Careers at Virginia Tech

Reporting to the University Employee Relations Director and serving as a collaborative member of the ER team, The Employee Relations Consultant serves as a strategic partner to Human Resources Partners, Supervisors, and Employees, providing expert guidance on employee relations matters to foster a positive work culture. This role also interacts with campus partners such as University Legal, Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education, University Ombuds, the Virginia Tech Police Department and more.
The ER Consultant supports the university’s mission by promoting fair and consistent employment practices, interpreting policy, and delivering proactive solutions. Serves as a neutral third party ensuring all parties understand ER's role as an institutional resource focused on fair process and equitable outcomes.
The ER Consultant operates within a three-tier service model, providing self-service resources for routine matters, consultation for complex situations requiring specialized expertise, and direct case management for high-risk or precedent-setting cases. The consultant collaborates with HR Partners, who retain primary responsibility for day-to-day ER in their units, while serving as subject matter expert, quality assurance resource, and escalation point for matters requiring university-level coordination.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field, and/or the equivalent level of training and experience
• Professional experience providing employee relations or HR consulting.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and make data informed decisions
• Ability to analyze complex issues, exercise sound judgment, and develop practical, equitable solutions

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Related professional certification (e.g., SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR).
• Experience as an HR consultant in a complex organization
• Experience in higher education or public sector HR
• Experience using IT systems such as HR information systems and case management software

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Regular

Commensurate with experience with a salary range of $70,000-90,000

40

November 12, 2025

This position may be prominently onsite during the training/onboarding period then may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement of 3 days on site, 2 days remote.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.