[Hiring] Director of Human Resources Business Partner - Labor Relations @Salute Inc.

Role Description

The Director, HRBP – Labor Relations is the organization's designated technical authority on union and labor relations, serving as the expert resource that HRBPs, site leaders, and executives turn to for guidance on collective bargaining, contract interpretation, and labor strategy. This role operates as an internal labor relations consultant across the global operations network.

Responsibilities

• Labor Relations Subject Matter Expertise (Primary Focus):
  • Serve as the enterprise's go-to subject matter expert on collective bargaining, contract interpretation, and union relationship strategy.
  • Provide expert consultation to HRBPs, site leaders, and executives on complex grievance, arbitration, and contract administration questions.
  • Design and lead collective bargaining negotiation strategy, serving as lead negotiator or chief strategist for the organization's most complex or highest-stakes contracts.
  • Act as the escalation point for the organization's highest-risk labor matters, including arbitration, NLRB charges, and labor board proceedings.
  • Maintain expert-level, current knowledge of the NLRA and labor/employment law across domestic and international jurisdictions.
  • Author and maintain enterprise labor relations playbooks, position statements, and precedent guidance used by HRBPs and site leadership.
  • Advise leadership on union organizing activity and lawful, proactive labor relations strategy across represented and non-represented sites.
  • Lead strike/contingency planning methodology and serve as the organization's expert advisor during active labor disputes.
  • Own labor relations metrics and reporting — grievance and arbitration trends, contract costs, settlement patterns.
• Capability Building & Advisory Partnership:
  • Coach and upskill HRBPs, generalists, and operations leaders on CBA administration, grievance handling, and labor relations fundamentals.
  • Design and deliver labor relations training and certification programs for site leaders, supervisors, and HR staff.
  • Partner with HRBPs as a technical advisor rather than a direct client owner.
  • Build toolkits, templates, and decision frameworks that allow HRBPs to handle routine labor matters independently and consistently.
• Enterprise Labor Relations Strategy & Governance:
  • Set enterprise standards for CBA administration, grievance handling, and negotiation practice across all unionized operations.
  • Partner with executive leadership to align labor relations strategy with broader workforce planning, M&A, and organizational transformation activity.
  • Analyze workforce and labor relations data to identify enterprise-wide risk and opportunity.
  • Govern consistency of contract interpretation and precedent across sites and regions.
• Compliance and Risk Management:
  • Ensure enterprise-wide compliance with CBAs, labor regulations, employment law, and company policy.
  • Monitor and interpret changes in labor and employment law across global jurisdictions.
  • Partner with Legal and Compliance as the primary labor relations subject matter expert.
  • Mitigate enterprise risk through expert guidance, consistent precedent, and disciplined labor relations governance.
• Global HR Collaboration:
  • Serve as the labor relations partner to HR Operations and regional HR teams.
  • Provide SME support to regional HR teams navigating local labor and works council requirements.
  • Promote consistent labor relations practice and knowledge-sharing across regions and business units.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial/Labor Relations, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive labor relations experience, with recognized depth as a subject matter expert in collective bargaining and contract administration.
• Demonstrated experience as lead negotiator across multiple CBA negotiations, including complex or contested bargaining.
• Expert-level knowledge of the NLRA, labor board practice, arbitration procedure, and multi-jurisdiction labor/employment law.
• Track record serving as an escalation resource or technical advisor to other HR professionals on labor matters.
• Experience developing labor relations training, playbooks, or capability-building programs for HR and operations leaders.
• Experience supporting multi-site, multi-state, or global unionized operations.
• Exceptional negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labor Relations, or related field; JD a plus.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, GPHR, or equivalent certification; formal labor relations or arbitration training a plus.
• Experience serving in a dedicated labor relations SME, center-of-excellence, or corporate labor relations role.
• Direct experience with NLRB litigation, arbitration hearings, and strike or contingency planning at scale.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, distribution, logistics, healthcare, retail, or industrial environments with union representation.
• Experience supporting international employee populations, works councils, and global labor relations programs.

Benefits

• Enjoy 8 company-paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, and PTO.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage starting on Day 1.
• Employee Assistance Program available to all employees.
• Employer-supported 401(K) with immediate 100% vesting, plus a 3% employer match and a 50% match on the next 2%.
• Access to HSA, mental health resources, and gym discounts.
• Discounted group programs, such as legal services, home & auto insurance, pet insurance, and ID theft protection.

Compensation & Benefits Disclosure

The base salary for this role is $140,000 annually. This amount reflects a good‑faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to pay upon hire, based on factors such as skills, experience, education, and market/location.