Labor Relations Partner

1004 Lehigh Valley Hospital; United States; On-site; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh Valley Health Network seeks a Labor Relations Partner to provide expert guidance on union strategy, CBAs, grievances, and regulatory compliance across the enterprise.

You will partner with HRBPs and leadership to align labor strategy with business goals, manage arbitration, and ensure compliant responses to ULPs and NLRB matters.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Advise leadership on union strategy, labor risk, and contract interpretation.
• Interpret CBAs and ensure consistent application across units.
• Lead the grievance process from intake to arbitration with case strategy.
• Develop negotiation strategies for CBAs, including MOUs and costing.
• Serve as liaison to union representatives and maintain labor-management relationships.
• Coordinate with Legal on ULP charges and NLRB matters.
• Advise on just cause in disciplinary actions within union environments.
• Provide guidance on NLRA, WARN Act, and related regulations.
• Analyze grievances and arbitrations to identify risks and priorities.
• Develop mitigation plans with HRBPs and leadership.
• Assess labor implications of restructures and workforce changes.
• Deliver training on union interactions, contract administration, and labor relations.

Skills

Labor Law

NLRA Expertise

CBA Interpretation

Arbitration Prep

Negotiation Strategy

Labor-Management Rel

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in HR or related field

Job description

Imagine a career at one of the nation's most advanced health networks. Be part of an exceptional health care experience. Join the inspired, passionate team at Lehigh Valley Health Network, a nationally recognized, forward-thinking organization offering plenty of opportunity to do great work. LVHN has been ranked among the "Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years. We're a Magnet(tm) Hospital, having been honored five times with the American Nurses Credentialing Center's prestigious distinction for nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes in our Lehigh Valley region. Finally, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg, Lehigh Valley Hospital- Hazleton, and Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono each received an 'A' grade on the Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group in 2020, the highest grade in patient safety. These recognitions highlight LVHN's commitment to teamwork, compassion, and technology with an unrelenting focus on delivering the best health care possible every day. Whether you're considering your next career move or your first, you should consider Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Summary

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 PreparationNegotiation Strategy & Collective Bargaining
• Labor-Management Relationship Building
• Regulatory & NLRB Compliance

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.

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.

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Work Shift: Day Shift Address: 3435 Winchester Rd Primary Location: Winchester Building Position Type: Onsite Union: Not Applicable Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00a-4:30p; Variable Department: 1004-13101 CSS-Human Resources Admin.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is honored to be certified as a Great Place to Work®. LVHN’s culture of trust – and the positive things colleagues said about working at LVHN when surveyed by Great Place to Work and Fortune – align perfectly with what makes a great workplace. This designation tells you that LVHN is a great place to work from hire to retire. If you are someone who aligns with LVHN’s core values – Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence – you will have a rewarding and successful career here.