Senior Director, Labor and Associate Relations

The Senior Director, Labor and Associate Relations leads regional strategies that shape a people-first culture and strong union and associate relationships. Reporting to the VP of Labor Relations, this role oversees associate engagement initiatives, first-chair negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, and labor law compliance. The director analyzes workforce data, guides conflict resolution, and designs training for leaders, while collaborating with HR and Operations and traveling frequently within the region.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement regional associate engagement and relations strategies aligned with a people-first culture.
• Lead preparation for and first-chair negotiation of initial and renewal collective bargaining agreements.
• Advise leaders on labor law compliance, union matters, and conflict resolution across regional locations.
• Collect, analyze, and report data on associate satisfaction, turnover, and labor issues to guide strategy.
• Design and oversee training on grievance handling, working with unions, and conflict resolution for managers and associates.
• Lead union-related campaigns and communication strategies in collaboration with HR, Operations, and Communications teams.
• Build strong relationships with associates, managers, and union representatives to support a collaborative environment.
• Travel regularly within the region to support on-site labor and associate relations needs.

Required Skills

• Collective bargaining negotiation
• Labor law and union relations
• Employee relations and conflict resolution
• HR data analysis and reporting
• Labor relations strategy development
• Grievance and complaint handling
• Training design and delivery
• Stakeholder and union communications
• Policy interpretation and application
• MS Office and presentation tools