged workforce across a complex, unionized, university environment. Reporting to the Campus Human Resources Officer, this role partners closely with executive leaders, deans, and supervisors to strengthen leadership capability, reinforce accountability for results, and embed a positive and forward-looking institutional culture. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to leadership teams, supporting them in setting clear expectations, addressing performance challenges constructively. This role helps to create work environments where employees feel supported, valued, and aligned, with the university’s missions, values, and strategic priorities.

This role offers subject matter expertise and strategic HR leadership in areas such as employee/labor relations, classification, compensation/benefits, and performance management. The incumbent supports administrators, faculty, and staff in fostering a positive workplace culture while ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, Minnesota State policies, and federal/state laws. This position actively participates in the creation of processes and programs, including change initiatives and continuous improvement measures aligned with university strategic priorities. Additionally, the Director of Employee Experience provides team leadership and training to HR colleagues in the areas of contract interpretation, project management, and transactional processes.

The Director of Employee Experience communicates university strategies, advises on personnel policies, and conducts informational meetings to ensure compliance. Additionally, they guide program managers on interpreting collective bargaining agreements to maintain consistent application and provide labor contract administration training.

This is a confidential role, as defined by M.S. 13.37. It involves accessing labor relations information, supporting management in labor matters, assisting in strike planning, and researching classification and compensation data for salary equity proposals in collective bargaining negotiations.

In collaboration with the Campus Human Resources Officer, HR Partners, labor relations, and campus stakeholders, the Director of Employee Experience leads initiatives that enhance workplace climate, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness while respecting collective bargaining agreements and shared governance. This role develops and implements strategies, tools, and practices that support supervisors in managing performance, navigating complex employee relations matters, and leading through change. The Director also provides oversight and guidance for leave management processes, ensuring compliance, consistency, and a supportive employee experience. Through data-informed decision-making, continuous improvement, and a strong-equity centered approach, the Director advances a culture of trust, accountability, and high performance that enables the university community to thrive.

Salary Range:

$64,310.00 - $94,941.00 Annually

Minimum Qualifications:

The following qualifications are required of all applicants seeking consideration for this position. Only applicants whose application materials clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for the position:

+ Three years Human Resources Professional experience with knowledge of various laws relating to human resources management including, but not limited to, American with Disabilities Act, employment law, Fair Labor Standards Act, Worker’s Compensation, and Family Medical Leave Act, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

+ Master’s degree may substitute for 18 months of experience; Bachelor’s degree may substitute for one year of experience; Associate’s degree may substitute for six months of experience.

+ Workplace investigations skills and demonstrated experience in mediating disputes and facilitate constructive solutions.

+ Effective communication skills sufficient to provide prompt, courteous, and accurate information, communication, and service to diverse populations.

+ Demonstrated organizational skills to prioritize work, initiate actions to meet deadlines, and complete all aspects of assignments under limited supervision.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

+ Preferred 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, employee experience, organizational development, or employee relations within a large, complex organization.

+ Demonstrated ability to handle complex and sensitive employee relations issues with sound judgement, discretion, and professionalism.

+ Excellent interpersonal, communication, and consulting skills, with the ability to influence without authority and build trust across diverse stakeholder groups.

+ Commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging, and the ability to integrate these principles into employee experience and organizational culture initiatives.

+ Experience designing and implementing leadership development, supervisor training, or manager toolkits focused on performance, accountability, and employee engagement.

+ Demonstrated success leading culture change or employee experience initiatives across multiple units, departments, or bargaining groups.

+ Strong facilitation and coaching skills, with experience supporting leaders through organizational change, conflict, or transformation.

+ Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills sufficient to audit data and identify and correct errors.

+ Ability to maintain high ethical standards and upholding confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.

+ Professional HR certification such as PHR, SHRM-CP, or other professional designations.

Work Shift (Hours / Days of work):

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Open Until Filled - Priority Consideration for Applications received by** **12:01 AM on January 19th, 2026** **.

*To comply with privacy and data practices requirements, please refrain from including personal information or photographs in your application materials.

* Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement Commissioner’s Plan which can be found at: https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/000/az/labor-relations/commissioners-plan/contract/commissioners-plan.pdf

Notice: In accordance with the Minnesota State Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, employees driving on university business who use a rental or state vehicle shall be required to conform to Minnesota State’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.

For TTY, call Minnesota Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 7-1-1 or 1-800-627-3529.

The University:

_Metro State University empowers learners to transform their lives and communities through relevant, student-centered education in an inclusive, anti-racist, and supportive learning environment._

Metro State University provides an excellent, inclusive, and engaging education to eliminate opportunity gaps and empower our students to lead our communities to a prosperous and equitable future. The university offers programs leading to baccalaureate, masters, and applied doctoral degrees. We provide accessible, high quality liberal arts, professional, and graduate education with continued emphasis on marginalized groups, including adult learners. Metro State is a five-time recipient of the Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, most recently in 2023. Federally recognized as a Minority Serving Institution, its employees serve more than 9,000 post-traditional learners, two-thirds of whom identify as belonging to communities of color or American Indian nations, are first in their family to attend college, and/or are eligible for Pell Grants. Since we do not operate residential facilities, Metro State University students all commute to class locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, or take their courses wherever they are through our many distance-learning and hybrid course offerings, allowing Metro State to truly be “where learning meets living.” Metropolitan State is recognized by CollegeNet as a leading higher education promoter of social mobility for students (Ranked # 31 out of 1,206 in 2024). Recognized in 2008 and 2016 by the Carnegie Foundation for Community Engagement, the university is committed to academic excellence and community engagement through curriculum, teaching, scholarship, and services designed to support an urban mission. As a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, Metro State University actively works to achieve the Equity 2030 (http://www.minnstate.edu/equity2030/index.html) goal of the system, with initiatives to close disparities among student groups that focus on academic programs, policies and procedures, and effective student support. In addition, equity and anti-racism strategies (http://www.metrostate.edu/about/diversity) are focused on building an inclusive and welcoming campus climate, hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, and developing our capacity to serve students in a culturally responsive manner. The university is finalizing a new strategic plan, with the draft goal of enhancing its legacy of student success by becoming the region’s premier institution for high-quality, accessible, and equitable education, promoting social mobility and community engagement.

Visit the Metro State University website (http://www.metrostate.edu/) to learn more about the university, our programs, and our students. Learn more about Minnesota State Colleges and Universities at their website (http://www.minnstate.edu/) .

For campus safety information and crime statistics visit: https://www.metrostate.edu/students/support/safety

Metro State University is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc. We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

Desired Start Date:

03-25-2026

Position End Date:

Open Date:

01-02-2026

Close Date:

03-31-2026

Posting Contact Name:

Kevin Earl Thompson

Posting Contact Email:

[email protected]