Strategic Director, Labor Relations & Negotiations

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is seeking a Director of Labor Relations to lead the Labor Relations function, guiding negotiation, implementation and administration of the bargaining unit agreement. The role requires strong leadership, extensive experience in union environments, and deep knowledge of labor law.

The Director will manage a team, advise management on negotiations, oversee disciplinary actions and grievances, and ensure compliance with safety and organizational

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Labor Relations or related field.
• Minimum 8 years at Director level in Labor Relations, including 5+ years in management within a unionized environment.
• Strong knowledge of labor laws (NLRA, FMLA) and collective bargaining processes.

Responsibilities

• Administers the labor agreement by providing guidance and interpretation in disputes, MOUs, grievances and employee actions.
• Guides and monitors issues from represented employees and administers METRO policies and guidelines.
• Reviews and updates union employee work rules as needed.
• Plans and advises METRO management on labor agreement negotiations; acts as principal spokesperson in negotiations.
• Represents METRO in union matters regarding disciplinary actions, promotions, demotions, transfers and grievances/arbitrations.
• Performs personnel administrative functions for direct report staff (training, supervision, timesheets, evaluations).
• Assists managers in counseling and disciplining represented employees.
• Develops and implements training for managers on labor issues and grievance processes.
• Assists in preparation of arbitration hearings and bargaining unit negotiations.
• Oversees grievance reports, disciplinary action reports and weekly Labor Relations SAP reports.
• Conducts wage/benefit surveys of other transit properties as needed.
• Participates in new hire orientation.
• Provides excellent customer service to METRO internal and external customers.
• Applies Safety Management System (SMS) principles and supports PTASP.
• Promotes safety awareness and adherence to procedures.

Skills

Labor relations

Negotiation

Contract interpretation

Leadership

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Labor relations or related field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is seeking a Director of Labor Relations to lead the Labor Relations function, guiding negotiation, implementation and administration of the bargaining unit agreement. The role requires strong leadership, extensive experience in union environments, and deep knowledge of labor law.

The Director will manage a team, advise management on negotiations, oversee disciplinary actions and grievances, and ensure compliance with safety and organizational