The search committee for a director of employee and labor relations is delaying their evaluation of candidates until the interview for one of the two finalists can be rescheduled.

Amie Calvert was scheduled for an on-campus interview on Jan. 25, but her session was postponed due to a scheduling conflict.

Hector Figueroa, another finalist for the position, came in for an interview on Jan. 28.

Mark Hudson, the director of University Housing and Dining Services and a member of the search committee, said the committee still has to set Calvert’s new interview date.

“Our hope is to bring in the other finalist as soon as they are available, and then at that point we will be evaluating those two finalists and giving feedback to the hiring agent,” he said.

The director of employee and labor relations serves as the chief negotiator for union contracts with the university.

Hudson said various people have served as interim directors over the past few years since Robert Wayland, the previous director, retired.

The search committee was formed last fall and includes three members.

Hudson said having someone to permanently fill the position would allow employees to work more closely with the director.

“I think certainly people who have been interim with those responsibilities have done a very nice job, but it’s going to be helpful to have someone in there whose longer term,” he said. “This is very much a relationship position, so people get to know people in the various unions and work very closely with them.”

Dave Crockett, the director of Facilities, Planning and Management and a member of the search committee, said the committee originally chose three out of 11 candidates for interview, and one of the three withdrew.

Crockett said the committee planned to make its recommendation to Robert Miller, the general counsel and hiring agent for the position, by the second week of February.

Hudson said the committee would take a week to deliberate between candidates once Calvert’s interview is rescheduled.

“Once the other finalist is able to schedule, within a week after that we will collect the feedback from the campus community who attended the open sessions, then pass them along to Robert Miller,” he said.

Hudson said the ability to work together with others is an important quality in a candidate.

“Negotiation is a process of trying to find the middle ground between what the labor union wants and what the university can afford to do,” he said. “We’re looking for the ability to build good relationships and be trusted and be a person to have both employees and the university’s best interest in mind.”

Crockett said he would be looking for a candidate with sufficient experience.

“That’s not the kind of position where you come out of college and you can be the director,” he said. “You come up through the ranks, do other jobs and develop the skills for director and leadership roles.”

Stephanie Markham can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].