Labor Relations Manager

City of Richmond, Virginia; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Richmond seeks a Labor Relations Manager to lead collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance handling, and labor-management relations for five bargaining units in a dynamic public sector environment.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Human Resources, the role emphasizes workforce analytics, cost analyses, and policy interpretation while coordinating with city departments and union representatives to safeguard compliance and effective labor relations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in HR/Public Admin/Labor Relations/Business.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Professional HR certifications desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support preparation for and participation in negotiations with City’s five collective bargaining units.
• Conduct financial and operational impact analyses of union proposals.
• Develop costing models, scenario analyses, and benchmarking reports.
• Draft memoranda of understanding, side letters, and contract language.
• Interpret collective bargaining agreements and advise departments on compliance.
• Investigate and respond to grievances and represent City in grievance meetings.
• Assist with arbitration preparation and coordinate with legal counsel.
• Support labor-management committees and liaison with City leadership and unions.
• Monitor compliance with Virginia collective bargaining statutes and labor laws.
• Analyze workforce data and develop reports for leadership and officials.

Skills

Labor relations

Analytical ability

Excel

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Discretion

Political awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Public Administration/Labor Relations/Business

Master’s degree preferred

Certifications: PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP/PSHRA-CP/PSHRA-SCP desirable

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Help shape labor-management relations for the capital city of Virginia.

The City of Richmond is seeking a strategic, analytical, and highly collaborative professional to serve as its next Labor Relations Manager.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Human Resources or designee, the Labor Relations Manager will play a critical role in collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance and dispute resolution, labor-management relations, policy interpretation, compliance, and workforce analytics.

The City of Richmond has five recognized bargaining units, making this a high-visibility opportunity for a labor relations professional who can navigate complex issues with sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism.

THE POSITION

The Labor Relations Manager will:

• Support preparation for and participation in negotiations with the City's five collective bargaining units
• Conduct financial and operational impact analyses of union proposals
• Develop costing models, scenario analyses, and benchmarking reports
• Draft memoranda of understanding, side letters, and contract language
• Interpret collective bargaining agreements and advise departments on compliance and application
• Investigate and respond to grievances and represent the City in grievance meetings
• Assist with arbitration preparation and collaborate with legal counsel on arbitration strategy
• Support labor-management committees and serve as a liaison between City leadership and union representatives
• Monitor compliance with Virginia collective bargaining statutes and applicable labor laws
• Analyze workforce data, including overtime, leave usage, discipline trends, and compensation impacts
• Develop reports and presentations for City leadership and elected officials

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will possess:

• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in labor relations, employee relations, or human resources within a unionized environment.
• Strong knowledge of public-sector labor relations, preferably within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and administer complex collective bargaining agreements with precision and sound judgment.
• Strong analytical capabilities, including experience with financial costing and impact analysis related to labor agreements and personnel matters.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven and politically sensitive environment.
• A high degree of professionalism, discretion, political awareness, and sound judgment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other data analysis tools.
• Experience supporting multiple bargaining units and prior supervisory or management experience is preferred.
• Experience supporting police, fire, public works, or general government bargaining units is preferred.
• Experience preparing arbitration materials is desirable.

Education & Credentials

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a closely related field is required.
• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Labor Relations, or a related field is preferred.
• Professional certifications such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PSHRA-CP, or PSHRA-SCP are desirable.