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Bowdoin College

Associate Director of Employee Relations and Engagement

🇺🇸 Brunswick, ME 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $106K - $120K 💻 Human Resources 🗓️ March 14th, 2026
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Edtech.com's Summary

Bowdoin College is hiring an Associate Director of Employee Relations and Engagement. This role involves advising department heads and supervisors while overseeing employee relations, performance reviews, retention, engagement, training, and development across the College. The associate director also serves as Deputy Title IX Coordinator, ensures compliance with employment laws, and partners strategically with campus leaders to enhance organizational culture.

Highlights
  • Oversees employee relations issues to ensure fairness and respect across the College.
  • Provides strategic coaching and partnership to business and functional leaders.
  • Manages annual staff performance reviews and job description updates.
  • Identifies and promotes professional development and training opportunities.
  • Assists VP of Human Resources in planning and administering HR policies and compliance.
  • Supports the College's compensation program alignment with institutional goals.
  • Acts as Deputy Title IX Coordinator for staff, handling workplace investigations.
  • Requires knowledge of HR laws, policies, and workforce management procedures.
  • Bachelor's degree required; HR certification and higher education experience preferred.
  • Minimum 4-7 years of relevant HR experience with employee relations; 7+ years preferred.
  • Experience with Workday HCM or similar HR systems is preferred.
  • Salary range: $106,000 to $120,000 annually.
  • Benefits include medical, vision, dental insurance; retirement plans (401(a) and 403(b)); life and disability insurance; paid time off and parental leave; access to College facilities; wellness programs.

Associate Director of Employee Relations and Engagement Full Description

Associate Director of Employee Relations and Engagement Bookmark this Job Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job

Please see Special Instructions for more details.
If selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit information for three references, including name, email address, phone number and how you know the reference.
Posting Details
Posting Details
Title Associate Director of Employee Relations and Engagement
Posting Number S01529JP
Department Human Resources
Job Summary
Are you an HR professional with demonstrated experience in employer relations and passion for building relationships ? Bowdoin College is seeking an Associate Director of Employer Relations and Engagement. The successful candidate will serve in a consultative and advisory role to department heads and supervisors while maintaining local oversight and direct support for a wide range of human resources.
Broad areas of responsibility include employee relations, performance reviews, retention, employee engagement, training and development and working closely with supervisors and leaders in all aspects of people management across the College. The associate director brings a consistency of policy and procedures to employee relations work improving campus culture. candidates must a have proven track record of strong interpersonal skills, verbal and written communication skills as well as presentation skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse employee base (faculty, administrators, and support staff).
Additionally, this role serves as Deputy Title IX Coordinator and the successful candidate will have experience in workplace investigations and employee relations with a strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations. This HR role is a visible strategic partner who promotes transparency, forward thinking and innovation, with an open communication approach.

Essential functions:
  • Oversees employee relations concerns across the College, seeking to ensures all members of the College are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.
  • Provides strategic thought partnership and coaching to leaders across the College. Works to build solid relationships with business and functional leaders.
  • Manages the annual staff performance review process including job description reviews, ensures engagement and compliance.
  • Identifies, curates and promotes professional development and training opportunities.
  • Assist the VP of Human Resources with planning and administering policies relating to all phases of human resources activities. Identify legal requirements and regulations and ensure that policies and procedures are in compliance.
  • Support the College’s compensation program by ensuring alignment with goals and initiatives.
  • Deputy Title IX Coordinator for staff.

The hiring range for this position is expected to be: $106,000 – 120,000 annually.

BENEFITS AND PERKS
Education/Skills Requirements
Requirements:
  • Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Business or HR-related field
  • General knowledge of methods and challenges of organizational management required
  • Demonstrated ability to keep current with, interpret and apply laws, rules, and standard procedures pertinent to the professional operations of the Human Resources function.

Preferred:
  • HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR)-
  • Background in implementing performance management programs
  • Prior work in higher education helpful
  • Analytical skills with the ability to create and interpret standard reports
  • Experience with Workday HCM or similar system.
Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents
Minimum of 4-7 years of related HR experience to include comprehensive work with employee relations required. 7+ years experience preffered.

  • Contemporary knowledge of HR policies, practices, and laws.
  • Ability to interact productively and tactfully with all levels of the organization.
  • Ability to handle confidential and/or sensitive information and exercise discretion concerning its disposition.
  • Initiative, sound judgement, and demonstrated ability to set priorities.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion and cultural awareness.
  • Demonstrated ability to professionally manage highly confidential and/or sensitive information.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications in this posting to be considered for hire.
Standard Work Days and Hours
Administrative hours are M-F 8:30am to 5:00pm.
This is an exempt-level position and requires the time commitment necessary to successfully fulfill all of the job responsibilities.

We regret that Bowdoin College is unable to provide visa sponsorship for staff positions.

Employment at Bowdoin College is contingent upon satisfactory completion of applicable background checks including but not limited to: criminal records, educational verifications, driving records (when job-related), and/or credit history (when job related).
About Bowdoin
Bowdoin embraces diversity in all forms, and the College is home to talented students, faculty and staff—with a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and gender identities, among other factors.

We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College’s multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed.

Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin’s reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.

Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.
Shift
Employment Category Full Time Year Round
FTE 1.00
Benefits Eligible Yes
Pay Type Salaried
Background Check Package Requirements Faculty/Administrative
Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job? No
Is a pre-placement physical required for this position? No
Posting Date 03/13/2026
Applications Accepted Until
Open Until Filled No
Type of Posting Internal/External
Special Instructions to Applicants
If selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit information for three references, including name, email address, phone number and how you know the reference.
EEO Information
Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses.
Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * How did you hear about this position?
    • Indeed.com
    • Chronicle of Higher Education
    • Diverse Issues in Higher Ed
    • Facebook
    • Glassdoor
    • Google Search
    • HigherEdJobs.com
    • InsideHigherEd.com
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • MANP
    • Maine Job Link
    • LiveandWorkinMaine.com
    • Employee Referral
    • Bowdoin College Website
    • Radio Ad
    • TechMaine
    • NCAA
    • CASE
    • Other
  2. If you answered Employee Referral or Other, please specify here:

    (Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume / Curriculum Vitae
  2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

 

Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses.

Confidential arrangements will be made if you have a disability or require an accommodation in completing the application or in the interview process. Please notify Human Resources at (207) 725-3837 in advance so all necessary arrangements can be made confidentially.

Staff & Casual contact:
careers@bowdoin.edu
Faculty contact:
facultycareers@bowdoin.edu

(t)207-725-3837
216 Maine Street, Brunswick, ME 04011

 

Bowdoin College is a member of the Diversity Hiring Coalition of Maine, and Live and Work in Maine.

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