Senior Advisor, Labor Relations - (26-P&T-500006-150)

District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

DC Water in Washington, DC seeks a Senior Advisor, Labor Relations to lead day-to-day contract administration, advise management on policy changes, and engage with union leadership on labor agreements.

The role involves negotiation support, grievance handling, investigations, and guidance on CBAs, with oversight of the Labor Relations Advisors and collaboration with the People and Talent division.

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of experience with a union workforce in a labor role.
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA accredited school of law or foreign equivalent.
• Licensed to practice Law in at least one state or ability to become licensed in DC within 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Independently advise management on implementing policy changes and bargaining impacts.
• Support labor relations strategy, collective bargaining, and contract administration.
• Serve as labor relations expert handling issues, grievances, and information requests.
• Interpret CBAs, prepare responses, and guide department heads on labor issues.
• Provide guidance on disciplinary actions and performance-related documents.
• Manage grievance/arbitration process and represent DC Water when escalated.

Skills

Labor relations

Workplace investigations

Policy interpretation

Contract administration

Negotiation

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties, locations, and responsibilities performed by incumbent(s) in this job. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties in this description, and incumbent(s) may be required to perform work-related tasks other than those specifically listed in this description. This job description is not a “contract” between the employee and the Authority. The job duties and essential functions may be changed at the discretion of the General Manager.

General

Job Title: Senior Advisor, Labor Relations

Job Code: OA0507

Supervises Directly: Yes

New or Revised: New

Regular or At-Will: At-Will

Date Last Revised: 8/28/2026

Exempt or Non-Exempt: Exempt

Division: People and Talent

Department: People and Talent-Labor Relations

Salary Schedule: Non-Union Salary Range

Cost Center Code: 500006

Grade: ESSA

Essential Position: No

Reports To: Vice President, Labor Relations & Compliance Programs

EEO Code: Professionals

Work Format: Hybrid

Who We Are & What We Do:

At DC Water, we provide more than 700,000 District of Columbia residents and 24.6 million annual visitors with essential water, wastewater, and stormwater services. DC Water also provides wholesale wastewater treatment services for1.8 million people in Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland, and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. We aspire to be known for superior service, ingenuity, and stewardship to advance the health and well-being of our diverse workforce and communities. To achieve this vision, we commit to our shared mission every day—exceeding expectations by providing high-quality water services in a safe, environmentally friendly, and efficient manner.

Role Description:

The Senior Advisor, Labor Relations provides day-to-day contract administration and responds to labor inquiries from management and employees, establishes and maintains effective relationships with union leadership; negotiates and administers labor agreements; and confers with labor organizations on behalf of management.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Independently advise management on implementing policy changes, reviewing operational protocols, and engaging in impacts and effects bargaining as appropriate.

• Assist the Vice President of Employment, Labor & HR Compliance in the development, implementation, and management of Authority-wide labor relations strategy. This includes supporting strategic labor initiatives, collective bargaining activities, labor-management relations, contract administration, dispute resolution, and workforce engagement efforts to advance organizational objectives, maintain productive labor relationships, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.

• Serves as labor relations subject matter expert handling all labor relations issues arising within Authority, including developing strategy, conducting impacts and effects bargaining, responding to requests for information, and responding to grievances.

• Administers and interprets various labor agreements, including administering discipline and grievance procedures, and providing labor relations support during contract negotiations.

• Provides advice and guidance on proper interpretation of CBAs and labor related issues, as well as researching and preparing responses to labor contracts and other labor disputes and union requests for information; prepare written responses on behalf of department heads, managers, and supervisors on labor issues.

• Provides expert advice and guidance to management on all labor relations matters such as contractual grievances, unfair labor practice charges, representation issues, arbitration cases, and bargaining unit status of employees.

• Provides comprehensive support for disciplinary actions, including conducting investigations, preparing disciplinary documents in compliance with labor agreements, federal statutes and regulations, consistent with DC Water policies and procedures.

• Oversees and assists with drafting employee corrective actions, performance improvement plans, and termination documents consistent with DC Water policies, practices, and culture.

• Manages grievance and arbitration process including evaluating and responding to grievances at appropriate step, negotiate and settle grievances where appropriate and represent DC Water during grievances escalated to arbitration, including arbitrator selection, preparing case theory, gathering and evaluating evidence, witness preparation, conducting oral advocacy during hearing, and preparing post-hearing briefs.

• Participates in collective bargaining negotiations of successor CBAs, including drafting proposals, analyzing union proposals, reviewing fiscal and operating impact of proposals, and implementing finalized CBAs terms.

• Completes Authority wide special labor relations projects and assignments impacting organization as assigned, including developing and leading training for supervisors and managers on how to effectively deal with unions, use the CBAs and on other pertinent labor relations topics.

• Represent and defend DC Water before the Public Employee Relations Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other third-party tribunals, including drafting responses, pleadings, position statements, and other correspondences while managing cases from inception to conclusion.

• Serves as lead investigator for complex and sensitive labor relations, EEO, and other internal complaints and provide thorough investigative reports and findings and implement recommendations to minimize risk to Authority.

• Performs other related duties and projects assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Manage and provide oversight to the Department's Labor Relations Advisors, including assigning and reviewing work, establishing performance expectations, providing coaching and guidance, ensuring consistency in labor relations practices, and directing labor relations activities in support of departmental and Authority-wide goals.

Key Working Relationships: Interacts with employees and officials in the department and throughout the Authority, Office of Government and Legal Affairs, outside legal counsels; representatives from labor organizations; etc.

Skills & Qualifications:

Required Skills & Qualifications

Required Experience:

Seven (7) years of experience with a union workforce in a labor role.

Minimum Education Requirements:

Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA accredited school of law or foreign equivalent.

Required Skills:

• Solid knowledge of labor relations principles and practices, along with a solid knowledge of local, state and federal laws and court decisions affecting labor relations.
• Demonstrated ability and experience conducting workplace investigations (i.e., disciplinary actions, EEO allegations, etc.).
• Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
• Strong skills and tact to deal effectively with competing priorities.
• Ability to analyze facts and reach logical conclusions.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with union officials and management team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Use of personal computer and maintains a working knowledge of applicable software programs (i.e., Word, Excel, email, etc.).

Required Licenses & Certifications:

Licensed to practice Law in at least one state or ability to become licensed in the District of Columbia within 12 months of hire.

Physical Requirements:

General office conditions.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

Preferred Experience:

N/A

Preferred Education Requirements:

N/A

Preferred Skills:

N/A

* The work environment characteristics described in the physical requirements section of the required skills & qualifications table are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities.

Your Experience at DC Water

At DC Water, our people make us an industry leader. Join a group of thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers focused on protecting life’s most precious resource in the nation’s capital.

• Take pride in your work. We provide an essential service and do work that matters. A career at DC Water is an exciting opportunity to help improve the environment and make a lasting difference for the community.

• Connect to a strong culture. Everything we do is grounded in our shared values—accountability, trust, teamwork, customer focus, safety, and wellbeing.

• Be your true self. We are an inclusive organization that embraces diversity, and we recognize and celebrate employees’ individuality and unique contributions.

• Build your skills and career path. We are committed to developing a future-ready workforce by helping our employees develop skills for the jobs of tomorrow.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against “qualified individuals with disabilities”.

If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to

perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please

email [e-mail].