Senior Labor Relations Specialist

Idaho National Laboratory; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 95,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) with employer contribution

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Relocation package

Job summary

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Senior Labor Relations Specialist to join our Labor Relations team in Idaho Falls. The role focuses on representing the lab in union agreements, leading collective bargaining, handling grievances, drafting contract language, and guiding arbitration to support mission goals.

Ideal candidates will have extensive labor relations experience, strong interpersonal and written communication skills, and the ability to build productive partnerships with management

Qualifications

• Level 4 requires a Bachelor's degree with 9 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree with 6 years.
• Level 5 requires a Bachelor's degree with 14 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree with 8 years.
• Experience with collective bargaining agreements, NLRA, SCA, Davis-Bacon Act, PLAs, DOL apprenticeship programs, and FLSA.
• Demonstrated experience in collective bargaining negotiations including grievance handling, contract language drafting and interpretation, and dispute resolution.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills, and be able to interact with the union and all levels of management, work independently and in stressful situations.

Responsibilities

• Labor Representative for assigned labor union agreements and participation in collective bargaining negotiations, grievance handling, contract drafting/interpretation, and dispute resolution.
• Conduct grievance investigations, formulate responses, and resolve grievances; assist and lead in arbitration procedures.
• Develop and maintain effective relations with union representatives and management; build consensus and positive partnerships.
• Provide information and recommendations to management regarding policy application and compliance with agreements.
• Provide leadership for arbitration and litigation preparation; review documents and attend grievance meetings.
• May assist/oversee craft testing and qualification; chair labor/management meetings; troubleshoot issues with union, managers, and foremen; time-in-trade.
• May liaise with the U.S. Department of Labor and Idaho Department of Labor; assist apprenticeship programs and mentor junior staff.
• May serve on outside Apprenticeship Committees; attend meetings and research questions posed.

Skills

Labor relations

Collective bargaining

Negotiations

Grievance handling

Interpersonal skills

Arbitration preparation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Senior Labor Relations Specialist to work on our Labor Relations team. Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our various Idaho Falls facilities with every other Friday off.

Idaho National Laboratory needs Labor Relations Specialists to directly support the laboratory's legacy of innovation by ensuring productive labor relations that drive mission success, with negotiations and problem-solving skills upholding the laboratory's commitment to breakthrough research and national security while fostering a resilient workforce. You'll serve as labor representative for assigned labor union agreements, participate in collective bargaining negotiations including grievance handling, contract language drafting and interpretation, and dispute resolution, conduct grievance investigations, formulate responses, and resolve grievances while assisting and leading in administration of negotiated grievance procedures and arbitration proceedings. Your responsibilities include developing and maintaining effective relations with union representatives and management, demonstrating ability to build consensus with management and represented labor force on labor relations issues, building and maintaining positive partnership with customers and union representatives, providing information and recommendations to management regarding application of company labor relations policies and compliance with collective bargaining agreements, providing leadership for arbitration and litigation preparation, potentially assisting with craft testing and qualification, chairing labor and management meetings, potentially serving as key liaison with Department of Labor maintaining compliance with apprenticeship programs, and potentially mentoring junior labor relations staff.

Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities

• Labor Representative for assigned labor union agreement(s). Participate in and lead collective bargaining negotiations to include grievance handling, contract language drafting and interpretation, and dispute resolution.
• Conduct grievance investigations, formulate responses, and resolve grievances. Assist and lead in the administration of negotiated grievance procedures and arbitration proceedings.
• Develop and maintain effective relations with union representatives and management. Demonstrate the ability to build consensus with management and represented labor force on labor relations issues. Build and maintain a positive partnership with customers and union representatives.
• Provide information and recommendations to management regarding the application of Company labor relations policies and procedures and compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
• Provide leadership for the Labs arbitration/litigation preparation. Review arbitration/litigation documents and attend grievance meetings.
• May assist/oversee craft testing and qualification; chair labor/management meetings. Troubleshoot problems with union, managers, and helpers, ensure paperwork is completed timely and correctly, follow up with OJT trainers and foremen on needs and issues and Time-In-Trade, chair contractual meetings with the union and management to troubleshoot issues.
• May serve as a key liaison with the U.S. Department of Labor and Idaho Department of Labor, maintain compliance with the apprenticeship program as established by the State of Idaho and U.S. Department of Labor, and assist community members regarding apprenticeship questions and services at the laboratory.
• May serve on outside Apprenticeship Committees which includes attending meetings to partner for apprenticeship programs and troubleshoot issues, offer suggestions based on experience and knowledge. Research questions posed.
• May mentor junior Labor Relations staff. Provide backup for Labor Relations manager as needed.

Required

• Level 4: Bachelor’s degree and 9 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree and 6 years of relevant experience.
• Level 5: Bachelor’s degree and 14 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree and 8 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with collective bargaining agreements, National Labor Relations Act, Service Contract Act, Davis-Bacon Act, Project Labor Agreements, U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship programs, and FLSA.
• Demonstrated experience in collective bargaining negotiations to include grievance handling, contract language drafting and interpretation, and dispute resolution.
• Must have good interpersonal skills. Must have strong verbal and written skills. Must be able to interact with the union and all levels of management. Must be able to work independently and in stressful situations.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, use hands to handle materials, manipulate tools, keyboard and type, reach with hands and arms, and operate job-related equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Information

• The pay range for this position is: Level 4 ($95,256 - $195,288) / Level 5 ($114,360 - $234,336). At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
• Multi-Level: This is a multi-level posting and you will be placed at the appropriate level dependent on depth and breadth of proven experience and skills.

Benefits and Relocation

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to 4.8% match (regular positions) or self-contribute access (postdoctoral positions)
• Paid time off (personal leave)
• Employee Education Program (tuition assistance for eligible positions)
• Comprehensive Relocation Package
• Benefit eligibility subject to multiple factors, including employment status and position classification.

At this time, BEA will not sponsor any H1-B visas obtained outside of the United States of America (U.S.A.), including consular visas.

INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With more than 6,300 scientists, researchers, and support staff, the laboratory works with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

INL Mission

Our mission is to discover, demonstrate and secure innovative nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure.

INL Vision

Our vision is to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

Selective Service Requirements

To be eligible for employment at INL males born after December 31, 1959 must have registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). For more information see www.sss.gov.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of INL to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodation

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Other Information

When applying to positions please provide a resume and answer all questions on the following screens. Applicants, who fail to provide a resume or answer the questions, may be deemed ineligible for consideration.

INL does not accept resumes from third party vendors unsolicited.