Labor Relations Partner

Lehigh Valley Health Network; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh Valley Health Network seeks a Labor Relations Partner to lead union strategy and labor law compliance across the enterprise. You will align labor decisions with CBAs and regulatory requirements while using data to shape bargaining and risk management.

This role partners with HRBPs and leadership to maintain positive labor relations, manage grievances and ULPs, and guide leaders through contract interpretation and disciplined action.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field.
• 5 years of HR experience.
• Labor Law & NLRA expertise.
• CBA interpretation & arbitration preparation.
• Labor-management relationship building.
• Regulatory & NLRB compliance.

Responsibilities

• Advise leadership on union strategy, labor risk, and contract interpretation.
• Administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
• Lead the grievance process from intake through arbitration.
• Develop and execute negotiation strategies for collective bargaining.
• Serve as liaison for union representatives and maintain labor-management relationships.
• Manage ULP charges and NLRB matters with Legal input.
• Ensure just cause standard is applied in disciplinary actions in unionized settings.
• Provide guidance on NLRA, WARN Act, and related regulations.

Skills

Labor law expertise

NLRA expertise

CBA interpretation

Arbitration preparation

Labor-management relations

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Job description

The Labor Relations Partner provides specialized expertise in union and labor-related matters, including collective bargaining, grievance management, and labor law compliance. This role integrates labor strategy with business objectives, ensuring that workforce decisions are aligned with contractual obligations and regulatory requirements. The LR Partner also leverages data and trends to identify risks, inform bargaining strategies, and drive proactive labor relations approaches across the enterprise. This role partners with HRBPs, ER Partners, and leadership to maintain positive labor relations and ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).

Job Duties

• Serve as the enterprise expert in labor relations, advising leadership and HR Team on union strategy, labor risk, and contract interpretation.
• Administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), ensuring consistent application of contractual provisions across business units.
• Lead the grievance process from intake through arbitration, including investigation, case strategy, evidence development, and representation in arbitration proceedings.
• Develop and execute negotiation strategies for collective bargaining, including preparation, data analysis, costing, and participation in negotiations and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
• Serve as primary liaison for union representatives, building and maintaining effective labor-management relationships while protecting organizational interests.
• Manage and respond to unfair labor practice (ULP) charges and NLRB matters, coordinating with Legal and ensuring timely, compliant responses.
• Ensure consistent application of the just cause standard in disciplinary actions within unionized environments, advising leaders and HRBPs accordingly.
• Provide proactive guidance on labor law compliance, including NLRA, WARN Act, and other relevant regulations impacting union and non-union environments.
• Analyze labor relations data (grievances, arbitrations, trends) to identify systemic issues, bargaining priorities, and operational risks.
• Develop, implement and monitor mitigation plans to resolve repeat/systemic LR issues in partnership with HRBP’s and Leadership.
• Support organizational changes by assessing labor implications of restructuring, workforce reductions, and operational decisions.
• Develop and deliver training for leaders and HR Team on union interactions, contract administration, grievance handling, and labor relations best practices.
• Partner closely with HRBPs to ensure alignment between business strategy and labor strategy.
• Interacts with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson.(Do not delete, move or over-write this statement)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources or related field
• 5 years of relative HR experience
• Labor Law & NLRA Expertise
• CBA Interpretation & Arbitration Preparation
• Labor-Management Relationship Building
• Regulatory & NLRB Compliance

Additional Qualifications

Physical Demands

Lift and carry 25 lbs. frequent sitting/standing, frequent keyboard use, *patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

Work Shift

Workday Day (United States of America)

Regular

Employee Entity

Primary Location Address

3435 Winchester Road Allentown PA 18104 with travel to other entities

Lehigh Valley Health Network is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with, and where applicable, in addition to federal, state and local employment regulations, Lehigh Valley Health Network will provide employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other such protected classes as may be defined by law. All personnel actions and programs will adhere to this policy. Personnel actions and programs include, but are not limited to recruitment, selection, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, educational programs and/or social activities.

Lehigh Valley Health Network does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Agencies should not forward resumes to our job aliases, our employees or any other organization location. Lehigh Valley Health Network is not responsible for any agency fees related to unsolicited resumes.