Labor Relations Specialist

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that is shaping the future of labor relations roximately 1,300 employees are represented across eight units across four distinct campuses, reflecting a diverse and complex labor landscape.

To support this environment, the university is building a comprehensive, university-wide Labor Relations function. This function will serve as a centralized resource and strategic partner for leadership across all schools and administrative units. Its purpose is to:

• Provide integrated expertise and leadership in labor relations, ensuring consistency and alignment across the institution.
• Proactively engage with employees and departments to foster positive workplace practices and reduce the risk of additional unionization efforts.
• Strengthen partnerships with existing unions, creating a foundation of trust, collaboration, and shared understanding to support university objectives.
• Develop and implement a long-term labor relations strategy that promotes a stable, constructive, and positive work environment for all employees.

Candidates will be part of a forward-thinking approach that balances organizational goals with employee engagement and well-being.

Participate in the negotiation, administration, and interpretation of Tufts' collective bargaining agreements. Serve as a point of contact for labor relations issues, including grievances, disputes, and disciplinary actions. Help managers and supervisors address grievances, confer with labor and management representatives to resolve employee disputes, work with managers and supervisors to collect documentation/data for responding to union information requests, produce reports, attend joint labor-management meetings, contract negotiations, impact bargaining sessions, arbitrations, and other meetings, record notes and follow up on action items, develop and maintain a strong understanding of applicable collective bargaining and associated agreements, department policies, and Tufts employment policies to advise managers on contract compliance, help develop and schedule (and possibly conduct) training programs for supervisors/managers, draft communications, and perform other duties as requested.

• Guide managers and supervisors regarding contract compliance and other issues related to supervising union personnel and conflict resolution.
• Investigate complaints, mediate conflicts, and advise management on labor law and policy compliance.
• Work collaboratively with labor and management representatives to resolve disputes. Participate in labor negotiations, including proposal development during collective bargaining sessions.
• Maintain accurate records of labor relations activity, including grievances, negotiations, and contract changes.

Basic Requirement:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by a Bachelor's degree in HR management, labor relations, or a business-related discipline; at least three years' experience advising management on supervision of unionized employees or with the labor relations process.

Preferred Qualifications:

Juris Doctorate preferred; ability to conduct hearings, determine relevant facts, analyze facts in relation to contract language/practices, and write clear responses to union contract grievances; strong organizational, oral, and written communication skills.

Minimum $96,500.00, Midpoint $, Maximum $

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.