Associate Director, Employee Relations and Labor Strategy

About the role

The People Department is seeking an experienced and strategic Employee Relations leader to serve as Associate Director, Employee Relations and Labor Strategy within the People Department. Reporting to the Director of Employee Relations, this role will provide senior-level employee and labor relations leadership across assigned portfolios and organizational functions, serving as a strategic partner to program leadership and the broader People department.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior Employee Relations leader for the organization, providing strategic guidance on complex employee and labor relations matters across multiple portfolios within a highly operational and unionized environment;
• Advise senior leadership on organizational risk, progressive discipline, performance management, conflict resolution, workplace culture concerns, and employee engagement strategies;
• Lead high-risk and sensitive employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, employee misconduct concerns, leadership escalations, and complex performance management processes;
• Partner with the Director of Employee Relations, Legal, HR Operations, and program leadership to ensure consistent and equitable application of organizational policies, collective bargaining obligations, employment law requirements, and People practices;
• Provide strategic coaching to leaders regarding accountability, documentation, difficult employee conversations, organizational change management, and team effectiveness;
• Identify systemic employee relations trends and operational risks through case tracking, workforce data, and recurring themes; develop proactive interventions, leadership training strategies, and culture stabilization efforts in response;
• Partner with the Director of Employee Relations and Legal Department in preparation for collective bargaining initiatives, contract interpretation, and labor-management strategy discussions;
• Support labor relations strategy by advising leaders on union-related matters, grievance trends, workplace practices, and employee engagement approaches within represented environments;
• Serve as an escalation point and thought partner to People Partners and Employee Relations Specialists regarding complex or high-impact employee relations matters;
• Assist in the development and implementation of consistent Employee Relation standards, documentation practices, and investigative protocols across assigned portfolios;
• Conduct regular strategic meetings with program leadership to assess workforce concerns, operational challenges, and emerging organizational risks impacting employee experience and retention;
• Contribute to broader People Department initiatives focused on leadership development, workplace culture, employee engagement, and equitable people practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Employment Law, Organizational Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field required, Master's degree strongly preferred;
• 7+ years of progressive Employee Relations, Human Resources, Labor Relations, or related experience required;
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience supporting unionized workforces and navigating labor-management relationships required;
• Prior supervisory experience leading, coaching, and developing HR, Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Human Resources Business Partner, or comparable teams strongly preferred;
• Professional HR certification strongly preferred (SPHR, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SHRM-CP, or equivalent).

Additional Information

Position Type: Full-time hybrid role with 2-3 days on site per week at our midtown Manhattan location with occasional travel within the five boroughs, Newark, New Jersey and Syracuse, New York.

Position Location: Midtown Manhattan.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $125,000 - $140,000 and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.