Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs and Labor Relations

Job Posting:

JR101829 Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs and Labor Relations (Open)

Department:

Office of the Provost, Provost & Sr. VP for Academic & Student Affairs | PM

Position Type:

Regular

Open Date:

05-05-2026

Close Date:

$125,000 - $140,000

Job Description:

Senior leadership role reporting to the Provost, responsible for overseeing faculty personnel processes (hiring, tenure, promotion), managing faculty labor relations (collective bargaining, grievances, contract administration), and ensuring compliance with policies and employment laws. Collaborates with academic leadership, HR, and unions to support a fair, effective, and legally sound faculty workplace.

Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs and Labor Relations

Frostburg State University is a public comprehensive university committed to academic excellence, innovative teaching and scholarship, and the well-being of its faculty and academic workforce. Through shared governance and collaborative labor relations, the institution seeks to foster a professional environment that supports faculty success, institutional effectiveness, and student achievement.

Position Summary

The Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs and Labor Relations serves as a senior leadership position within the Office of the Provost and plays a central role in advancing the institution’s academic mission through effective faculty administration, equitable personnel practices, and constructive labor-management relations.

Reporting to the Provost, the Assistant Provost provides strategic oversight and operational leadership for faculty lifecycle processes, including appointment, reappointment, tenure, promotion, and non‑tenure‑track employment. The role also serves as an institutional representative for labor relations matters involving faculty and academic staff, including collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance resolution, and compliance with labor agreements and applicable laws.

The Assistant Provost works collaboratively with faculty leadership, human resources, legal counsel, academic administrators, and union representatives to promote a fair, transparent, and legally sound faculty employment environment.

Key Responsibilities

Faculty Affairs and Academic Personnel Administration

• Provide leadership and oversight for faculty appointments, reappointments, tenure, promotion, post‑tenure review, and contract renewal processes.
• Develop, interpret, and ensure consistent application of faculty policies, procedures, and handbooks across academic units.
• Advise the Provost, deans, and department chairs on faculty personnel matters, performance management, and risk mitigation.
• Support equitable workload, evaluation, and advancement practices for tenure‑track and non‑tenure‑track faculty.
• Collaborate on faculty development, mentoring, and retention initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.

Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

• Serve as the chief academic officer’s designee for faculty labor relations.
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations with faculty unions or associations, in coordination with legal counsel and HR leadership.
• Oversee interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements.
• Manage and resolve grievances, disputes, and arbitration matters related to faculty employment.
• Maintain constructive, collaborative relationships with union leadership and faculty governance bodies.

Policy, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Ensure institutional compliance with labor laws, accreditation standards, and internal policies affecting faculty employment.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments impacting faculty affairs and labor relations.
• Partner with the Office of General Counsel and Human Resources on investigations, disciplinary matters, and complex personnel cases.
• Develop training and guidance for academic leaders on faculty policies, labor agreements, and best practices.

Leadership, Strategy, and Collaboration

• Contribute to strategic planning related to faculty workforce composition, hiring models, and instructional capacity.
• Support shared governance and effective communication between administration and faculty leadership.
• Serve on institutional committees as assigned by the Provost.
• Prepare reports, analyses, and recommendations for senior leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned Master’s or Professional Degree (MBA, JD, etc.) from an accredited institution.
• Substantial experience in higher education administration, faculty affairs, labor relations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of faculty personnel systems, shared governance, and academic culture.
• Experience with collective bargaining, contract interpretation, and grievance resolution in a unionized environment.
• Strong understanding of employment law as it applies to higher education.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with integrity and sound judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., or equivalent) from an accredited institution.

• Prior service in a provost’s office, faculty affairs office, or academic labor relations role.
• Experience working in a public higher education or multi‑bargaining‑unit environment.
• Leadership experience supervising professional staff.

Key Competencies and Attributes

• Collaborative and diplomatic leadership style
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to balance institutional priorities with faculty advocacy
• Commitment to fairness, transparency, and shared governance
• Capacity to manage complex, high‑stakes issues under pressure

Appointment Details

• Full‑time, exempt administrative appointment (no concurrent faculty appointment)
• Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience ($125,000 - $140,000)
• Reports to: Provost/Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs

About the University: A member institution of the University System of Maryland, Frostburg State University is a public, comprehensive, largely residential regional university offering programs in the sciences, education, business, the arts and humanities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. FSU prides itself on being a dynamic, learning-centered institution that emphasizes teaching with opportunities for professional development and research. More than 4,000 students enroll yearly.

About the Area: FSU is located on a scenic 260-acre campus in the mountains of Western Maryland, a region rich in history, quaint shopping areas and eclectic cafes and food choices. The Western Maryland region is considered a four-season outdoor hub of recreational experiences offering activities such as hiking, mountain biking, water sports, snow skiing/boarding, golfing, climbing, etc. Frostburg offers a family-friendly college town feel with easy access to major cities like Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, and Baltimore. If you are looking for insightful colleagues, energetic students, and a great place to work and call home in a region with unlimited adventure-seeking opportunities, FSU is for you!

To Apply: If you wish to apply, please visit https://marylandconnect.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/FSU_CareersAlong with your application, please provide the following: 1) resume; 2) a cover letter specifically addressing the requirements in this advertisement; 3) names and contact information for three professional references.

For assurance of full consideration, please submit materials by 06/05/26.  

This position is open until filled.

Additional Job Information:

Assistant Provost

FSU is proud to be a diverse and inclusive multicultural university.

Frostburg State University welcomes and encourages women, veterans and minorities to apply and seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce.  FSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Appropriate auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals with disability will be provided upon request.  Please notify us in advance. 

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