Principal or Senior Labor Relations Consultant

Public Service Co. of Colorado; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 98,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcel Energy, headquartered in Denver, seeks an experienced labor relations leader to negotiate labor agreements and interpret corporate policies. You will steward union communications, lead arbitrations, and ensure compliance with labor laws while advising business units on strategy and resource allocation.

The role focuses on managing complex labor relations across projects, balancing workloads, and delivering cost-benefit analyses for potential modifications to agreements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in industrial relations or related field with 8+ years in labor/employee relations.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working with bargaining unit employees.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction to leadership and interface with union executives to negotiate labor agreements.
• Lead negotiations for interim and general labor agreements, grievances and arbitrations.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal labor regulations and policies.
• Guide management in interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements and related policies.
• Lead labor relations for project labor agreements and community/wide wage obligations.

Skills

Labor relations

Negotiation

Employee relations

Management experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources Management, Business Administration or equivalent education and/or experience

Job description

Position Summary

Provide strategic direction to various Operating Company Leadership and interface with Union Executives for the purpose of negotiating labor agreements and interpretation of corporate policies. Serves as Lead Negotiator for interim and general Labor Agreements as well as grievance and arbitration resolutions. Primary responsibility for corporate compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to employee/labor relations. Assumes a leadership role in balancing consultant workload and manages the implementation of systematic processes to improve workforce relations products and services. Provide strategic direction, guidance and consultation to business unit leaders that improve overall effectiveness of the business and ensure alignment of Workforce Relations and business unit strategies processes and practices.

Essential Responsibilities

Responsible for managing an effective and collaborative working relationship between the local union and Business Unit company management assuring alignment with the Xcel Energy Labor Strategy. Develops and manages strategies to achieve corporate goals and initiatives for agreements and solutions to business needs (Business Unit) which may include brokering of services to internal/external vendors, direct services and/ or referral to appropriate Xcel experts. Strategically coordinating and overseeing the Company’s managerial activities regarding union organizing drives. Manages the implementation of the Company’s response to such activity. Serves as Lead Negotiator for large interim agreements. Works independently to provide expert testimony and research services on company policy, employment and labor law, bargaining agreements in processing grievances, ULP charges, arbitrations and other litigation to minimize corporate liability and exposure. Provide overall direction in the development and implementation through specific cost avoidance analysis, forecasting analysis and cost benefit analysis for potential modifications to Labor Agreements. Direct, influence, guide and advise Company management (Business Unit specific) regarding interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, letters of understandings and corporate policy. Responsible for conducting customer needs analysis regarding training requests from the various Business Units and assuring resource availability. Responsible for leading labor relations activities associated with Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), community workforce agreements, prevailing wage obligations, and other labor requirements applicable to public works and large capital projects. Partners with project teams, contractors, and union representatives to mitigate labor risk and ensure successful project delivery.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources Management, Business Administration or equivalent education and /or experience. 8 years of progressively, responsible experience in Labor Relations, Employee Relations or management experience. Additionally, a minimum of 5 years of experience working with bargaining unit employees is required.

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• Medical/Pharmacy Plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
• Parental Leave

Compensation

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $97,600.00 to $138,600.00 per year

Equal Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at [e-mail].

Deadline

Deadline to Apply: 10/01/26

Company Culture

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at [e-mail]. Non-Bargaining The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $97,600.00 to $138,600.00 per year This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part. In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. Deadline to Apply: 10/01/26 EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF) All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility. ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at [e-mail]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications. You. Us. Together. At Xcel Energy, we’re more than an energy company. We’re reinventing how we power communities. Redefining how we care for customers. Reaffirming our commitment to the planet. We’re committed to leading with equity and inclusion. You’re not waiting for change – you’re creating it. You’re driven to protect the environment, support your community, and seek innovation. You want a career that grows with you and an employer who values you. You are reliable, trustworthy and bring integrity to everything you do. We are leading the way in clean energy. We’re using technology and innovation in every facet of our company. We’re providing safe, stable jobs with robust benefits. We keep our customers at the center of all we do. We’re committed to hiring a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can provide carbon-free electricity by 2050. Together, we can take care of the environment and our communities. Together, we can create a place where everyone belongs. Together we’re building a better tomorrow.