Lead Employee & Labor Relations Specialist

Lead Employee & Labor Relations SpecialistKids Are Our Everything.The Lead Employee & Labor Relations Specialist (Lead ER/LR Specialist) serves as a senior-level advisor, program lead, and subject-matter expert responsible for the most complex, sensitive, and high-impact ER/LR matters across the organization. This role leads enterprise-level employment investigations, oversees labor relations processes, contributes to negotiation strategy, and drives ER/LR program development, including policies, toolkits, reporting standards, and systemic improvements.In addition to managing a portfolio of complex cases, the Lead ER/LR Specialist provides mentorship, oversight, and quality assurance to ER/LR Specialists and Senior Specialists, ensuring consistency in practice and alignment with organizational goals. The role partners closely with organizational stakeholders including but not limited to Legal, Security, Risk Management, Corporate Compliance, HR leadership, and senior operational leaders on labor/employment strategy, organizational risk mitigation, and culture-building efforts.The Lead ER/LR Specialist leverages data, trends, case analytics, and workforce insights to inform decision-making and shape organizational strategies. This role influences key stakeholders and ensures Children's National maintains best-in-class employment and labor practices in a complex healthcare and unionized environment. The Lead ER/LR Specialist may also be tasked with other duties as may be necessary to support team and organizational goals. Depending on experience and business needs, the Lead ER/LR Specialist may focus on a variety of functional areas such as employment investigations, labor relations and/or general employee relations.Minimum Education Bachelor's Degree in human resources or related field. Relevant work experience may substitute for the educational requirement. Juris Doctorate (J.D.) (Preferred) Minimum Work Experience 8 years progressive employee/labor relations, HR investigations, or HR experience with significant exposure to complex employment investigations and/or labor relations. 3 years healthcare or hospital experience preferred.Required Skills/Knowledge Deep expertise in labor/employment law, and ER/LR best practices with emphasis on healthcare and unionized settings (e.g., Title VII, FLSA, ADA, FMLA, PWFA, NLRA, USERRA, HIPAA etc.) Proven ability to lead high-risk investigations and influence resolution outcomes. Strong strategic thinking and program development capabilities. Advanced skills in communication, coaching, facilitation, and relationship management. Ability to oversee case quality, ensure consistency, and mentor HR colleagues. Ability to analyze and leverage workforce data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities. Proven proficiency with MS Office; Experience using HRIS, case management, and data analytics systems (Workday, ServiceNow, PowerBI, Kronos etc.)Functional Accountabilities Strategic ER/LR Leadership Serve as senior advisor to leaders, HRBPs, HR COEs and Legal on the most complex ER/LR issues requiring advanced judgment. Lead risk assessments and partner on enterprise-level initiatives to strengthen culture and mitigate organizational exposure. Use trends, analytics, and case metrics to inform leadership decisions and organization-wide interventions.High-Risk Employment Investigations Lead the most sensitive, high-impact investigations involving multiple stakeholders, cross-department concerns, or significant legal exposure. Partner with Legal and HR Leadership to determine investigative strategies and ensure alignment with regulatory requirements. Establish and maintain investigation standards and best practices across the ER/LR team.Labor Relations Strategy & Support Serve as a subject-matter expert on collective bargaining agreements, labor law, and labor-management relations. Lead grievance strategy/process and represent management in discussions with union representatives. Support negotiation planning, including issue tracking, costing analysis, proposal development, and historical case review. Participate in union contract negotiations to include first contracts, successor contracts, mid-term contracts and bargaining, and impact bargaining. Facilitate labor-management meetings and support resolution of ongoing labor issues.Program Oversight & Continuous Improvement Lead development of ER/LR programs, toolkits, templates, policies, and workflows. Oversee consistency and quality across ER/LR investigations and case management. Develop and deliver enterprise-wide training for leaders, team members and HR colleagues. Influence process redesign and organizational employment practices informed by case trends and risk assessments.Mentorship & Team Development Provide guidance, coaching, and direction to ER/LR Specialists and Senior Specialists. Review investigation reports and provide feedback to ensure quality and consistency. Support the Director of Employee & Labor Relations in operational planning and continuous improvement initiatives.Benefits That Support You: Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health services. Generous paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day. Financial wellness support, including a 401(k) plan and healthcare and dependent care spending accounts. Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans. Additional perks, including tuition assistance, fitness resources, employee assistance, commuter benefits, and more.Why Join Us: Nationally Recognized Excellence – Consistently ranked among the Top 10 Children's Hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Leading Pediatric Care – One of the largest and most comprehensive children's hospitals in the country, offering nationally ranked specialties and cutting-edge treatments. Innovation & Research – A premier academic medical center with a strong commitment to pediatric research, education, and advancing the future of child health. Mission-Driven Culture – Dedicated to providing family-centered care while fostering a collaborative, supportive environment for clinical teams.