Director of Labor Relations

Prime Healthcare•Chicago, IL

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system headquartered in Ontario, California. Prime Healthcare operates 54 hospitals and has more than 360 outpatient locations in 15 states providing more than 3.0 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation’s leading health systems with over 60,000 employees and physicians. Twenty-one of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Prime Healthcare is actively seeking new members to join our corporate team! The Director of Labor Relations is responsible for leading and executing the health system’s labor relations strategy across multiple facilities. This role works in close partnership with the Executive Human Resources Director and Managing Labor Counsel to ensure alignment on labor strategy, legal compliance, and organizational priorities. The Director also collaborates closely with Corporate Finance to develop economically sound bargaining proposals and leads the internal approval process with executive leadership, including the EVP/CHRO and President. This role serves as an advisor to senior leadership and plays a critical role in collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and workforce planning.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or related field required.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive labor relations experience, preferably within a healthcare or unionized environment.
Demonstrated experience leading collective bargaining negotiations and managing complex labor environments.
Strong knowledge of federal and state labor laws, including NLRA and related regulations.
Experience partnering with finance teams on economic modeling and labor cost analysis.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
Proven ability to influence senior leaders and navigate executive-level approval processes.
Ability and willingness to travel frequently to support operational needs.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Professional HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR, etc.) are a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement labor relations strategies aligned with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
Maintain knowledge in collective bargaining negotiations, including preparation, strategy development, and contract administration.
Develop, analyze, and model economic proposals for collective bargaining agreements.
Lead the internal review and approval process for labor strategies and economic proposals with senior executives, including the EVP/CHRO and President.
Serve as the primary liaison with union representatives, fostering collaborative and effective working relationships.
Advise executives, HR leaders, and operational management on labor laws, union contracts, and employee relations issues.
Partner with HR and legal teams to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.
Support workforce planning initiatives, including restructuring, workforce transitions, and change management efforts.
Train and coach leaders on labor relations best practices, contract interpretation, and conflict resolution.
Maintain knowledge of federal and state labor law, including NLRA and related regulations.
Deep understanding of collective bargaining, contract interpretation, and labor relations strategy.
Healthcare workforce knowledge, including staffing models, operational constraints, and regulatory considerations.
Maintain financial acumen to model labor costs, benefits, wage structures, and proposal impact.
Work with local HR Leaders to track grievances and arbitration cases.
Performs other duties as assigned or required.