Labor Relations Senior Manager

The 1199

SEIU Funds are among the strongest and largest labor-management funds in the nation, providing a range of comprehensive benefits to more than 450,000 working and retired healthcare industry workers — members of 1199

SEIU United Healthcare Workers East — and their families. Through the Benefit and Pension, Training and Employment and Child Care Funds, 1199

SEIU members enjoy quality health benefits, a defined monthly pension at retirement and training, educational, job security, and childcare benefits all at little or no cost. By collaborating with the Union and employers to prepare, sustain and support a quality workforce, the Funds are a valuable healthcare resource, fulfilling a commitment to building a strong industry that improves patient care.

The Employee and Labor Relations Senior Manager serves as a strategic advisor and subject matter expert on employee and labor relations, providing guidance grounded in comprehensive knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, organizational policies, and labor laws. This role partners closely with management, union representatives, and HR leadership to resolve complex workplace issues, including grievances, disciplinary actions, investigations, and conflict mediation. The Senior Manager also supports contract negotiations, policy development, and process improvements while ensuring confidentiality, regulatory compliance, and effective labor–management collaboration to promote a fair, respectful, and legally compliant work environment.

• Answer Employee and Labor Relations (ER/LR) inquiries, and provide information requiring comprehensive knowledge of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and Fund policies, procedures and operations; provide information as appropriate to knowledge base and level of issue
• Provide management and staff with coaching/counseling necessary to assist them in resolving personnel matters
• Recommend strategies, goals and objectives for both collective bargaining and management staff
• Mediating conflict between management and staff to reconcile differences
• Investigate and evaluate union complaints to determine viability before leading the fact-finding process and investigations of employee grievances and issues
• Manage the disciplinary action process in accordance with Fund policies and procedures
• Collaborate with HR Assistant Director in managing realignments, reviewing reclassification requests, and handling departmental personnel requests, etc.
• Co-facilitate workshops that fall within Employee relations including but not limited to policies and procedures
• Collaborate with HR Leadership team on Special Projects – Contract Negotiations, Process Improvement, Production Standards, Revision of Policies and Procedures
• Interpret Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions; investigate and provide information for grievance proceedings arbitration and hearings
• Manage the confidential investigations of employee complaints by researching and providing relevant information
• Review and finalize written materials including reports, memos, and correspondences for accuracy and completeness
• Facilitate Labor Relations meetings; collaborate with department leaders in Labor Management Meetings to ensure resolution of items discussed
• Resolve escalated issues such as employee complaints, harassment allegations, discrimination allegations, and situations involving interpersonal conflict in the workplace
• Follow all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Protected Health Information (PHI) requirements and regulations
• Perform additional duties as assigned by Management

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Industrial Relations or Human Resources or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum five (5) years working experience in Employee and/or Labor Relations required; prior experience in a union setting preferred
• Basic skills in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint preferred
• Knowledge of labor relations principles and practices
• Advanced oral, listening, presentation and written communication skills required
• Must be able to work within and maintain the confidentiality required of the organization and the Human Resources Department
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain effective working relationships with union officials, employees, and management
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assist with investigations from initial complaint to resolution
• Ability to prioritize and multitask effectively in a fast paced, confidential environment with competing priorities