Labor Relations Specialist

About the role

This is a remote-eligible role with approximately 25% travel to support site visits, negotiations, arbitration hearings, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and execute labor relations and positive employee relations initiatives and cross-functional projects, managing scope, timelines, milestones, and stakeholders.
• Maintain project documentation, track deliverables, and report progress and risks to leadership.
• Coordinate resources across HR, legal, and operations to ensure timely completion of labor relations priorities.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret labor relations data—grievance volumes, arbitration outcomes, case cycle times, and union request for information trends—to identify patterns and inform strategy.
• Build and maintain reports, dashboards, and metrics that provide leadership with visibility into labor relations activity and risk.
• Translate analytical findings into actionable recommendations for HR and business leaders.
• Administer, maintain, and continuously improve labor relations case management systems and supporting tools.
• Develop, document, and standardize processes, workflows, and templates to drive consistency and efficiency.
• Serve as a subject-matter resource on labor relations systems, ensuring data integrity and effective adoption.
• Develop and maintain training materials, toolkits, and job aids that support positive employee relations and labor relations activities across the organization.
• Promote a positive employee relations environment through proactive engagement, coaching, and manager enablement.
• Deliver training and guidance to managers on labor relations principles, contract administration, and constructive labor-management practices.
• Build and sustain productive relationships with union representatives, employees, and business partners.
• Interpret, apply, and administer collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and related policies.
• Advise managers and HR partners on contract language, compliance, and consistent application across the organization.
• Maintain contract records and support contract interpretation, clarification, and implementation.
• Investigate, respond to, and resolve grievances across all steps of the grievance procedure.
• Gather facts, interview relevant parties, document findings, and prepare clear, well-supported written responses.
• Track grievance activity and partner with stakeholders to reach timely, fair, and consistent resolutions.
• Prepare cases for arbitration, including evidence gathering, exhibit preparation, and case-theory development.
• Coordinate with legal counsel, identify and prepare witnesses, and organize case documentation.
• Support post-arbitration analysis and incorporate outcomes into future labor relations strategy.
• Prepare responses to union requests for information, including position statements and supporting documentation.
• Partner with legal counsel and internal stakeholders to develop and execute response strategies.
• Monitor union request for information trends and recommend proactive measures to reduce exposure.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 3+ years experience in human resources operations, labor relations or related field
• OR Bachelor's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, or related field AND 5+ years experience in human resources operations, labor relations or related field
• OR equivalent experience.

Skills

• Experience with labor relations or HR case management systems and data visualization/reporting tools
• Advanced degree or professional certification (e.g., SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR) in a related field
• Analytical and data-driven thinking
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Communication with stakeholders and influence without authority
• Attention to detail and documentation
• Relationship building and collaboration
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Adaptability and resourcefulness

Pay

The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $86,100 - $169,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $113,300 - $187,400 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.