Director, Labor Relations

Responsibilities

• Administers the labor agreement by providing guidance, direction, application and interpretation to managerial and supervisory employees in contract disputes, Memorandum of Understandings (MOU’s), grievances, and all employee actions affecting or affected by the labor agreement.
• Guides and monitors issues from represented employees and administers METRO's policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Reviews and updates the union employee work rules as needed.
• Plans and advises METRO management regarding labor agreement negotiations.
• Acts as the principal spokesperson of METRO negotiations teams in all union labor agreement negotiations.
• Acts as principal METRO representative in contact with the Union on all matters pertaining to disciplinary actions, promotions, demotions, transfers, separations, layoffs, wage adjustments, and grievance/arbitration hearings.
• Performs personnel administrative functions of direct report staff (e.g. training, supervising, work assignments, timesheets, performance evaluations, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining necessary staffing, enhancing productivity of staff and ensuring necessary department outcomes are achieved.
• Aids managers in counseling and disciplining represented employees.
• Develops and implements training to managers on labor issues and trends, including administration and facilitation of the labor agreement, disciplinary and grievance processes, contract interpretation, leave polices, etc.
• Aids in preparation of arbitration hearings, lawsuits, and bargaining unit labor agreement negotiations.
• Responsible for the oversight and preparation of grievance reports, disciplinary action reports, Labor Relations weekly reports, and other SAP reports as needed or requested for special projects.
• Conducts surveys of other transit properties on wages, benefits, and special issues for Union as needed.
• Provides excellent customer service to METRO internal and external customers.
• Applies SMS (Safety Management System) methods and principles in daily routine and supports all aspects of the agency’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP).
• Promotes safety awareness and follows safety procedures to reduce or eliminate accidents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labor Relations or related field required.
• Minimum of eight (8) years’ experience in Human Resources environment with emphasis in labor relations, including a minimum of five (5) years management experience, preferably in a unionized environment.
• Excellent communications (written/verbal) skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, judgment and decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal and excellent customer service skills.
• In-depth knowledge of policies and practices in Labor Relations, negotiation strategies, job bid regulations, classifications and policies concerning wages.
• Human Resources certification, (i.e. PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP) is preferred.

Pay

Pay Range: $120,000 - $163,500