Director Labor & Employee Relations

Director, Labor & Employee Relations

The Director, Labor & Employee Relations is responsible for the development and execution of labor and employee relations strategy to support a positive work environment that promotes safety and productivity, employee satisfaction, effective communication, and a culture of teamwork and trust.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Leads a team of Labor Relations professionals in developing and implementing plans that promote positive employee relations, minimize conflict, and improve employee engagement.
• Builds strong partnerships with and supports people leaders and HR professionals at non-union-represented sites across the country.
• Develops, implements, maintains, and manages the Company's labor relations education and training programs. Ensures the effective implementation of labor relations and positive employee relations strategies through training and partnering with internal customers.
• Proactively identifies, assesses, trains, and supports Company locations that would benefit from a more positive environment.
• Develops and maintains relationships with employees and establishes stronger communication between employees and the Company. Listens to employee concerns and appropriately suggests solutions to employees and management.
• Monitors industry trends and provides recommendations for best practices in positive employee relations.
• Investigaes and handles certain employee complaints.
• Directs and/or supports representation campaigns, elections, post-campaign actions and related matters.
• Supports aspects of the collective bargaining agreement negotiation process, including occasional participation in and/or leading of negotiations and involvement in strike contingency planning.
• Provides labor relations advice to internal customers.
• Coordinates communications and implementation of certain company initiatives in the field.
• Supports labor relations-related aspects of potential acquisitions, including due diligence and integration.
• Provide guidance, direction, and coaching to Labor Relations team members, including assessing performance, providing feedback, and actively developing talent.
• This position may require travel up to 75% of the time.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned or apparent.

Qualifications:

• Experience working in an organization with a partially unionized workforce.
• Experience working in a large, decentralized multi-state organization.
• Thorough knowledge of NLRA and other related federal and state laws.
• Proven relationship builder with strong consultative, coaching, counseling, and conflict resolution skills.
• Business acumen, be innovative, adapt well to change and work collaboratively with strategic influence to drive initiatives across a matrixed environment.
• Ability to support senior level leaders in a manner that will effectively advance business strategies throughout their organizations.
• Project management and prioritization skills with proven attention to detail.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to a diverse, fast paced environment with changing priorities.
• Environmental services or transportation industry experience preferred.
• PHR certification preferred.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10 years of labor relations or progressive human resources experience that includes implementing labor strategy, developing, and implementing campaign strategy, and conducting labor relations-related training.
• Experience managing or having significant involvement in union election campaigns.
• Experience interpreting collective bargaining agreements and prior involvement in the collective bargaining negotiation process.
• 3 years of people leadership experience.

This position is a hybrid role based at Republic Service's headquarters in Phoenix, AZ. Hybrid is 4-days per week onsite, and 1-day remote. This position will not be eligible to be fully remote.

Rewarding Compensation and Benefits

• Comprehensive medical benefits coverage, dental plans and vision coverage.
• Health care and dependent care spending accounts.
• Short- and long-term disability.
• Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employee discount programs.
• Retirement plan with a generous company match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Paid Time Off (PTO)

EEO STATEMENT: Republic Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, relationship or association with a protected veteran (spouses or other family members), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. For any concerns relating to Republic Services' commitment to equal opportunity employment, you may contact the AWARE Line at 1-866-3-AWARE -4.

About the Company

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is a leader in the environmental services industry. We provide customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Our industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on our vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world.

In 2025, Republic's total company revenue was $16.6 billion, and adjusted EBITDA was $5.3 billion. We serve 13 million customers and operate more than 1,000 locations, including collection and transfer stations, recycling and polymer centers, treatment facilities, and landfills.

Although we operate across North America, the collection, recycling, treatment, or disposal of materials is a local business, and the dynamics and opportunities differ in each market we serve. By combining local operational management with standardized business practices, we drive greater operating efficiencies across the company while maintaining day-to-day operational decisions at the local level, closest to the customer.

Our customers, including small businesses, major corporations and municipalities, want a partner with the expertise and capabilities to effectively manage their multiple recycling and waste streams. They choose Republic Services because we are committed to exceeding their expectations and helping them achieve their sustainability goals. Our 42,000 team members understand that it's not just what we do that matters, but how we do it.

Our company values guide our daily actions:

• Safe: We protect the livelihoods of our colleagues and communities.
• Committed to Serve: We go above and beyond to exceed our customers' expectations.
• Environmentally Responsible: We take action to improve our environment.
• Driven: We deliver results in the right way.
• Human-Centered: We respect the dignity and unique potential of every person.

We are proud of our high employee engagement score of 86. We have an inclusive and diverse culture where every voice counts. In addition, our team positively impacted 5.1 million people in 2024 through the Republic Services Charitable Foundation and local communities.