Senior Director, Employee & Labor Relations

POSITION SUMMARY:

Manages the Labor Relations and Employee Relations functions at the Hospital, including the establishment and coordination of an overall employee relations strategy, guidance in all aspects of labor negotiations, and collective bargaining agreement negotiation and administration.   Proactively addresses labor and employee relations issues and opportunities to promote a positive working environment.  Designs and implements employee relations programs and services and develops, administers, interprets, and communicates relevant policies and procedures to support the vision, mission and goals of Boston Medical Center.

Position: Senior Director, Employee & Labor Relations       

Department: Human Resources

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Employee Relations:

Responsible for the development of strategy and planning for employee relations within Human Resources.  Partner with, and proactively engage, senior management to influence and advise on strategic issues to improve employee and union relations.

Designs, plans, and administers strategic plans and employee programs & services to meet Boston Medical Center needs to improve operational performance.

Develops and delivers formal education programs for managers and employees on employment matters including performance management, discipline, investigations, medical and disability leave management and discrimination and harassment.

Provides advice and counsel to individual managers and employees on legal matters and work-related issues; monitors compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Provides work guidance to assigned staff in reaching timely consensus on complex issues and developing solutions to problems presented.

Assesses employee relations climate, providing an objective and balanced approach to employee relations issues.  Demonstrates a sensitivity to employee complaints balanced with management’s performance expectations.  Recommends corrective action in response to identified broad employee relations issues.

Initiates, recommends, and administers personnel policies and procedures consistent with Boston Medical Center’s goals and federal, state and local laws.  Acts as a liaison to operational departments to ensure policies and procedures are adhered to in an equitable manner.  Provides managerial training for satisfactory resolution of employee relations issues.

Leads, directs, counsels, and coordinates employee relations staff to ensure that goals and responsibilities for their areas of responsibility are met.

Establishes and monitors a system to collect information from a variety of information sources to analyze, monitor trends, identify problems and recommend solutions on diversity, recruitment and retention.  These initiatives include analyzing manpower needs, hires, referral sources, turnover, reasons for terminations, etc.  Develops statistical reports and analyses of employment, employee relations functions and services.  Track issues and identify any areas that need improvement.

Maintains current knowledge of practices and developments in employment and employee relations with particular emphasis on healthcare.  Actively works to share best practices among HR leaders and operating managers that enhance and support work system initiatives.

Labor Relations:

Oversees and directs the labor relations function at BMC, which encompasses planning, implementing and executing the hospital’s labor relations and contacts management.  Proactively addresses labor issues and opportunities to support achievement of business goals and objectives.

Serves as a lead negotiator in collective bargaining with the various unions.  Leads contract negotiations and provides guidance in all areas during the labor negotiations process.  Advises senior management on the ramifications, costs and other issues of proposed changes to the contract language.

Develops a curriculum and provides detailed instructions to the business leaders regarding contact administration, including training sessions and workshops where appropriate.  Ensures that the managers understand and apply uniform administration of key procedures and policy issues of the contract.

Provides advice and legal expertise for collective bargaining agreements, grievances, arbitrations and dispute resolutions. Communicates with Union Representatives to address and resolve labor relations.

Researches general legal issues; relies on experience and judgment to interpret laws, rulings, and regulations as applicable to BMC. Negotiates settlement agreements and other applicable agreements and understandings.

OTHER DUTIES:

Serves on committees/councils as needed.  Represents Boston Medical Center to community groups and outside agencies when needed.

Utilizes hospital’s Core Values as the basis for decision making and to facilitate implementing the hospital’s mission of providing Exceptional Care without Exception.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources or business field. J.D. or LLB is a plus.

EXPERIENCE:

8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in labor and employee relations experience with at least three years  in a managerial position.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Extensive knowledge of labor, EEO, and wage & hour laws.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills and the ability to analyze and recommend solutions in a tactful and professional manner.
• Must be able to work with diverse health care and administrative professionals at all levels of the organization.
• Must possess excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, ability to maintain composure in stressful situations and to handle changing priorities.
• Ability to exercise significant patience, understanding and empathy when necessary, recommend solutions in a tactful and professional manner and the ability to maintain the integrity of confidential information.
• Ability to mentor, guide and motivate direct reports through demonstration of best practices and of leading by example.
• Analytical skills for evaluating data and programs and suggesting modifications.
• Must possess strong negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated skills in PC applications (Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Outlook) are required

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans