Senior Director, Labor and Employee Relations

Metropolitan Transportation Authority; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 145,615 - 182,019; Full time

Job summary

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking a Senior Director of Labor and Employee Relations to lead strategy, policy interpretation, and collective bargaining guidance for its union-represented workforce. The role reports to the Chief Employee Relations & Administrative Officer and will oversee risk assessment, investigations, and cross-agency collaboration.

Responsibilities include directing grievances and arbitration processes, developing LR strategies, and mentoring staff to ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Labor or Industrial Relations or related major.
• Minimum 13 years of employee and/or labor relations experience.
• Minimum 5 years managing a diverse staff.
• Minimum 5 years of in-depth knowledge of Collective Bargaining Agreements and their application.
• Minimum 5 years of familiarity with drafting and preparation of Contracts and Proposals.
• Preference for Master’s degree and JD in related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight and interpretation of current labor agreements, work practices, policies, and procedures; and advise, counsel, and risk assess to departmental heads for MTA-HQ’s workforce.
• Interact and direct employee and labor relations staff on employee-related issues.
• Lead and direct grievance, discipline, arbitration processes for represented staff.
• Collaborate on Employee & Labor Relations strategies to meet long-term efficiency goals.
• Collaborate with Agency LR leads to ensure consistent policy application across the MTA.
• Serve as lead LR staff at inter-agency meetings as required.
• Direct internal workforce investigations referred by MTA IG, MTA DDCR/EEO, MTA Compliance, NYS Ethics and Commissions, and DOL.
• Directs and oversees all employee relations functions for represented workforce.
• Cultivate and grow positive relationships with labor unions across the MTA.
• Develop procedures conforming to CBAs for represented employees.
• Manage DOL FMLA inquiries and responses as directed.
• Develop and manage ER and LR training for managers and supervisors.
• Assist senior executives on special projects to improve working environments.
• Encourage positive communications between employees and managers.

Skills

Conflict resolution

Arbitration knowledge

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Stakeholder communication

Management skills

Analytical skills

Microsoft Office

Interpersonal skills

High-pressure environment

Education

BA/BS in Labor or Industrial Relations

Master’s degree in Labor/Industrial Relations

JD in Related Field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Senior Director, Labor and Employee Relations

Senior Director, Labor and Employee Relations

DEPT/DIV:

Labor Relations

SUPERVISOR:

Chief Employee Relations & Administrative Officer

WORK LOCATION:

2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

HOURS OF WORK:

9:00 am - 5:30 pm (7.5 hours/day) or as required

FULL/PART-TIME

FULL

SALARY RANGE:

$145,615 - $182,019

DEADLINE:

This position is eligible for telework, which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Opening:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Job Summary :

This position will report to the Chief Labor and Employee Relations Officer for the MTA and its constituent agencies, covering a large and diverse workforce represented by multiple labor unions across the MTA.

This role ensures consistent application of policy, cost-effective labor agreements, and optimum managerial control of MTA operations.

The Senior Director will be responsible for providing strategy, coordination, direction, oversight, and expert advice on labor and employee relations matters, as well as applying collective bargaining agreements to the management of MTA and constituent agencies.

This position will also participate in collective bargaining negotiations.

Responsibilities:

