AVP of Labor Strategy

Role Description

The Assistant Vice President, Labor Strategy is an enterprise executive leader accountable for defining, governing, and advancing labor strategy across MultiCare's complex, mission-driven healthcare system. This position reports directly to the Chief Human Potential Officer and serves as the senior authority on labor relations and collective bargaining strategy. The role requires a senior HR business leader with deep experience leading labor relations strategy in unionized healthcare environments, capable of balancing strategic vision with operational excellence while ensuring alignment with organizational mission and values.

Essential Functions

• Enterprise Labor Strategy & Governance: Define and steward enterprise-wide labor strategy aligned with organizational mission, financial sustainability, and operational objectives. Establish governance structures and decision-making frameworks for labor relations across the system and provide executive-level counsel on labor risks, trends, and opportunities.
• Collective Bargaining Leadership: Lead and oversee all aspects of collective bargaining strategy and execution across multiple unions and bargaining units. Ensure negotiation outcomes support operational flexibility, workforce engagement, and quality patient care while protecting organizational interests.
• Labor Policy, Compliance & Risk Management: Establish and maintain enterprise labor relations policies and standards to ensure compliance with applicable labor laws, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. Partner with Legal and Compliance to manage grievances, arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, and regulatory inquiries, and implement proactive risk identification and mitigation strategies.
• Executive & Leader Advisory Services: Serve as a strategic advisor to senior executives and system leadership on complex labor and union-related matters. Provide consultation and guidance to leaders on high-impact labor relations and employee relations issues involving represented employees.
• Leader Capability & Organizational Readiness: Build organizational capability to lead effectively in a unionized environment by shaping education, tools, and frameworks that enable consistent, compliant, and effective leader decision-making related to labor relations.
• Labor Relations Team Leadership: Lead, develop, and sustain an enterprise labor relations team with clear roles, accountabilities, and succession planning. Ensure appropriate resourcing and capability to support system-wide labor strategy execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, or a related field
• Master’s degree in a related field preferred
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership experience in labor relations and labor strategy
• Demonstrated experience leading collective bargaining across multiple unions and bargaining units
• Experience within a unionized healthcare system or similarly complex, highly regulated environment preferred
• Advanced knowledge of labor laws, collective bargaining, and labor relations practices
• Expertise in developing and executing enterprise labor strategies
• Proven ability to advise executives and boards on complex labor matters
• Strong negotiation, risk management, and strategic leadership capabilities

Benefits

• Rooted in the local community, partnering with patients, families, and neighbors across the Pacific Northwest for more than 140 years.
• Competitive tuition assistance, award-winning residencies, fellowships, and career development to invest in you.
• Generous PTO, Code Lavender, and Employee Assistance Programs to help you maintain balance and feel cared for in your work and life.
• Respect, integrity, kindness, and collaboration guide how we care for patients, communities, and each other.
• Resource Groups and outreach programs help ensure every team member feels safe, seen, heard, and valued.
• Work and live where natural beauty, adventure, and strong community connections are part of everyday life.