Lead Negotiator - HR Labor

Lead Negotiator - Akron

About the Opportunity

This is a position within First Energy Service Co., a subsidiary of First Energy Corp.

The Lead Negotiator serves as First Energy's primary resource in labor relations within a set territory, responsible for shaping and executing enterprise-wide labor strategies that align with the company's core values, business objectives, and evolving workforce needs. This role leads high-impact negotiations with assigned unions, oversees the administration of collective bargaining agreements, and fosters collaborative relationships with union leadership and business stakeholders to drive operational excellence and workforce engagement.

This position plays a critical role in advancing First Energy's labor relations philosophy, ensuring compliance, and promoting a culture of transparency, equity, and continuous improvement. The Lead Negotiator partners closely with executive leadership, HR centers of excellence, and operational leaders to develop forward-thinking labor strategies that support organizational agility, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Negotiations & Labor Planning
  • Lead the development and execution of negotiation strategies for collective bargaining agreements, ensuring alignment with business goals, financial targets, and workforce priorities
  • Serve as the main spokesperson and strategist in labor negotiations, managing cross-functional negotiation teams and external counsel as needed
  • Analyze labor market trends, union dynamics, and regulatory developments to inform proactive labor strategies
• Contract Administration & Compliance
  • Oversee the interpretation, application, and implementation of labor agreements, settlements, and arbitration decisions
  • Ensure consistent and legally sound contract administration across business units, advising leaders on disciplinary actions, contract language, and dispute resolution
  • Ensure compliance with the National Labor Relations Act and other applicable laws
• Grievance & Arbitration Leadership
  • Direct the grievance and arbitration process, ensuring timely, thorough, and effective resolution of employee concerns
  • Collaborate with union representatives and internal stakeholders to resolve disputes and foster a constructive labor-management environment
• Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management
  • Establish strong, trust-based relationships with union leadership, operational management, and HR partners
  • Act as a strategic advisor to senior leaders on labor relations matters, workforce planning, and organizational change initiatives
• Training & Capability Building
  • Design and deliver targeted training programs for supervisors and managers on labor agreements, contract interpretation, and effective labor relations practices
  • Promote labor relations knowledge across the organization to enhance leadership effectiveness and compliance
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Corporate HR (Compensation, Benefits, Talent) and Legal to ensure labor strategies are integrated with broader HR and business initiatives
  • Support Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) efforts by embedding inclusive practices into labor relations strategies and negotiations
• Communications & Change Management
  • Lead labor-related employee communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with organizational messaging
  • Support change management efforts related to labor agreements, organizational restructuring, and workforce transitions

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business Administration or related discipline required; JD or master's degree preferred
• Minimum 7 years professional work experience required labor relations experience including Chief Spokesperson experience preferred
• Experience in all aspects of human resources, employee relations, company/union relations and employment law
• Proven leadership and demonstrated knowledge, skill and experience in contract language/negotiations, arbitration, grievance, employment/labor law
• Experience in the administration of the grievance and arbitration processes
• Experience preparing cases for arbitration is required; experience in presenting…