Labor Relations Specialist

Labor Relations SpecialistLocation: North America Support Center in Bethesda, MDPurpose: The Labor Relations Specialist supports the administration and execution of labor relations programs across the organization. The role serves as a resource to People & Culture partners, operational leaders, and business stakeholders by providing guidance on collective bargaining agreements, supporting grievance administration, conducting labor relations analyses, monitoring compliance, and assisting with labor-related initiatives to promote positive labor-management relationships and operational effectiveness.Essential Functions:Administers labor relations programs, policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreement provisions while serving as a resource to managers and People & Culture partners on labor-related mattersInterprets collective bargaining agreements and provides guidance to Operations leaders, People & Culture teams, and business stakeholders regarding contract administration and labor relations practicesSupports grievance administration by researching issues, gathering documentation, preparing case summaries, and recommending appropriate courses of action consistent with collective bargaining agreement provisions and company practicesAssists with arbitration preparation and other labor-related proceedings by compiling documentation, conducting analyses, coordinating information requests, and supporting internal and external stakeholdersTracks collective bargaining agreement obligations, renewal timelines, and implementation requirements while ensuring contract provisions are administered appropriatelyPartners with Payroll, HR Technology, Benefits, Operations, and People & Culture teams to support the administration and implementation of labor-related programs, policies, and collective bargaining agreement provisionsConducts labor relations analyses, reviews workforce and labor-related data, identifies trends, and develops recommendations to support compliance, operational effectiveness, and informed decision-makingAudits and monitors compliance with collective bargaining agreements, labor relations policies, and established practices while identifying potential risks and recommending corrective actionsMaintains labor relations records, documentation, reports, and metrics and prepares materials used to support labor negotiations, grievance administration, arbitration preparation, and business decision-makingIdentifies opportunities to improve labor relations processes, documentation standards, compliance practices, and operational procedures while supporting continuous improvement initiativesReporting Relationship: The Labor Relations Specialist reports into the Senior Director of Labor RelationsMajor Interdependencies: People & Culture, Operations Leadership, Payroll, Benefits, HR Technology, Legal, Finance, Union Representatives, Business Leaders, and Employee Relations stakeholdersMinimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 5 years: In a technical role: Requires 5 years of Labor Relations experience engaged in developing and delivering labor relations, collective bargaining agreement administration, grievance management, labor compliance, and employee relations programs A bachelor's degree in human resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field can count for 3 of the 5-year requirement In the industry: Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Retail, Travel Retail, Distribution, Transportation, or other unionized workforce experience of 3-5 years preferredSpecialized Training: Training that leads to an in-depth understanding of Labor Relations, collective bargaining agreement administration, grievance processes, arbitration preparation, labor compliance, and employee relationsKnowledge of state and federal labor laws, employment regulations, collective bargaining practices, labor compliance requirements, and union-management relationsSpecialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits:Business acumen and the mindset required to understand the long-term implications of labor relations planning and to advance organizational goalsDemonstrated history of understanding the needs of the business, stakeholders, the employee population, union representatives, and individual circumstancesDemonstrated history of creating and maintaining positive work environments through coaching, developing, influencing, and collaborating with leaders and employees to achieve common goalsAbility to interpret collective bargaining agreements and provide guidance regarding contract administration and labor relations mattersAbility to analyze labor relations issues, identify trends, evaluate risks, and develop recommendations for leaders and People & Culture partnersStrong communication, relationship-building, conflict resolution, consultation, and stakeholder management skillsAbility to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive labor and employee mattersProficiency with Microsoft Office applications, HR systems, reporting tools, and labor relations documentation processesAvalta, including Dufry, HMSHost Corporation, Hudson, and affiliates ("the Company"), is an equal opportunity employer. It is the Company's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity in all aspects of employment and to comply with anti-discrimination laws and regulations. The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and provides equal opportunities to applicants and team members without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, age, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and lactation), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, national origin, disability, military service and veteran status, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances (referred to as "protected characteristics").