Director of Labor Relations

Syracuse University is committed to delivering an exceptional student experience through vibrant, engaged campus communities. This position is based at the above campus location and requires regular in-person presence to support our students, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to our thriving academic environment. Syracuse University values the collaboration, mentorship, and spontaneous connections that happen when our community works together on campus.

Remote work arrangements are limited in accordance with University policy.

Pay Range

Pay Range $150,000 - $180,000

Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.

Staff Level S6

FLSA Status

FLSA Status Exempt

Hours

Standard University business hours
8:30am - 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am - 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Job Type

Job Type Full-time

Unionized Position Code Not Applicable

Job Description

Syracuse University seeks an experienced labor relations leader to build the strategic capacity of the University’s Labor Relations function. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Director of Labor Relations leads the Labor Relations team and manages the planning, contract administration, analytics and campus engagement work that a multi-union, multi-contract environment demands. The University holds multiple agreements with several different international unions, with additional units recently certified and organizing ongoing.
This is a moment of consequential change at Syracuse University and across higher education. New leadership, shifting enrollment dynamics and an active organizing landscape place real weight on how the University conducts its labor relationships. The Director sets the strategy in motion, the negotiations calendar and mandates, the data that informs decisions, and the cross-campus working group that administers contracts and keeps practice consistent.

This is a builder’s role: someone who develops people, establishes structure on complex work, and creates the conditions for labor professionals to do their best work.

• Bachelor’s degree required. JD or master’s degree in labor relations, industrial relations, business or public administration preferred; an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience considered.
• Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible labor relations experience in a unionized environment, with senior-level competency in collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration practice and mediation.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, developing and leading a professional team.
• Experience serving as lead or co-lead negotiator across multiple bargaining units.
• Higher education, healthcare or another environment with multiple international unions strongly preferred; experience bargaining with distinct internationals each with its own culture and pattern expectations is essential.

• Labor law and practice. Extensive knowledge of the NLRA , NLRB procedure, New York labor and employment law, contract interpretation, past practice and duty-to-bargain analysis; briefs leadership clearly and recognizes when a matter belongs with University Counsel.
• Team leadership. Builds effective teams, develops staff, delegates deliberately and holds a high standard of practice.
• Strategy and planning. Builds a multi-year negotiations plan, models contract costs, sequences bargaining across units and…