Strategic Leader, Labor & Employee Relations

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA); New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 146,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City is seeking a Senior Director of Labor and Employee Relations to lead policy interpretation, strategy, and coordination of labor agreements for the matrixed workforce representing multiple unions.

The role reports to the Chief Employee Relations & Administrative Officer and requires guiding complex negotiations and ensuring consistent application of CBAs and MTA policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences 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 managing a diverse staff.
• Minimum 5 years of in-depth knowledge of Collective Bargaining Agreements and their application as they apply to MTA policies and procedures.
• Minimum 5 years of familiarity with drafting and preparation of Contracts and Proposals.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight and interpretation of the current labor agreements, work practices, policies, and procedures; and advice, counsel, and risk assessment 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 with 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.

Skills

Conflict resolution

Arbitration process

Communication

Organizational skills

Stakeholder management

High-pressure environment

Analytical capabilities

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

BA/BS in Labor or Industrial Relations

MA/MS in Labor/Industrial Relations (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City is seeking a Senior Director of Labor and Employee Relations to lead policy interpretation, strategy, and coordination of labor agreements for the matrixed workforce representing multiple unions.

The role reports to the Chief Employee Relations & Administrative Officer and requires guiding complex negotiations and ensuring consistent application of CBAs and MTA policies.