Labor Relations Manager

Burnett Specialists Staffing | Recruiting; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Burnett Specialists Staffing | Recruiting seeks an experienced Labor Relations Manager to support a large, multi-state unionized workforce from its Houston area operations. The role focuses on administering and interpreting approximately 10 CBAs, leading negotiations, managing grievances, investigations, and advising senior leadership on NLRA compliance and employee relations matters.

Expect travel to various locations for negotiations, investigations, and training, with a 20% bonus potential

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or related field.
• 6–8+ years of progressive Labor Relations, Employee Relations, or HR experience.
• Demonstrated experience supporting a unionized workforce and interpreting CBAs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Labor Relations expert for HR and operational leadership.
• Administer and interpret approximately 10 CBAs across multiple states.
• Lead and support collective bargaining negotiations, including proposal development and costing.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with union representatives.
• Manage grievances from initial filing through resolution.
• Conduct investigations involving labor disputes, contract violations, and workplace concerns.
• Represent the organization in grievance meetings, mediations, arbitrations, and other labor proceedings.
• Advise leadership on labor and employment laws, CBA requirements, and employee relations matters.
• Monitor labor relations trends and identify potential risks.
• Train managers and HR on labor relations, CBA administration, and conflict resolution.
• Partner with Legal, HR, and Operations to mitigate labor-related risks.
• Travel to various locations for negotiations, investigations, training, and labor-management meetings.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Conflict resolution

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Labor Rel., Business Admin, or related field

Master’s degree in HR/Labor Relations or related field

Tools

HRIS systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Labor Relations Manager

Location: Downtown Houston, TX

Salary: $130,000?$165,000 + 20% Bonus

Travel: Approximately 25%; up to 40% as needed

Employment Type: Full-Time

A well-established organization is seeking an experienced Labor Relations Manager to join its Human Resources team. This is a high-visibility opportunity supporting a large, multi-state unionized workforce and partnering closely with HR, Operations, Legal, and senior leadership.

The Labor Relations Manager will serve as a subject matter expert on labor relations and will be responsible for supporting positive labor-management relationships, administering collective bargaining agreements, leading negotiations, and managing grievances and other labor-related matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Labor Relations subject matter expert for HR and operational leadership
• Administer and interpret approximately 10 collective bargaining agreements across multiple states
• Lead and support collective bargaining negotiations, including proposal development, costing, and bargaining strategy
• Build and maintain productive relationships with union representatives
• Manage grievances from initial filing through resolution
• Conduct investigations involving labor disputes, contract violations, and workplace concerns
• Represent the organization in grievance meetings, mediations, arbitrations, and other labor proceedings
• Advise leadership regarding labor and employment laws, CBA requirements, and employee relations matters
• Monitor labor relations trends and proactively identify potential risks
• Train managers and HR professionals on labor relations, CBA administration, progressive discipline, and conflict resolution
• Partner with Legal, HR, and Operations to mitigate labor-related risks
• Travel to various locations for negotiations, investigations, training, labor-management meetings, and other business needs

Qualifications

• Bachelor?s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or related field
• 6?8+ years of progressive Labor Relations, Employee Relations, or HR experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting a unionized workforce
• Strong experience administering and interpreting collective bargaining agreements
• Experience participating in or leading labor contract negotiations
• Experience managing grievances, investigations, and arbitration preparation
• Strong knowledge of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and applicable labor & employment laws
• Experience working across multiple states and locations preferred
• Strong negotiation, communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively with senior leaders, managers, employees, and union representatives
• Proficiency with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master?s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, or related field
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or equivalent certification
• Experience in transportation, logistics, manufacturing, utilities, energy, environmental services, or another highly regulated industry

Labor Relations Manager

Location: Downtown Houston, TX

Salary: $130,000?$165,000 + 20% Bonus

Travel: Approximately 25%; up to 40% as needed

Employment Type: Full-Time

A well-established organization is seeking an experienced Labor Relations Manager to join its Human Resources team. This is a high-visibility opportunity supporting a large, multi-state unionized workforce and partnering closely with HR, Operations, Legal, and senior leadership.

The Labor Relations Manager will serve as a subject matter expert on labor relations and will be responsible for supporting positive labor-management relationships, administering collective bargaining agreements, leading negotiations, and managing grievances and other labor-related matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Labor Relations subject matter expert for HR and operational leadership
• Administer and interpret approximately 10 collective bargaining agreements across multiple states
• Lead and support collective bargaining negotiations, including proposal development, costing, and bargaining strategy
• Build and maintain productive relationships with union representatives
• Manage grievances from initial filing through resolution
• Conduct investigations involving labor disputes, contract violations, and workplace concerns
• Represent the organization in grievance meetings, mediations, arbitrations, and other labor proceedings
• Advise leadership regarding labor and employment laws, CBA requirements, and employee relations matters
• Monitor labor relations trends and proactively identify potential risks
• Train managers and HR professionals on labor relations, CBA administration, progressive discipline, and conflict resolution
• Partner with Legal, HR, and Operations to mitigate labor-related risks
• Travel to various locations for negotiations, investigations, training, labor-management meetings, and other business needs

Qualifications

• Bachelor?s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or related field
• 6?8+ years of progressive Labor Relations, Employee Relations, or HR experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting a unionized workforce
• Strong experience administering and interpreting collective bargaining agreements
• Experience participating in or leading labor contract negotiations
• Experience managing grievances, investigations, and arbitration preparation
• Strong knowledge of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and applicable labor & employment laws
• Experience working across multiple states and locations preferred
• Strong negotiation, communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively with senior leaders, managers, employees, and union representatives
• Proficiency with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master?s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, or related field
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or equivalent certification
• Experience in transportation, logistics, manufacturing, utilities, energy, environmental services, or another highly regulated industry

HOUGW34