Senior Director for Labor Relations

Title: Senior Director for Labor Relations

Executive Area: Human Resources

College/School/MBU: Human Resources

Department: Human Resources

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Senior Director for Labor Relations oversees the University's Staff Labor Relations unit reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor and Deputy Chief HR Officer. This position serves as the university's chief negotiator and advisor on labor relations matters across multiple unions and is responsible for leading labor negotiations, resolving labor disputes, and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). The Senior Director provides strategic leadership in fostering positive labor-management relationships that support the University's mission, HR strategic initiatives, and has a commitment to continuous improvement and a collaborative working environment.

Essential Functions

Labor Negotiations and Contract Administration

Leads negotiations for collective bargaining agreements with various staff unions.

Develops negotiation strategies in collaboration with Human Resources and University leadership, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and building management consensus on bargaining positions.

Drafts, reviews, and interprets collective bargaining agreements to ensure clarity and consistency.

Labor Relations Strategy

Advises Human Resources and University leadership on labor relations strategies, trends, and best practices to promote positive labor-management relations.

Provides strategic direction on labor agreements and policy development.

Monitors industry trends and emerging legal issues that impact labor relations at the UMass.

Conflict Resolution and Grievance Management

Oversees the resolution arbitrations and labor disputes, ensuring adherence to CBA terms and legal standards.

Serves as a mediator in labor conflicts and develops strategies for conflict resolution.

Collaborates with legal counsel and external mediators to manage arbitration and litigation.

Union Relationship Management

Fosters and maintains effective working relationships with union representatives, ensuring regular communication and collaboration.

Organizes and participates in labor-management meetings to discuss workplace issues and initiatives.

Compliance and Policy Oversight

Ensures compliance with state and federal labor laws.

Works with legal and Human Resources teams to ensure that all labor policies and practices are legally compliant.

Interprets and implements policies that align with collective bargaining agreements and institutional goals.

Training and Development

Develops and delivers training programs for managers on labor relations.

Educates managers and supervisors on contract interpretation and labor relations policies to ensure effective leadership within unionized environments.

Operational Oversight & Supervision

Provides operational leadership and daytoday management of the Labor Relations unit, including direct supervision of labor relations staff.

Establishes team goals, priorities, workflows, case management practices, and performance metrics to ensure timely and consistent handling of negotiations, grievances, arbitrations, and other labor matters.

Ensures unit operations comply with University policies, CBAs, and applicable laws, and that confidential information is handled appropriately.

Other Functions

Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.

Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.

Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.

Understands and contributes to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.

Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and seven (7) years of progressive HR experience.

Ability to effectively lead change.

Executive presence, ability to formulate, present and execute complex strategies, policies and programs.

Excellent overall business acumen. Superior verbal and written communication skills

Ability to be a collaborative HR professional and team player.

Knowledge and ability to apply complex concepts, practices and procedures within the general business, academic and human resources environments. Ability to promote ideas and proposals persuasively including with the use of data and analysis as appropriate.

Ability to cultivate influential and credible relationships with Vice Chancellors and Deans across the campus.

Ability to serve as a confidential and trusted partner to the Human Resources leadership team in all matters.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree or JD and seven (7) years progressive HR experience with at least two (2) years in a leadership role.

Experience working in large highly complex organizational structures.

Experience supervising and managing a team of HR professionals.

Experience in higher education.

Experience in leading strategic planning efforts.

Experience in public sector labor relations.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, standard working hours.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position is non-unit, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Non-Unit (Professional/or Classified) Employee Personnel Policy.

Salary Information

UMass Amherst expects to pay within an approximate range between $180,000 and $205,000 for this position.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.