Lead Employee & Labor Relations Specialist
About The Position
The Lead Employee & Labor Relations Specialist is a senior-level advisor, program lead, and subject-matter expert responsible for complex, sensitive, and high-impact employee and labor relations matters across the organization. The role leads enterprise-level employment investigations, oversees labor relations processes, contributes to negotiation strategy, and develops ER/LR programs, policies, toolkits, reporting standards, and systemic improvements. Alongside managing a portfolio of complex cases, the Lead ER/LR Specialist provides mentorship, oversight, and quality assurance to ER/LR Specialists and Senior Specialists. The position partners with Legal, Security, Risk Management, Corporate Compliance, HR leadership, and senior operational leaders on labor and employment strategy, organizational risk mitigation, and culture-building. It uses data, trends, case analytics, and workforce insights to inform decisions and shape organizational strategy in a complex healthcare and unionized environment. Depending on experience and business needs, the position may focus on employment investigations, labor relations, and/or general employee relations. Other duties may be assigned to support team and organizational goals.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field; relevant work experience may substitute for the educational requirement.
- At least 8 years of progressive employee/labor relations, HR investigations, or HR experience, with significant exposure to complex employment investigations and/or labor relations.
- Deep expertise in labor and employment law and ER/LR best practices, particularly in healthcare and unionized settings; examples include Title VII, FLSA, ADA, FMLA, PWFA, NLRA, USERRA, and HIPAA.
- Ability to lead high-risk investigations and influence resolution outcomes.
- Strong strategic thinking and program development capabilities.
- Advanced communication, coaching, facilitation, and relationship-management skills.
- Ability to oversee case quality, ensure consistency, and mentor HR colleagues.
- Ability to analyze and leverage workforce data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Proficiency with MS Office.
- The position involves work in a complex healthcare and unionized environment.
Nice To Haves
- Juris Doctorate (J.D.).
- At least 3 years of healthcare or hospital experience.
- Experience using HRIS, case management, and data analytics systems such as Workday, ServiceNow, Power BI, or Kronos.
Responsibilities
- Advise leaders, HR business partners, HR centers of excellence, and Legal on complex employee and labor relations issues requiring advanced judgment.
- Lead risk assessments and partner on enterprise initiatives to strengthen culture and mitigate organizational exposure.
- Use trends, analytics, and case metrics to inform leadership decisions and organization-wide interventions.
- Lead sensitive, high-impact employment investigations involving multiple stakeholders, cross-department concerns, or significant legal exposure.
- Partner with Legal and HR leadership to establish investigative strategies and ensure regulatory alignment.
- Establish and maintain investigation standards and best practices across the ER/LR team.
- Provide subject-matter expertise on collective bargaining agreements, labor law, and labor-management relations.
- Lead grievance strategy and processes and represent management in discussions with union representatives.
- Support negotiation planning through issue tracking, costing analysis, proposal development, and historical case review.
- Participate in first-contract, successor-contract, mid-term contract, bargaining, and impact-bargaining negotiations.
- Facilitate labor-management meetings and support resolution of ongoing labor issues.
- Develop ER/LR programs, toolkits, templates, policies, and workflows.
- Oversee the consistency and quality of ER/LR investigations and case management.
- Develop and deliver enterprise-wide training for leaders, team members, and HR colleagues.
- Influence process redesign and organizational employment practices using case trends and risk assessments.
- Guide, coach, and direct ER/LR Specialists and Senior Specialists.
- Review investigation reports and provide feedback to ensure quality and consistency.
- Support the Director of Employee & Labor Relations in operational planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health services.
- Paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
- 401(k) plan.
- Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
- Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans.
- Tuition assistance.
- Fitness resources.
- Employee assistance.
- Commuter benefits.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
