Director Labor Relations & Employee Relations

Republic Services; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Republic Services is seeking a Director of Labor & Employee Relations for their hybrid role based in Phoenix, AZ. This position focuses on enhancing labor strategies and fostering positive employee relations across a decentralized organization.

Key responsibilities include leading a team of Labor Relations professionals, developing strategies to improve employee engagement, and guiding collective bargaining initiatives. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in labor relations, strong consultative skills, and the ability to effectively support business strategies.

Qualifications

• 10 years of labor relations or progressive human resources experience.
• 3 years of people leadership experience.
• Experience managing union election campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Develop labor and employee relations strategy.
• Lead a team to promote positive employee relations.
• Build partnerships with HR professionals across the country.
• Direct support for collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

Skills

Labor relations knowledge

Conflict resolution skills

Project management skills

Bilingual English and Spanish

Education

PHR certification

Job description

This position is a hybrid role based at Republic Service's headquarters in Phoenix, AZ. Hybrid is 4-days per week onsite, and 1-day remote. This position will not be eligible to be fully remote.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director, Labor & Employee Relations is responsible for the development and execution of labor and employee relations strategy to support a positive work environment that promotes safety and productivity, employee satisfaction, effective communication, and a culture of teamwork and trust.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads a team of Labor Relations professionals in developing and implementing plans that promote positive employee relations, minimize conflict, and improve employee engagement.
• Builds strong partnerships with and supports people leaders and HR professionals at non-union-represented sites across the country.
• Develops, implements, maintains, and manages the Company’s labor relations education and training programs. Ensures the effective implementation of labor relations and positive employee relations strategies through training and partnering with internal customers.
• Proactively identifies, assesses, trains, and supports Company locations that would benefit from a more positive environment.
• Develops and maintains relationships with employees and establishes stronger communication between employees and the Company. Listens to employee concerns and appropriately suggests solutions to employees and management.
• Monitors industry trends and provides recommendations for best practices in positive employee relations.
• Investigates and handles certain employee complaints.
• Directs and/or supports representation campaigns, elections, post-campaign actions and related matters.
• Supports aspects of the collective bargaining agreement negotiation process, including occasional participation in and/or leading of negotiations and involvement in strike contingency planning.
• Provides labor relations advice to internal customers.
• Coordinats communications and implementation of certain company initiatives in the field.
• Supports labor relations-related aspects of potential acquisitions, including due diligence and integration.
• Provide guidance, direction, and coaching to Labor Relations team members, including assessing performance, providing feedback, and actively developing talent.
• This position may require travel up to 75% of the time.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned or apparent.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working in an organization with a partially unionized workforce.
• Experience working in a large, decentralized multi-state organization.
• Thorough knowledge of NLRA and other related federal and state laws.
• Proven relationship builder with strong consultative, coaching, counseling, and conflict resolution skills.
• Business acumen, be innovative, adapt well to change and work collaboratively with strategic influence to drive initiatives across a matrixed environment.
• Ability to support senior level leaders in a manner that will effectively advance business strategies throughout their organizations.
• Project management and prioritization skills with proven attention to detail.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to a diverse, fast paced environment with changing priorities.
• Environmental services or transportation industry experience preferred.
• PHR certification preferred.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10 years of labor relations or progressive human resources experience that includes implementing labor strategy, developing, and implementing campaign strategy, and conducting labor relations-related training.
• Experience managing or having significant involvement in union election campaigns.
• Experience interpreting collective bargaining agreements and prior involvement in the collective bargaining negotiation process.
• 3 years of people leadership experience.