Assistant Provost/Senior Director of Academic Labor Relations
The University of Massachusetts Amherst (www.umass.edu) (UMass Amherst) seeks a visionary, collaborative, inclusive, and service-oriented executive to serve as its next Assistant Provost/Senior Director of Academic Labor Relations (assistant provost).
UMass Amherst is the flagship institution for the Commonwealth, ranked #26 among the over 700 public colleges and universities included in U.S. News and World Report's 2025 annual survey. The University is a major doctoral-degree granting university with prolific research activity, global reach and a growing reputation for excellence and innovation. As part of the Five Colleges Consortium in the scenic Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, UMass Amherst benefits from shared resources and the rich cultural and intellectual energy of the region.
Reporting to the Associate Provost for Academic Personnel, the incoming assistant provost works directly with senior leadership, Deans, Directors and Department Chairs in all aspects of collective bargaining and labor contract administration with the University’s faculty, graduate assistant, and post-doctoral employee bargaining agreements. The assistant provost will serve as the principal negotiator in collective bargaining with one or more of these units.
The assistant provost will help develop strategic direction for labor contracts and will ensure compliant bargaining agreements and employment policies. The person in this role has the opportunity to shape relationships with unions and other campus partners, providing the foundation for ongoing positive negotiations and contract outcomes and delivery of excellent human resources support. The successful candidate will build credibility with constituencies across campus, create consensus and create and implement successful strategies. This person will be seen as a professional, credible, results-oriented leader, who collaborates to improve employee relations and experiences.
The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking, strategic, collaborative, skilled and innovative leader with proven experience in labor relations. The assistant provost will display integrity in behavior and decision-making and will demonstrate a commitment to understanding multiple perspectives. There is a separate position that works with university staff.
Qualifications:
• An advanced degree is required; J.D. is preferred.
• Five (5) or more years of professional experience specifically in labor and employee relations and collective bargaining.
• Demonstrated knowledge of collective bargaining, labor contract administration and interpretation, regulations and guidelines that govern employment relationships.
• Preferred Higher Education experience or K-12 education, healthcare, or non-profit.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts labor laws and regulations helpful but not required.
Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited and can be directed to WittKieffer consultants Christy Pratt, Ben Haden, and Jess Cummings at UMassAcademicLaborRelations@wittkieffer.com
Candidates should provide, as two separate documents, a resume and a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the Leadership Profile available at https://wittkieffer.com/positions/200471. Application materials should be submitted using the WittKieffer Candidate Portal available at https://apptrkr.com/5736439.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.