Labor Relations Director NC

Advocate Health Care; Oak Brook (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care is looking for a Labor Relations Professional in Oak Brook, Illinois. This role requires at least 7 years of experience in human resources or labor relations, with a strong focus on positive teammate relations. Key responsibilities include maintaining strong hospital engagement, conducting risk assessments, and implementing labor risk strategies. Ideal candidates will possess excellent communication skills, proficiency in training, and the ability to work effectively in a complex healthcare environment. Travel is required up to 70% of the time.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in human resources, employee relations, or labor relations.
• At least 5+ years’ experience specifically in labor and positive teammate relations.
• Familiarity with federal and state labor laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Maintain strong presence through site visits and engagements.
• Conduct structured labor relations risk assessments.
• Provide expert consultation on business initiatives.
• Implement labor risk prevention strategies.
• Deliver training to build leadership capabilities.
• Advise site leaders on labor-sensitive changes.
• Track trends related to engagement and grievances.

Skills

Labor relations expertise

Conflict resolution

Analytical skills

Excellent communication

Training delivery

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Labor Relations Execution – Maintain a strong, visible presence across assigned hospitals and facilities through site visits, listening sessions, and leader engagements to assess labor relations climate, build trust, and identify emerging risks.
• Site Assessments & Action Planning – Conduct structured labor relations and engagement risk assessments and partner with PCBPs and operations leaders to develop, execute, and monitor site-level action plans aligned to enterprise labor strategy.
• Trusted Advisor to Hospital and Operations Leadership – Influence decision‑making of hospital Presidents and leadership teams by providing expert consultation on the teammate impact of business initiatives, organizational changes, and risk factors.
• Labor Risk Prevention & Escalation – Implement enterprise labor risk prevention strategies locally, identify early signs of cultural breakdowns or organizing activity, and elevate risks to the Labor Relations Lead while supporting coordinated response efforts.
• Leader Training & Capability Building – Deliver labor relations and positive employee relations training to hospital leaders, supervisors, and managers to build competence in conflict resolution, communication, and compliance.
• Partnership with P&C and Operations – Work closely with PCBPs, Operations, Compliance, and Legal partners to ensure consistent application of labor relations practices, policies, and employment law at the site level.
• Change Management Support – Advise site leaders on labor‑sensitive operational and organizational changes, ensuring alignment with enterprise guidance and thoughtful execution that protects trust, engagement, and compliance.
• Data & Insights – Track site‑level trends related to engagement, grievances, turnover, and labor risk indicators; provide actionable insights and feedback to the Labor Operations Lead to inform enterprise strategy refinement.
• CBA & Union Relationship Support – Administer collective bargaining agreements to ensure consistent interpretation and compliance and manage day‑to‑day union relationships while escalating complex labor matters in alignment with enterprise labor strategy.
• Ethics & Compliance – Ensure all labor relations practices adhere to the organization’s Code of Ethical Conduct, federal/state regulations, and internal policies.

Minimum Job Requirements

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.

Certification / Registration / License

None specified.

Experience

7+ years of experience in human resources, employee relations, or labor relations, with at least 5+ years’ experience specifically in labor and positive teammate relations.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• A solid understanding of labor relations, employee relations, and human resources practices.
• Familiarity with federal and state labor laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of conflict resolution and negotiation techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills to assess labor relations risks and develop action plans.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with hospital leadership, HRBPs, and teammates; ability to build trust quickly in the field.
• Proficiency in delivering training and development programs to build leadership capabilities.
• Ability to influence decision‑making and provide expert consultation on labor relations matters.
• Capability to conduct site visits and assessments to identify engagement and labor relations risks.
• Ability to implement proactive strategies to reduce organizing vulnerability and support a positive workplace culture.
• Competence in tracking and analyzing site‑level trends to identify areas of concern and elevate risks appropriately.
• Strong ethical conduct and compliance with organizational policies and regulations.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Willingness and ability to travel 70% of the time across assigned hospitals and facilities.

Preferred Job Requirements

Education

None specified.

Experience

• Experience in healthcare or similarly complex, regulated industries strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in leading labor campaigns.

Additional Information

All responsibilities and requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.