Director, Labor & Employee Relations
Job Description
Director of Labor & Employee Relations (Higher Education - Hybrid Engagement or Engagement to Permanent; Greater Boston, MA)
Latitude is seeking an experienced labor and employee relations leader to serve as Director of Labor & Employee Relations for a higher education institution in the Greater Boston area. Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, the Director will serve as the university's primary representative in its union relationships and as a trusted advisor to university leadership and department managers on labor and workforce matters.
On the labor relations side, responsibilities include leading collective bargaining negotiations, administering and interpreting collective bargaining agreements, handling grievances and labor disputes, and advising university leadership on labor relations strategy. On the employee relations side, the Director will manage workplace investigations, employee conduct and disciplinary matters, employee policies, performance management processes, and department reorganizations, while advising and coaching managers on employee relations issues, performance improvement, and workforce management decisions.
The university strongly prefers candidates with significant experience in both labor and employee relations, but it will also consider candidates whose background is concentrated in one of these areas. Depending on candidate experience and qualifications, the university may consider separating the labor relations and employee relations roles rather than filling both functions through a single Director.
Requirements for the Director of Labor & Employee Relations:
- Significant experience in both labor relations and employee relations strongly preferred
- Labor relations candidates must be attorneys with substantial collective bargaining and union relations experience, including leading negotiations, administering and interpreting union contracts, managing grievances and labor disputes, and advising university leadership on labor relations matters
- Employee relations candidates may be attorneys or experienced senior HR professionals, with attorneys preferred; experience should include conducting workplace investigations, managing disciplinary and performance matters, drafting employee policies, overseeing performance management processes, advising and coaching department managers on employee relations and workforce management decisions, and supporting department reorganizations
- Higher education or nonprofit experience strongly preferred
- J.D. from an accredited law school and active license in good standing in any U.S. state required for labor relations candidates and preferred for employee relations candidates
- Proven ability to build credible, constructive relationships with union leadership, senior leaders, managers, and employees
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and coaching skills, with sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive matters
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
Position Details of the Director of Labor & Employee Relations:
- Type of Role: Permanent, Engagement or Engagement to Permanent, with an initial term of approximately six months and the possibility of extension or conversion to permanent employment
- Schedule: Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) for the combined Director role or a dedicated Employee Relations role. Candidates focused exclusively on Labor Relations may be considered for approximately 20-30 hours per week.
- Location: Hybrid, Greater Boston, MA, with a preference for 1-2 days per week onsite. Greater remote flexibility may be available for candidates focused exclusively on labor relations, although some onsite presence is preferred.
Compensation:
Pay: The salary range for the permanent position is between $155,000 and $190,000. This position is also eligible for bonuses and equity compensation. Pay is based on multiple factors including but not limited to work experience, qualifications, credentials, and location. The annualized pay for an engagement ranges from $180,000 to $260,000. Pay for contract engagements is on an hourly basis and is formed from multiple factors including but not limited to work experience, qualifications, credentials, location, market supply/demand, and the candidate's preference.
Benefits: In addition to pay, a competitive benefits package is also provided, including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; 401(k) and generous leave policies. For engagements, all Latitude Attorneys working on contract engagements receive complimentary professional liability insurance coverage. All Latitude employees are eligible for full benefits when working 20+ hours per week, including group medical, dental, and vision insurance, and complimentary group life, LTD and AD&D insurance. A qualified 401k plan is also available. Benefits-eligible Latitude Attorneys also receive a CLE and Professional Expense stipend.
Confidentiality
Latitude will not propose you to prospective clients without your prior consent. Candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.
About Latitude
Latitude is a full-service flexible legal talent company serving corporate legal departments and law firms nationwide. From Fortune Global 100 companies to start-ups and Global 50 law firms to boutiques, clients turn to us for top-tier attorneys and other legal professionals.
Latitude specializes in providing highly skilled former in-house counsel and Big Law attorneys for flexible contract engagements and permanent positions in dozens of practice areas, including commercial contracting, data privacy, M&A, employment, litigation, and more.
Founded in 2013, Latitude is a Chambers and Partners globally-ranked flexible legal staffing company.
Latitude Contract Engagements & Secondments
Outstanding attorneys and other legal professionals choose Latitude for contract, consulting, and secondment opportunities because we offer competitive compensation and benefits, sophisticated and engaging work, access to work with top-tier clients and peers, and a refreshing blend of freedom with self-designed boundaries. Our own experience as practicing attorneys and our client relationships enable us to effectively tailor our candidate proposals to the specific practice strengths and interpersonal attributes that matter most to our clients and to match our candidates with the opportunities that will be most fulfilling to them.
Our Specialty: Highly Skilled Contract Attorneys. Latitude Attorneys have the level of skill, experience, and judgment as would be expected of a permanent member of our client's corporate legal department or law firm and the versatility to step into challenging environments and hit the ground running. Latitude Attorneys serve on a full- or part-time contract basis and work remotely or on-site at the client office.
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