Employee & Labor Relations Associate

The Metropolitan Museum of Art•New York, NY

1d•$100,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) is seeking an Employee & Labor Relations Associate to join its HR Department. This role is integral to ensuring the fair, equitable, and consistent application of HR policies and collective bargaining agreements. The Associate will foster positive management-union relations, provide guidance on labor matters, and maintain accurate records. This position requires a strong understanding of employment law and experience in a unionized environment. The Met is committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a diverse staff, valuing respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required.
3 years of related labor and employee relations experience, investigations, compliance with employment law, and disciplinary actions.
Experience working in a union environment.
Understanding of federal, state, and local laws that govern employment policies and practices; and of nondiscrimination laws and compliance regulations including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Excellent judgment with the ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information.
Strong and effective interpersonal skills, the ability to listen well, remain respectful and diplomatic in the face of difficult situations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build strong working relationships.
Excellent planning, organizing, and time management skills with a strong attention to detail.
Must be available to work onsite at the Museum 4 days a week.
Employees are expected to be located within commuting distance of the Museum (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania).

Nice To Haves

Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or Psychology or related field preferred.
Professional Human Resources Certification or Senior Professional Human Resources certification, Coaching certification or Diversity and Inclusion certification a plus.

Responsibilities

Foster positive management-union labor relations through appropriate verbal and written communications with managers, employees and union representatives.
Perform a full range of labor relations activities related to the administration of collective bargaining agreements.
Provide guidance on labor matters to managers across the Museum on such topics as discipline (related to both workplace performance and attendance), grievances, workplaces disputes, terminations, the changing of working conditions, leave issues, and other issues.
Provide informed and consistent recommendations on the Museum’s policies, systems and structure.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee relations and labor relations records, including case files, grievance documentation, disciplinary actions, and arbitration materials.
Track and manage timelines for grievances, disciplinary actions, contract deadlines, and other labor-related activities to ensure compliance and timely processing.
Coordinate logistics for meetings, hearings, and labor-management discussions, including scheduling, document preparation, and follow-up actions.
Prepare routine and ad hoc reports on employee and labor relations metrics, trends, and case activity to support decision-making.
Assist in drafting and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs), templates, and documentation related to labor relations processes.
Support data entry and maintenance within HRIS, case management systems, and tracking tools to ensure data integrity and reporting accuracy.
Assist with internal audits, document retention, and recordkeeping practices related to employee and labor relations.
Provide administrative support for training sessions, workshops, and communications related to labor relations and workplace policies.
Assist with research and preparation of information and data for use in grievance hearings, arbitration proceedings, labor/management initiatives and collective bargaining negotiations.
With the Recruiting and Employee Experience teams assist with onboarding new staff, ensuring new employees have a strong understanding of the Museum’s policies and procedures.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
Free financial-planning services
Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
25% discount for staff in Museum shops
A subsidized staff cafeteria
Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions