Labor Relations Specialist

Purpose: The Labor Relations Specialist supports the administration and execution of labor relations programs across the organization. The role serves as a resource to People & Culture partners, operational leaders, and business stakeholders by providing guidance on collective bargaining agreements, supporting grievance administration, conducting labor relations analyses, monitoring compliance, and assisting with labor-related initiatives to promote positive labor-management relationships and operational effectiveness.

Essential Functions:

• Administers labor relations programs, policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreement provisions while serving as a resource to managers and People & Culture partners on labor-related matters
• Interprets collective bargaining agreements and provides guidance to Operations leaders, People & Culture teams, and business stakeholders regarding contract administration and labor relations practices
• Supports grievance administration by researching issues, gathering documentation, preparing case summaries, and recommending appropriate courses of action consistent with collective bargaining agreement provisions and company practices
• Assists with arbitration preparation and other labor-related proceedings by compiling documentation, conducting analyses, coordinating information requests, and supporting internal and external stakeholders
• Tracks collective bargaining agreement obligations, renewal timelines, and implementation requirements while ensuring contract provisions are administered appropriately
• Partners with Payroll, HR Technology, Benefits, Operations, and People & Culture teams to support the administration and implementation of labor-related programs, policies, and collective bargaining agreement provisions
• Conducts labor relations analyses, reviews workforce and labor-related data, identifies trends, and develops recommendations to support compliance, operational effectiveness, and informed decision-making
• Audits and monitors compliance with collective bargaining agreements, labor relations policies, and established practices while identifying potential risks and recommending corrective actions
• Maintains labor relations records, documentation, reports, and metrics and prepares materials used to support labor negotiations, grievance administration, arbitration preparation, and business decision-making
• Identifies opportunities to improve labor relations processes, documentation standards, compliance practices, and operational procedures while supporting continuous improvement initiatives

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

Major Interdependencies: People & Culture, Operations Leadership, Payroll, Benefits, HR Technology, Legal, Finance, Union Representatives, Business Leaders, and Employee Relations stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 5 years:

• In a technical role: Requires 5 years of Labor Relations experience engaged in developing and delivering labor relations, collective bargaining agreement administration, grievance management, labor compliance, and employee relations programs

• A bachelor’s degree in human resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field can count for 3 of the 5-year requirement

• In the industry: Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Retail, Travel Retail, Distribution, Transportation, or other unionized workforce experience of 3-5 years preferred
• Specialized Training:

• • Training that leads to an in-depth understanding of Labor Relations, collective bargaining agreement administration, grievance processes, arbitration preparation, labor compliance, and employee relations
  • Knowledge of state and federal labor laws, employment regulations, collective bargaining practices, labor compliance requirements, and union-management relations

• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits

• Business acumen and the mindset required to understand the long-term implications of labor relations planning and to advance organizational goals
• Demonstrated history of understanding the needs of the business, stakeholders, the employee population, union representatives, and individual circumstances
• Demonstrated history of creating and maintaining positive work environments through coaching, developing, influencing, and collaborating with leaders and employees to achieve common goals
• Ability to interpret collective bargaining agreements and provide guidance regarding contract administration and labor relations matters
• Ability to analyze labor relations issues, identify trends, evaluate risks, and develop recommendations for leaders and People & Culture partners
• Strong communication, relationship-building, conflict resolution, consultation, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive labor and employee matters
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, HR systems, reporting tools, and labor relations documentation processes

• Location: This position is based at the North America Support Center in Bethesda, MD