Manager Labor Relations

1 week ago Be among the first 25 applicants

• Bachelor’s degree in labor relations, industrial relations, human resources, or related field (JD or advanced degree preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in labor relations within the rail industry or a heavily unionized transportation environment.
• Demonstrated experience handling disciplinary hearings, grievance procedures, and RLA‑based arbitration, negotiation, and mediation processes.
• Familiarity with rail union agreements (e.g., SMART‑TD, BLET, IAM, IBEW, BMWED, TCU) strongly preferred.
• Successful work experience in Labor Relations, ideally within the railroad industry.
• Strong working knowledge of LR functions and procedures, e.g., discipline processes, grievances, negotiations, training, and development.
• Commitment to understanding the Railway Labor Act and staying current on relevant labor laws and disciplinary procedures.
• Demonstrated employee relations skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Exceptional organizational and time‑management skills.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills and demonstrable people skills.
• Critical thinking and problem‑solving/decision‑making experience.
• Integrity, ethics, commitment, reliability, and the ability to work in a challenging environment.
• Deep understanding of the Railway Labor Act, including major dispute and minor dispute resolution frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of FRA workplace and safety regulations.
• Exceptional written and oral communication, especially in documenting hearing records and preparing arbitration briefs.
• Ability to manage high‑pressure, contentious situations with professionalism and objectivity.
• Skilled in building relationships with union representatives and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrates composure and confidentiality required to manage all labor relations functions.
• Must be capable of carefully monitoring working conditions to ensure legal compliance.

• Lead investigations, interpret policy, review employee and organizational trends, and monitor laws and regulations while collaborating with stakeholders.
• Investigate and document union grievances and other contractual matters through the grievance process.
• Conduct administrative disciplinary investigations by researching possible violations, preparing, and executing charge letters as necessary, negotiating settlement agreements with representatives and performing disciplinary hearings as the Charging Officer.
• Oversee and monitor department correspondence, providing weekly updates to LR managers regarding upcoming deadlines and meetings.
• Assist in the timely gathering, collecting, preparation, and maintenance of records/documents required in the administration of the local Collective Bargaining Agreements, including discipline, grievance, and arbitration processes.
• Assist in the gathering, collecting, and preparation of records/documents required for Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) matters.
• Maintain databases of discipline, grievance, and arbitration records, ensuring all documentation is complete and accurate.
• Serve as a conduit between the field management team and the Labor Relations team.
• Collaborate with the Labor Relations team in the development and review of policies and procedures.
• Assist the Labor Relations team in the development and presentation of Labor Relations training.
• Respond to record and document requests from various stakeholders.
• Create reports and presentation documents for stakeholders as required.
• Participate in the performance evaluation processes.
• Perform administrative duties, including upkeep of employee records and meeting minutes.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

• Drug and alcohol screening: Employment is contingent upon passing a pre‑employment drug and alcohol screen, a favorable background check, and a physical examination.
• Safety commitment: Safety is a way of life  placing safety first, we ensure the wellbeing of our employees, customers, and communities, and together we can become the most successful transportation company in the world.
• Environmental commitment: Keolis is committed to protecting the environment by minimizing the impact…