Executive Director of Labor Relations and Employee Services

Providence Public Schools; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Providence Public Schools is seeking an Executive Director of Labor Relations and Employee Services to lead district-wide labor relations, employee relations, and services for the employee lifecycle.

The role advises senior leaders, negotiates with bargaining units, and ensures compliant, equitable employment practices across a large, diverse educational environment. Strong HR leadership and public-sector experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master degree in Labor Relations, HR, Business Administration, Public Administration, Education, Organizational Psychology, or related field.
• 7+ years in HR, labor/employee relations or related field.
• Public-sector or K-12 education experience.
• Knowledge of public-sector labor laws and regulations.
• Experience with collective bargaining and multiple bargaining units.
• Experience advising senior leaders on complex employee matters.
• Leading HR staff or HR transformation initiatives.
• Professional HR certification such as SHRM-SCP or SPHR.
• Experience using HR analytics and workforce data.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for labor relations, employee relations, and employee services.
• Oversee collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance processes.
• Advise senior leaders on complex employee and labor matters.
• Develop scalable HR processes and improve employee lifecycle services.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.

Skills

Labor relations

Employee relations

HR leadership

Stakeholder management

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in HR/Related

SHRM-SCP / SPHR certification

Tools

HR analytics tools

Job description

Reporting to the Chief Talent Officer, the Executive Director of Labor Relations and Employee Services provides strategic leadership and oversight for the District’s labor relations, employee relations, and employee services functions. This position serves as a key advisor to executive leadership, campus and department administrators, and employees on matters involving collective bargaining, employee relations, employment practices, workplace policies, investigations, performance management, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Executive Director is responsible for developing and maintaining effective labor-management relationships while ensuring consistent, equitable, and legally compliant employment practices across the District. The position leads the District’s labor relations strategy, including collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance management, and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements and District policies.

In addition, the Executive Director oversees employee service functions designed to provide responsive, high-quality support throughout the employee lifecycle. This leader establishes service standards, develops scalable processes, identifies opportunities for continuous improvement, and promotes a culture of accountability, trust, respect, and exceptional employee service.

The ideal candidate is a highly credible HR leader who combines strong labor relations expertise with sound judgment, business acumen, conflict-resolution skills, management skills, and the ability to navigate complex and sensitive employee matters in a large, diverse educational environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS:

• Bachelor’s or Master degree from an accredited college or university in Labor Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Education, Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
• Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, labor relations, employee relations, or a related field.
• Experience working in a public-sector, governmental, or K-12 education environment.
• Experience with public-sector labor laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience leading labor relations, collective bargaining, employee relations, or comparable employment functions.
• Experience managing collective bargaining relationships and multiple bargaining units.
• Experience advising senior leaders and managers on complex employee and labor relations matters.
• Experience leading or managing professional HR staff.
• Experience leading HR transformation, employee experience, or shared-services initiatives.
• Professional HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or comparable certification.
• Experience using HR analytics and workforce data to inform organizational decisions.

Full job description and list of duties/responsibilities at: https://providenceschools.schoolspring.com?jobid=5905553