Labor & Employee Relations Specialist

Exemption Status:

Hiring Range:

Please note that the final offer may vary within this range based on a candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

Schedule Details:

Scheduled Hours:

Shift:

Hours:

Cost Center:

This position may have a signing bonus available a member of the Recruitment Team will confirm eligibility during the interview process.

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver - regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.

Responsible for the implementation and administration of a positive and effective system-wide labor and employee relations program which promotes the long and short-term labor relations strategies with minimal direction. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Administers and interprets the hospital's collective bargaining agreements, monitors the disciplinary process, oversees grievance and/ arbitration procedures, acts as the hearing officer for the 3rd step of the grievance process. Represents management in all labor relations matters, including the negotiation, interpretation, and administration of collective bargaining agreements. Maintains records and monitors compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. As an in-house subject matter expert, provides day-to-day advice and reduces use of outside legal counsel

Major Responsibilities:

• Represents UMass Memorial Health Care in collective bargaining with every union representing Medical Center and member hospital employees within the system. Prepares for, conducts, and/or participates in contract negotiations and administers all provisions of the agreements. Prepares and presents contract proposals in consultation with appropriate management representatives.
• Interprets union-management agreements, administers all provisions of the agreements, and represents management in the negotiation and settlement of grievances under established grievance procedures. Consults with managers and makes recommendations regarding day-to-day issues as well as long and short-term labor relations strategy including settlement of labor disputes.
• Assists in the planning and organization of a program of employee and labor relations to build a positive work environment and prevent and mediate employee disputes and grievances. Provides formal and informal education to all levels of management regarding labor relations, contract interpretation and labor and employment law.
• Leads sensitive and confidential workplace investigations and drafts investigative reports, as appropriate.
• Contributes to a working environment that is conducive to labor management harmony through the implementation and maintenance of equitable policies and procedures and programs designed to allow for effective problem solving.
• Ensures appropriate processing of arbitrations and leads preparation and oversight of outside legal counsel in arbitrations and mediations.
• Assists managers and others with the interpretation of personnel policies and procedures, legal and union contract compliance, grievance, discipline, termination problems, and mediates with employees and union representatives, identifying legal issues to manager or others as required. Drafts and revises personnel policies and procedures as appropriate.

The duties and responsibilities stated are a general summary and not all inclusive.

Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in business-related field.
• Juris Doctor.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in business-related field.

Experience/Skill:

Required:

• At least five years of direct experience in labor relations.
• Demonstrated experience as chief spokesperson in union contract negotiations.
• In-depth knowledge and expertise in collective bargaining, state and federal labor and employment law.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the union grievance process, preparing for arbitrations.
• Knowledge of the National Labor Relations Act and National Labor Relations Board procedures.

Preferred:

• Substantive and demonstrated experience working in unionized environments with MNA, UFCW, NAGE, AFSME and SEIU.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We're striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health - for our patients, our community and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at talentacquisition@umassmemorial.org. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.