Program Director Labor Relations

University of Maryland; College Park (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Maryland invites applications for the Labor Relations Program Director in College Park. This role reports to the Director of UHR Workforce Relations and focuses on strengthening management-union relations across three bargaining units, guiding negotiations, and overseeing MOUs and compliance with labor laws.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree with 10 years in labor relations, plus 5 years of supervisory experience; a Master’s or JD is preferred.

Qualifications

• Ten (10) years of professional experience in labor relations or collective bargaining.
• Five (5) years of experience supervising or managing professional staff.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Knowledge of human resources policies and employment laws; management-labor relations and collective bargaining.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships between management and unions.
• Manage the collective bargaining agreements and participate in local and system-wide labor negotiations.
• Develop education and training on MOUs and relevant labor laws.
• Supervise staff and coordinate with UHR Workforce Relations and USM HR offices.
• Collaborate with managers and union leadership to minimize conflicts and address workplace issues.

Skills

Labor relations

Conflict resolution

Mediation

HR policies and employment laws

Management leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Juris Doctorate preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

University Human Resources is seeking a highly qualified Labor Relations professional with proven experience in building strong relationships between management and unions. The University currently has three bargaining units with two labor unions - Fraternal Order of Police, and an exempt and nonexempt bargaining unit with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. This position reports to the Director of UHR Workforce Relations and is responsible for continuing to improve the quality of the working relationship with the labor unions through regular proactive communication between management, the unions representing members of the bargaining units, the UHR Staff Relations consultants, and the University System of Maryland HR office. The incumbent works collaboratively with managers and local union leadership to minimize conflicts, solve workplace issues, manage the collective bargaining agreements, and play a key role in labor negotiations at the local level and in the consolidated bargaining process at the University System of Maryland level. The Labor Relations Program Director works on crisis oriented situations under pressing time constraints. In addition, the incumbent is responsible for developing education and training on the MOUs between the labor unions and UMD, as well as federal and state labor and employment laws. This position will be responsible for the supervision of staff positions.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Ten (10) years of professional experience in labor relations or collective bargaining. Five (5) years of experience supervising or managing professional staff.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

Knowledge of human resources policies and procedures, and federal, state, and other applicable human resources related laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances.

Knowledge of management-labor relations; the principles and practices of labor relations, collective bargaining, conflict resolution, employment laws, and skill in their application.

Skill in the effective use of mediation and conflict resolution techniques.

Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products.

Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.

Ability to reconcile labor relations issues in the context of both existing labor agreements and desired future states of labor relations at the University of Maryland College Park.

Preferences: Master's or Juris Doctorate Preferred

Best Consideration Date

October 20th, 2026