About This Role
Serving as the chairperson of a Grievance Hearing Committee, the Hearing Officer presides over hearings, ensuring a fair and orderly process. This engagement-based role supports the committee in reaching findings and recommendations for the final decision-maker, and is activated on an as-needed basis when a formal employee grievance proceeds to a hearing.
Responsibilities
- Preside over Grievance Hearing Committee proceedings for both standard and Level Three corrective action grievances, ensuring the hearing follows the process outlined in SLCC’s Employee Grievance Policy
- Control the conduct and pace of the hearing, including managing the order of presentations, limiting repetitive or irrelevant testimony, and ruling on procedural matters raised by either party
- Confirm committee composition is appropriate to the grievance and free of conflicts of interest, excusing any committee member whose impartiality may reasonably be questioned
- Invite and excuse witnesses as appropriate, and permit both parties and committee members to ask questions of witnesses and each other
- Dismiss character witnesses or testimony determined not applicable to the relevant issues
- Clarify issues of fact and process for the committee, without advocating for either party
- Facilitate the committee's private deliberation and assist the committee secretary in preparing clear, accurate recommendations
- Ensure the committee's final recommendations are submitted to the final and binding decision-maker within the seven-calendar-day window required by policy
- Maintain strict confidentiality of grievance proceedings, records, and deliberations consistent with the private and confidential nature of the grievance process
- Coordinate scheduling and logistics for assigned hearings with the Human Resources office
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school
- Demonstrated experience presiding over, facilitating, or adjudicating formal hearings, grievances, arbitrations, or comparable due-process proceedings
- Working knowledge of employee relations, progressive discipline, and grievance or dispute-resolution processes in a higher education, public sector, or unionized environment
- Demonstrated ability to remain neutral, manage competing viewpoints, and maintain composure in emotionally charged or adversarial settings
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize testimony and evidence into clear findings
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
- Must maintain a permanent residence within the State of Utah as a condition of employment
