Director Employee Relations – Human Resources

NYU Abu Dhabi is pioneering a new model of higher education
for a global world, dedicated to excellence in teaching and
research and to advancing cooperation and progress on humanity?s
shared challenges. Drawing on the strengths of the NYU global
network, it offers an outstanding liberal arts and sciences
education to students from the United Arab Emirates, the United
States, and around the world, with a distinctive focus on
intercultural understanding and leadership. It supports innovative
research and graduate education programs that push forward the
frontiers of knowledge and respond in powerful and
interdisciplinary ways to vital global and local
challenges.

Position Summary

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Director
of Employee Relations reporting to the Chief Human Resources
Officer (CHRO).

The Director oversees the Employee Relations (ER) portfolio and
strategic employee relations plan at NYUAD, promoting a culture of
inclusion, equity, and organizational excellence. They are
responsible for creating and delivering impactful programs and
activities that improve manager-employee relationships, with an
emphasis on fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace. The
role includes planning and implementing employee relations goals
and objectives, ensuring alignment with NYUAD’s principles and Code
of Conduct.

The Director is also responsible for developing, implementing, and
ensuring adherence to policies, programs, and procedures that
prioritize inclusivity and cultural competence while ensuring
compliance with both local and international labor laws. They
provide consultation and guidance to leadership and senior
management on employee and workplace matters, driving
organizational transformation in line with NYUAD’s mission and core
values.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and ensure adherence to fair, inclusive,
and legally compliant employee relations policies in alignment with
NYUAD’s values and the Code of Conduct. Identifies potential legal
and compliance risk areas in collaboration with the Office of
General Counsel, Office of Equal Opportunity, and the Office of
Compliance, recommending appropriate responses such as education,
policy refinement, and direct interventions. Identifies areas of
vulnerability, informing and advising the Chief Human Resources
Officer and COO to ensure appropriate assessment and
interventions.
• Acts as a strong advocate for employee issues and works with
the Chief Human Resources Officer to develop methods to ensure
staff input, concerns, and grievances are facilitated in a manner
consistent with our mission and values. Make referrals to the
appropriate offices for interventions, including but not limited to
the Office of General Counsel, Office of Equal Opportunity, Office
of Compliance, and the Office of Inclusion and Equity.
• Lead the design and delivery of training programs to equip
supervisors and employees with knowledge of employee relations best
practices, performance management, conflict resolution, and
culturally responsive leadership. Partners with the Learning &
Organizational Development Office of Inclusion and Equity team to
integrate IDBEA principles into leadership development initiatives,
ensuring that all managers are well-versed in fostering inclusive
and equitable workplace environments.
• Partner with the senior management on relevant employee
relations activities related to the impact of institutional
reorganizations & resulting restructure. Advise senior
management and HR Business Partners on redundancy implications
resulting from these activities, ensuring best practice outcomes by
developing and implementing separation proposals and communication
strategies.
• Act as a key resource for resolving complex workplace
conflicts, conducting investigations, and facilitating mediation
efforts. Develop and oversee structured processes to address
employee grievances and concerns while upholding institutional
fairness, transparency, and accountability. Implement proactive
strategies to de-escalate conflicts before they become formal
complaints. Investigate complex disciplinary situations, gather
evidence, take statements, formulate case summaries, and advise the
Chief Human Resources Officer of recommendations. Oversees formal
disciplinary action against employees.
• In partnership with the Director of Learning &
Organizational Development, the Director, HR Business Partners, the
Director of National Talent, and other stakeholders provide ongoing
consulting, guidance, coaching, and training to Senior Managers,
Managers, and staff concerning employee relations programs and
activities. Delivers proactive plans and programs to positively
influence employee relations, ensuring a culture of fairness,
inclusion, and accountability.
• Provide strategic support to supervisors and managers on
addressing performance concerns, implementing performance
improvement plans, and fostering constructive feedback mechanisms.
Develop interventions to support employees in navigating career
growth while upholding accountability and institutional standards.
Collaborate with the Learning & Organizational Development team
to identify and recognize high-performing employees for awards and
professional development opportunities, reinforcing a culture of
excellence, retention, and engagement.
• Monitor trends and reports progress on outcomes and
recommendations throughout the year. Ensure that performance
management and recognition initiatives are inclusive, equitable,
and culturally responsive, fostering a sense of belonging,
motivation, and engagement across NYUAD’s diverse workforce.
• Lead the analysis and interpretation of people-related metrics
to identify trends and inform the development and improvement of ER
policies, processes, and management development activities Through
the analysis and interpretation of internal and external ER-related
data sources, identify trends and develop appropriate
recommendations for value-adding and strategic ER interventions
that meet organizational and customer specific needs. Ensure the
impacts of these initiatives are measurable and evidenced.
Identifies areas for improvement in employee engagement, retention,
and workplace satisfaction, providing recommendations to leadership
for action.
• Oversee and manage NYUAD’s Employee Well-being Program (EWP),
ensuring that workplace wellness initiatives are inclusive,
culturally responsive, and aligned with global best practices.
Continuously evaluates data to identify trends, assess employee
needs, and enhance services, advocating for policies that support
holistic well-being, psychological safety, and work-life balance.
Maintain awareness of global conflicts, crises, and natural
disasters to proactively address employee concerns and provide
appropriate support as needs arise.

Required Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational
Development, Labor and Employee Relations, Business Administration,
Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Public Administration, Law,
Social Sciences, or a related field is required

Required Experience:

• A strong understanding of labor laws, employee relations best
practices, workplace compliance, and organizational development
principles, particularly in multicultural and international work
environments
• Minimum of 10 years of experience working in labor and employee
relations in a managerial capacity.
• Proven experience in the area of job responsibility including
effective problem solving and employee relations interventions is
required
• Exprience working with a diverse international population of
multiple stakeholders
• Strong leadership and strategic thinking abilities
• Cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse global workforce
dynamics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities
• Coaching and influencing skills for developing inclusive
leadership capabilities
• Expertise in mediation and conflict resolution
• Change management and organizational development
experience
• Training and facilitation expertise in workplace policies,
compliance, and leadership development
• Ability to remain composed and objective under pressure
• Tenacity and perseverance in handling complex employee
relations matters
• A balanced approach that integrates institutional priorities
with employee advocacy
• Understanding of US and UAE Labor Laws

Preferred Education:

• Master’s Degree in a related field
• Legal qualification in Employment Law

Preferred Experience:

• Prior Labor and Employee Relations experience, in an academic
setting
• Experience working in an academic institution or global
organization with a highly diverse workforcePrior experience
handling restructuring or large-scale organizational
changeKnowledge of applicable labor law and other statutory and
regulatory requirement in the US and UAE
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) experience or conflict
mediation.

Other Information About NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully
integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the
Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU
Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of
NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of
portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that
enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in
their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global
university represents a transformative shift in higher education,
one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia
are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural
perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the
Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought,
advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its
academic, research, and creative activities.