Labor Relations Director

$138,250 - $207,350/Yr

Tufts University - Medford, MA

Full-time - Mid Level

Medford, MA

Educational Services

About the position

The Labor Relations Director at Tufts University plays a crucial role in fostering positive relationships between university leadership, staff, and associated unions. This position focuses on promoting open communication and collaboration between the university and its unions, particularly within the Operations Division, which includes Public Safety, Dining, and Facilities. The Director will be part of the newly formed Department of Labor Relations, supporting all unions at the university.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates the resolution of labor issues involving collective bargaining employees and their managers.
• Anticipates trends in the labor markets and responds to them, often requiring pre-emptive actions.
• Provides interpretations of labor contracts to leadership, managers, and employees in response to labor issues.
• Serves as a key representative in the University's bargaining team in contract negotiations with recognized employee organizations.
• Maintains current knowledge of employee and labor relations trends, legal decisions, and statutory changes.
• Facilitates ongoing communication and working relationships with employee representative organizations.
• Develops and recommends policies and procedures concerning employee relations and personnel practices.
• Partners with the Office of the General Counsel to investigate and respond to complaints from labor agencies.
• May represent the University in arbitrations and hearings related to contract disputes and unfair labor practice complaints.
• Participates in the development and delivery of management training programs to advance people management skills.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field.
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in employee relations, collective bargaining, and labor relations activities.
• Experience leading contract administration, grievance processing, performance management, and disciplinary activities.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, ADA).
• Proven effective use of mediation and conflict resolution techniques.
• Proficiency in partnering with business leaders to drive strategies.
• Proven ability to influence and achieve results through others.
• Ability to establish credibility with numerous constituents.

Nice-to-haves

• Terminal legal degree preferred.
• Prior labor relations experience in higher education, navigating complex unionized employee work environment and negotiations.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Dental insurance coverage
• Retirement savings plan (401k)
• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities