Labor Relations Manager

City of Richmond, Virginia; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Richmond, Virginia is seeking a Labor Relations Manager to lead negotiations, contract administration, grievances, and labor-management relations for five bargaining units.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Human Resources, the role emphasizes analysis of workforce data, compliance with statutes, and delivering reports to leadership.

A strong candidate will have 5–7 years in labor or HR within a unionized setting, and proficiency in Excel and data analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required with relevant field of study.
• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Professional certifications such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP/SCP are desirable.
• Experience in a unionized environment is preferred.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills is essential.
• Proficiency in Excel and data analysis tools is required.

Responsibilities

• Support preparation for and participation in negotiations with five 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 grievances and represent the City in grievance meetings.
• Assist with arbitration preparation and coordinate with legal counsel.
• Support labor-management committees and liaise with City leadership and unions.
• Monitor compliance with Virginia collective bargaining statutes and labor laws.
• Analyze workforce data, including overtime, leave usage, discipline trends, and compensation impacts.
• Develop reports and presentations for City leadership and elected officials.

Skills

Labor relations

Employee relations

Public-sector knowledge

Analytical skills

Written communication

Microsoft Excel

Education

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

Master’s degree in Public Administration / Labor Relations

Tools

Costing models

Workforce analytics software

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.