Labor Relations Counsel

Air Line Pilots Association, International

Virginia

Hybrid

USD 120,000 - 211,000

Full time

8 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

401k Plan

Health benefits on day one

Paid vacation & holidays

Sick and bereavement leave

Parental leave

Long term disability and life ins.

Flexible Spending / Health Savings

Job summary

The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) seeks an experienced Labor Relations Counsel for its Tysons (McLean), Virginia or Denver, Colorado offices. You will advise pilot bodies and members on employment matters, coordinate negotiations, monitor contracts, and manage casework with short-notice assignments.

Travel is frequent (25–75%), and the role requires JD/LLM, bar admission, and substantial labor law experience, ideally in aviation.

Qualifications

JD/LLM required from an approved law school.
Bar in good standing required.
5 years of labor law experience; 15+ years preferred.
Experience in collective bargaining, grievances and arbitration preferred.
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
Ability to organize long-term projects and make independent judgments under time pressure.
Knowledge of the Railway Labor Act and FARs preferred.
Experience with online legal research (Westlaw or equivalent).
Proficiency with MS Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

Advise pilot governing bodies and individual members on employment-related subjects.
Assist in negotiating agreements and coordinate negotiation activities.
Monitor and administer labor contracts and FAA actions against pilots.
Prepare summaries of NTSB hearings; handle case management tasks.
Communicate with internal staff and external aviation professionals under tight deadlines.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Oral and written communication

Project coordination

Independent judgment under time压力

Negotiation experience

Legal research

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or LLM

Bar admission in good standing

Tools

Westlaw

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

External Description

Labor Relations Counsel

The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the largest airline pilot union in the world and the largest non-governmental aviation safety organization in the world (representing over 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines) seeks an experienced Labor Relations Counsel for our Tysons (McLean), Virginia or Denver, Colorado office. Under minimal direct supervision and within the limitations of Association policy, the Labor Relations Counsel provides assistance to pilot governing bodies and to individual members on all subjects that affect their employment. In coordination with department managers, they use thorough understanding of applicable laws and comprehensive experience in Association policies and procedures to handle an extensive range of complex labor relations assignments, often on short notice, and function as a labor relations professional. They also provide staff assistance in all phases of negotiating agreements; coordinate all activities during negotiations while concurrently maintaining communication with all interested parties; monitor and administer contracts; manage FAA actions against individual pilots; prepare summaries of NTSB Accident/Incident hearings; and, handle all case management functions. They actively listen, build trust, and adapt their style and tactics to fit the audience. Infrequently, they may be called upon at any hour to respond to safety-related emergency inquiries. Travel, significant and, at times, on short notice is required.

Travel: usually 25 - 50%; sporadically 50 – 75%.

ALPA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in a safe workplace. We prohibit discrimination, harassment and harmful behavior of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, caste, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics as outlined in federal or provincial laws. We highly value everyone and all are encouraged to apply, including minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities.

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

ALPA is a member-driven, staff supported, union with two internal professional unions.

Minimum Requirements:

Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Law (LLM), or similar advanced degree from an approved school of law required.
Member in good standing of the Bar.
Five (5) years of related experience in labor law and litigation, preferably in aviation; fifteen (15) or more years strongly preferred. At management discretion, significant and in-depth, directly applicable, labor negotiation experience may be substituted for some of the above requirements.
Experience in collective bargaining, grievance, and arbitration preferred.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written, for effective interaction with internal staff, external contacts, senior legal and aviation professionals, and pilots.
Demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate long‑term projects.
Demonstrated ability to use independent judgment to formulate decisions and/or solve problems, under time pressure and urgent conditions.
Knowledge of the Railway Labor Act and Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) preferred.
Experience using online legal research, Westlaw or the equivalent, preferred.
Software: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Physical Demands:

Note: The physical demands described herein are characteristic of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential physical activities of this position described below.

Constantly operates a computer/smartphone/tablet. Regularly required to maintain a stationary position, move about the office and the local metropolitan area, determine what others have said or written, and converse with others and exchange accurate information.

Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about the office and travel (locally, nationally, and internationally). Also includes occasional bending, stooping, squatting, and/or pushing and pulling or moving, e.g., to pack, unpack, and or move cases.

Occasionally required to move, raise, reach, and or retrieve binders, books, boxes, and files up to ten (10) pounds (lbs.). While on travel, could be responsible to move, raise, reach and or retrieve luggage weighing as much as 50 lbs. (Assistance may not always be available.)

ALPA offers competitive salaries with terrific benefits, including:

401k Plan with Non-Elective Employer Contribution of 12% plus 2% contribution into a Market-Based Cash Balance Plan (MBCBP) after 180 days of employment. No employee contribution required! Employees can choose to make pre‑tax, Roth, and after‑tax contributions to the 401(k). The plan permits in‑plan Roth conversions and has a 4‑year vesting schedule. The MBCBP has a 3-year cliff vesting period;
Generous health care benefits on day one – Aetna PPO Plan, Aetna High Deductible Health Plan, and a Kaiser HMO Plan (where available), which includes coverage for medical, dental, and vision benefits for the employee, their spouse, and/or dependent children. Employees do not have to pay premiums if they enroll in the Aetna High Deductible Health Plan or the Kaiser HMO Plan;
15 days paid vacation and 13 holidays per year plus 2 volunteer days per year;
Generous sick and bereavement leave;
Competitive parental leave;
Company-paid coverage for long term disability, life insurance, and accidental death & dismemberment;
Flexible Spending and Health Savings accounts;
Retiree health plan and a retiree health account (retiree HRA). Funds in the retiree health account can be used to pay for eligible medical expenses in retirement;
Education Assistance Program that reimburses 100% of eligible expenses;
Optional benefits include a legal plan, supplemental life insurance, college 529 plan, pet insurance, long term care insurance, and qualified transportation fringe benefits (where available); and,
Partial remote work opportunities are available after six months of service.