Senior Director of Labor Relations

Hospital: Rush University Medical Center

Department: Employee Relations

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 5:00:00 PM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).).

Pay Range: $158,808 - $236,622

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. This role has a corresponding incentive plan based on multiple factors.

incentive compensation and additional benefits can be found on our Rush benefits page (https://)

The Senior Director, Labor Relations serves as the enterprise lead for labor relations strategy within a complex academic health system with a partially unionized workforce. This role has primary accountability for positive labor relations strategy, including NLRB petition response, collective bargaining preparedness, and post‑certification labor stabilization.

Positioned within the Talent Management structure and reporting directly to the Associate Vice President, HR Partners, Employee & Labor Relations, the Senior Director provides day‑to‑day leadership and oversight of the Labor Relations team. The role partners closely with HR leadership and operational stakeholders to ensure operational excellence across labor strategy, programs, initiatives, and team performance. This position is responsible for building and sustaining a cohesive, high‑performing team model that supports positive employee and labor relations outcomes across Rush University System for Health.

The Senior Director provides both strategic and tactical leadership during periods of heightened labor activity, including NLRB petitions, elections, bargaining unit certification, and contract negotiations, while ensuring full compliance with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and healthcare‑specific labor requirements. As a trusted advisor to executive leadership, legal counsel, HR partners, and operational leaders, this role develops and executes a coordinated, defensible labor relations strategy that mitigates risk, supports continuity of patient care, and preserves leadership decision‑making authority.

This position leads the development of enterprise labor relations infrastructure, playbooks, analytics, and leader education, and partners closely with HR COEs, HR Partners, Employee Relations, Legal, Operations leadership, Finance, Communications, and external labor counsel and consultants. while exemplifying the Rush mission, vision, and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

• Juris Doctor (JD).
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in labor relations.
• Direct experience leading contract negotiations, union organizing campaigns, NLRB petitions, and implementing a labor strategy in healthcare or similarly regulated environments.
• Demonstrated experience supporting nursing or clinical populations within an academic medical center or complex health system.
• Deep working knowledge of the NLRA, NLRB procedures, and healthcare‑specific labor considerations.
• Proven ability to advise senior executives and influence outcomes in high‑risk, time‑sensitive environments.
• Strong leadership presence with a record of developing high‑performing, disciplined teams.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and project management skills; ability to operate both strategically and hands‑on in a matrixed environment.
• Prior experience in both union and non‑union healthcare settings.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and strong discretion.

• Experience supporting first‑contract negotiations following certification.
• Prior partnership with external labor counsel and consultants.
• Experience building labor relations infrastructure in organizations transitioning from non‑union to unionized environments.
• Prior healthcare experience.
• Pr…