Director Labor Relations

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is seeking a Director of Labor Relations to lead the Labor Relations function, guiding negotiation, implementation and administration of the bargaining unit agreement. The role requires strong leadership, extensive experience in union environments, and deep knowledge of labor law.

The Director will manage a team, advise management on negotiations, oversee disciplinary actions and grievances, and ensure compliance with safety and organizational

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Labor Relations or related field.
• Minimum 8 years at Director level in Labor Relations, including 5+ years in management within a unionized environment.
• Strong knowledge of labor laws (NLRA, FMLA) and collective bargaining processes.

Responsibilities

• Administers the labor agreement by providing guidance and interpretation in disputes, MOUs, grievances and employee actions.
• Guides and monitors issues from represented employees and administers METRO policies and guidelines.
• Reviews and updates union employee work rules as needed.
• Plans and advises METRO management on labor agreement negotiations; acts as principal spokesperson in negotiations.
• Represents METRO in union matters regarding disciplinary actions, promotions, demotions, transfers and grievances/arbitrations.
• Performs personnel administrative functions for direct report staff (training, supervision, timesheets, evaluations).
• Assists managers in counseling and disciplining represented employees.
• Develops and implements training for managers on labor issues and grievance processes.
• Assists in preparation of arbitration hearings and bargaining unit negotiations.
• Oversees grievance reports, disciplinary action reports and weekly Labor Relations SAP reports.
• Conducts wage/benefit surveys of other transit properties as needed.
• Participates in new hire orientation.
• Provides excellent customer service to METRO internal and external customers.
• Applies Safety Management System (SMS) principles and supports PTASP.
• Promotes safety awareness and adherence to procedures.

Skills

Labor relations

Negotiation

Contract interpretation

Leadership

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Labor relations or related field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Directs the Labor Relations function and staff, which includes negotiation, implementation and administration of the bargaining unit labor agreement, including interpretation and intent of the Labor Agreement terms. Performs duties in a safe, efficient manner and in compliance with all applicable rules and safety procedures.

Responsibilities and Specific Duties

• Administers the labor agreement by providing guidance, direction, application and interpretation to managerial and supervisory employees in contract disputes, Memorandum of Understandings (MOU’s), grievances, and all employee actions affecting or affected by the labor agreement.
• Guides and monitors issues from represented employees and administers METRO's policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Reviews and updates the union employee work rules as needed.
• Plans and advises METRO management regarding labor agreement negotiations. Acts as the principal spokesperson of METRO negotiations teams in all union labor agreement negotiations.
• Acts as principal METRO representative in contact with the Union on all matters pertaining to disciplinary actions, promotions, demotions, transfers, separations, layoffs, wage adjustments, and grievance/arbitration hearings.
• Performs personnel administrative functions of direct report staff (e.g. training, supervising, work assignments, timesheets, performance evaluations, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining necessary staffing, enhancing productivity of staff and ensuring necessary department outcomes are achieved.
• Assists managers in counseling and disciplining represented employees.
• Develops and implements training to managers on labor issues and trends, including administration and facilitation of the labor agreement, disciplinary and grievance processes, contract interpretation, leave polices, etc.
• Assists in preparation of arbitration hearings, lawsuits, and bargaining unit labor agreement negotiations.
• Responsible for the oversight and preparation of grievance reports, disciplinary action reports, Labor Relations weekly reports, and other SAP reports as needed or requested for special projects.
• Conducts surveys of other transit properties on wages, benefits, and special issues for Union as needed.
• Participates in new hire orientation.
• Provides excellent customer service to METRO internal and external customers.
• Applies SMS (Safety Management System) methods and principles in daily routine and supports all aspects of the agency’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP).
• Promotes safety awareness and follows safety procedures to reduce or eliminate accidents.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education Requirement

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labor Relations or related field required.

Years & Experience Required

A minimum of 8 years of experience in a Director-level role within Labor Relations is required, including a minimum of five (5) years management experience, in a unionized environment.

Knowledge & Skills Required

Excellent communications (written/verbal) skills. Labor Law Knowledge: Deep understanding of federal, state, and local labor laws, including NLRA, FMLA, and collective bargaining regulations.

Collective Bargaining Expertise: Skilled in negotiating union contracts, handling grievances, and managing arbitration. Conflict Resolution: Ability to mediate disputes between employees, unions, and management effectively. Policy Development: Experience creating and implementing labor relations policies and procedures. Data Analysis: Ability to analyze workforce trends, labor costs, and compliance metrics.

Additional Information

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas has a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy for all employees. All internal and external applicants will be required to undergo drug testing before employment and will be subject to further drug and/or alcohol testing throughout their employment.

Further, employees who perform safety-sensitive functions will submit to drug and/or alcohol testing in accordance to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulatory requirements.

We provide equal opportunity to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, genetic information or disability.