Sr Director Labor Relations

Purpose:  The Senior Director of Labor Relations supports the VP of Labor Relations by developing and implementing labor strategies, managing labor relations processes, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and effectively managing union relationships.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborates with senior leadership to develop and implement labor strategies and programs that address workplace disputes and promote a supportive work environment
• Develops and applies policies and procedures, supporting the implementation of best practices for various labor relations issues
• Administers the company’s labor strategy at both company and local levels and ensures systems and processes are in place for compliance; provides guidance on dispute resolution, including negotiations, grievances, and arbitration
• Develops and executes bargaining strategies that align with business objectives, working closely with senior Operations leadership and People & Culture
• Leads Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations, as well as the details of each CBA for effective budgeting and planning for assigned region
• Builds and maintains relationships with national and local union organizations; sets parameters for local union interactions
• Coordinates with Finance for CBA-related budgeting and economic considerations
• Partners with Training & Development to create effective management strategies through training and resource development
• Stays informed about current employment trends and regulations to maintain compliance with legal requirements; ensures that policies and procedures are updated as needed

Reporting Relationship:The Senior Director of Labor Relations reports into the Vice President of Labor Relations

Major Interdependencies: Legal, Operations, Finance, Marketing and Communications, Field HR, Training & Development, Total Rewards, and Business Development

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 10 years:
  • In a leadership role: requires 5 years of experience setting Labor Relations strategy, influencing senior level partners, managing outside labor relations consultants and law firms, and maintaining union relationships
  • In a technical role: requires 10 years first chair negotiating collective bargaining agreements, representing management in grievances and resolving labor relations issues
    • A bachelor’s degree in a program related to the functional area can count for 3 of the ten-year requirement
    • An MBA, JD, or a master’s level degree in a program related to the functional area can count for an additional 2 years of the ten-year requirement
  • In the industry: 3-5 years of Hospitality, F&B and/or Retail experience
  • 5 years of experience with Unite HERE
• Specialized Training:
  • Training that leads to an in-depth understanding of NLRA, and state and federal employment regulations and statutes
  • Training that leads to an understanding of Canadian collective bargaining
• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits:
  • Expert level negotiation, communication, and socialization skills
  • Demonstrated ability to negotiate and implement labor agreements at a national level
  • Strong business acumen with a strategic mindset for long-term labor relations decisions
  • Demonstrated history of anticipating and balancing the needs of the business with the needs of complex stakeholders, the employee population and individual circumstances
  • Demonstrated history of creating and maintaining positive work environments through coaching, developing, and leading teams to achieve common goals
  • Demonstrated experience exhibiting a continuous improvement mindset with the ability to optimize work processes and achieve positive results

• Travel/Location:
  • Location: This position can either be remote in the West Region of US or based at the F&B Center of Excellence in Bethesda, MD
  • Travel: Requires up to 60% travel to airport locations