Senior Manager, Labor and Employee Relations

CBRE Government & Defense Services

1d•$130,000 - $160,000

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Labor & Employee Relations (LR/ER) is responsible for leading employee and labor relations activities across a multi-site government contracting environment, with full ownership of arbitration and dispute resolution, as well as oversight of ADA, FMLA, and workplace accommodations. This role serves as the organization’s lead practitioner for workplace investigations, grievance management, and arbitration proceedings. The Senior Manager will represent the company in arbitration, develop case strategy, prepare witnesses, and ensure consistent and compliant ER/LR and leave/accommodation practices. The role also leads a team of LR/ER Business Partners and partners closely with Legal, HR, and Operations to mitigate risk and support business outcomes. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring deep practical expertise and the ability to operate independently in a complex, regulated environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or related field
8 + years' Experience in employee and labor relations including union environments
2 + years' Experience with Service Contract (SCA), Davis-Bacon Act and supporting multi-site or multi-state operations
Professional certifications such as SHRM-CP, PHR, or SPHR
Direct, hands-on arbitration experience as a lead representative (first chair)
Experience managing grievances and interpreting collective bargaining agreements
Strong experience conducting workplace investigations
Experience handling ADA, FMLA, and workplace accommodations
Prior experience leading or mentoring HR or LR/ER professionals

Responsibilities

Lead and manage complex employee relations matters, including performance, misconduct, and workplace complaints
Conduct and oversee investigations; ensure outcomes are timely, well-documented, and defensible
Provide risk-based guidance to leaders and HR partners
Ensure consistent application of policies and disciplinary practices
Identify trends and recommend actions to reduce organizational risk
Lead grievance management across all steps, ensuring timely and effective resolution
Interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements (CBAs)
Advise leaders on labor relations matters and union interactions
Maintain effective working relationships with union representatives
Serve as the company’s lead representative (first chair) in arbitration proceedings
Own end-to-end arbitration strategy, including case assessment, positioning, and risk evaluation
Prepare and coach witnesses, including supervisors and senior leaders
Develop case materials, exhibits, and arguments in partnership with Legal (as needed)
Determine settlement vs. arbitration approach based on risk, cost, and precedent
Ensure consistency in arbitration approach across cases
Oversee and advise on ADA interactive process, reasonable accommodations, and related compliance
Provide guidance on FMLA and other leave of absence programs, including complex and escalated cases
Partner with HR, Legal, and business leaders to ensure consistent and compliant decision-making
Manage high-risk or sensitive accommodation and leave cases
Identify trends and risks related to leave and accommodations and recommend improvements
Lead and support a team of Labor & Employee Relations Business Partners
Provide coaching and oversight on ER, LR, and accommodation matters
Drive consistency in case handling, documentation, and decision-making
Support development of team capability
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws
Support adherence to government contract labor requirements (e.g., Service Contract Act, Davis-Bacon Act)
Partner with HR and Legal to mitigate risk and support audit readiness
Track and analyze metrics related to grievances, arbitrations, investigations, and leave/accommodation cases
Identify trends and recommend process improvements
Support implementation of tools and processes to enhance efficiency and consistency