Labor Relations Specialist

Labor Relations Specialist

Holyoke Community College is housed on a multi-million-dollar, 135-acre campus, equipped with state‑of‑the‑art technology in specialized learning facilities. HCC serves over 9,000 students annually and provides a variety of recreational and cultural activities, from sports programs to music festivals, for students and community members alike. The college’s strongest assets are an innovative spirit, a sincere concern for students and a commitment to strive for even greater success.

These values have created a tradition of excellence spanning more than six decades, enabling HCC to meet today’s challenges.

Mission
:
Educate. Inspire. Connect.

Values
:
Kindness, Inclusion, Trust, Innovation & Collaboration. Kindness, inclusion and trust are the foundation of the work that we do together. Innovation and collaboration enable us to explore and implement the ideas that will shape our future.

• The Labor Relations Specialist (LRS) leads and manages the employee and labor relations function across the college, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and employment laws.
• The LRS serves as a trusted advisor to administrators, supervisors, and employees on issues such as employee discipline, performance management, grievances, contract negotiations, and conflict resolution.
• Serves as the college’s primary contact for employee and labor relations matters.
• Interprets and administers all collective bargaining agreements (AFSCME & MCAAA, CBAs); provides guidance to management and staff on contractual obligations and rights.
• Assists with investigating employee complaints and workplace concerns, ensuring impartiality, consistency, and compliance with internal policies, procedures, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Provides coaching and counsel to supervisors and employees in concert with the Director of Restorative Practices and Mediation (DRPM) on performance management, corrective actions, and employee engagement strategies; designs and conducts trainings on labor relation topics as needed.
• Coordinates and supports labor negotiations; prepares proposals, analyzes data, and participates in bargaining sessions as needed.
• Works with the DRPM to monitor trends and proactively identify and resolve employee relations issues before escalating.
• Manages the grievance and arbitration process in partnership with college leadership and legal counsel.
• Works with the People & Talent team to analyze employee and labor relations data, trends, and metrics to provide insights and recommendations to management; prepares reports and presentations as needed.
• Collaborates with People & Talent colleagues to ensure policy compliance, risk mitigation, and positive employee experiences.
• Works with the Director of Development to assess, design, develop, implement, and evaluate training to supervisors on employee and/or labor relations best practices, including contract administration and conflict resolution.
• Maintains thorough and confidential documentation of all employee relations activities.
• Stays current with employment laws, regulations, and labor relations developments, ensuring the college’s practices remain compliant and effective.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management, Industrial Psychology, Labor Relations, Pre‑Law, Business Administration, or related field.
• Labor Relations and Arbitration knowledge is required.
• 3‑5 years of experience in labor relations, including considerable experience in working with collective bargaining agreements, contract administration, and counseling management.
• 3‑5 years of employee relations and performance coaching or management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft and other Human Resources software, i.e., HRIS systems.
• Ability to multitask and work independently on projects.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse group and population.
• Effective communication and people skills; must be able to work in a team‑driven environment.

We welcome and encourage applicants who do not meet the qualifications as stated above to put in writing precisely how their background and…