• Provide oversight and interpretation of the current labor agreements, work practices, policies, and procedures; and advice, counsel, and risk assessment (including work rules, rates, and other compensation-related matters) to departmental heads for MTA-HQ’s represented and matrixed workforce.
• Interact and direct employee and labor relations staff on all facets of employee-related issues involving implementing corrective actions and practices for represented employees within MTA-HQ.
• Lead and direct multiple support activities for grievance, discipline, arbitration processes, and other dispute resolution functions as needed for represented staff within MTA-HQ.
• Collaborate and assist Deputy Chiefs in formulating Employee & Labor Relations Strategies to achieve MTA's long-term plan for efficiency, with attention to the represented employee concerns and agreements
• Collaborate with Agency Employee and Labor Relations leads to ensure consistent application of policies, procedures, practices, and labor agreements across the MTA to foster a dynamic environment for its matrixed and represented workforce.
• Serve as lead Employee & Labor Relations staff at inter-agency meetings as required.
• Direct internal workforce investigations referred by MTA IG, MTA DDCR/EEO, MTA Corporate Compliance, NYS Ethics and Commissions, and DOL for MTA-HQ’s represented workforce.
• Directs and oversees all employee relations functions for MTAHQ’s represented workforce, including providing strategic advice and recommending solutions to a wide range of employee and labor relations issues and disputes/complaints.
• Cultivate, maintain, and grow positive working relationships with labor unions across the MTA, advocating for represented staff concerns while balancing organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with management, agency LR leads, and labor unions to develop procedures that conform to policies and/or the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and to ensure sound employee and labor relations for represented employees.
• Manage various Department of Labor FMLA inquiries and responses for MTA as directed by the Chief Labor and Employee Relations Officer, including issues affecting represented staff.
• Develop, lead, and manage ER and LR training for MTA managers and supervisory personnel.
• Work on other duties or special projects as assigned by the Chief Labor and Employee Relations Officer or other Senior MTA Executives to enhance the quality of employee working environments for all staff, including represented employees.
• Encourage and support positive communications between employees and managers and provide strategic support to sustain a positive workplace for all MTA employees, including represented staff .
• Work cross-functionally with collective bargaining representatives, People (HR), and legal/employment counsel to manage labor relations and mitigate employment risk. Or collaborate with collective bargaining representatives, the People (HR) department, and legal/employment counsel.
• Select, develop, and motivate personnel within the department. Provide career development for subordinates. Provide prompt and effective coaching and counseling. Responsible for discipline/termination of employees when necessary. Review the performance of staff. Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables all employees to develop and contribute to their full potential.

Impact of the Job :

The MTA Senior Director of Labor and Employee Relations will be responsible for administering and leading the strategic implementation of employee and labor relations functions for MTA’s union-represented workforce, aligned with organizational needs and objectives to effectively manage MTA's matrixed workforce. In addition, this role will direct the activities for various employee-related initiatives to ensure consistent application of policies, procedures, and practices, and labor agreements across the MTA to foster a dynamic environment for all employees; and provide advice and counsel to senior leadership across the MTA on all facets of employee relations affecting represented employees. Through collaborations with various agency leads, this position is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of existing strategies and developing innovative enterprises to support and enable MTA's capacity to deliver safe, clean, and efficient service throughout the region it serves.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Must have in-depth conflict resolution skills to reach satisfactory resolutions of Labor Relations problems.
• Must have knowledge of in-depth knowledge of the arbitration process, trial, and/or hearing procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with all internal levels within a given organization, including the MTA Board.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact well with external agencies. External agencies may include the Governor’s Office for New York State, the New York City government, elected and other public officials, as well as any staff located at other federal or state agencies or authorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a high-profile, high-pressure environment effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with key internal and/or external stakeholders.
• Must have strong managerial skills to effectively direct a staff of professional and technical employees in implementing the short- and long-term goals and direction for the area of responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to complete short- and long-term projects effectively and as efficiently as possible.
• Demonstrated analytical capabilities and quantitative skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or comparable applications, i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Labor or Industrial Relations or related major.
• Minimum 13 years of experience in employee and/or labor relations, including arbitration, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and developing workplace policies and training programs.
• Minimum 5 years m anaging a diverse staff.
• Minimum 5 years of i n-depth knowledge of Collective Bargaining Agreements and their application as they apply to MTA policies and procedures.
• Minimum 5 years of f amiliarity with drafting and preparation of Contracts and Proposals.

The Following is/are preferred:

• Master’s degree in Arts/Sciences (MA/MS) in Labor or Industrial Relations, Public Administration, Urban Policy and Planning, or related field
• JD in Related Field

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”).

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.