Labor Relations Manager

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y ? R espect. E quity. A ccountability. D iversity…
YOU !!!

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• T uition Assistance Program

The City of Richmond is seeking a strategic and analytical Labor Relations Manager to support labor-management relations and collective bargaining administration. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Human Resources or designee, this position plays a critical role in contract administration, grievance resolution, labor negotiations support, analytics, policy interpretation, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and Virginia public-sector labor laws. The City of Richmond has five (5) recognized bargaining units.

This is a high-visibility role requiring sound judgment, discretion, analytical rigor, a proactive approach, and the ability to navigate complex labor environments in a municipal setting.

• Oversee collective bargaining, contract administration, and alternative dispute resolution resulting in a coordinated and effective approach
• Proactively participate as a key representative in the employer-union relationship to ensure effective relations and achievement of business objectives and partner with the HR organization to ensure awareness of employee investigations/labor relations issues.
• Negotiate collective bargaining/employee agreements with assigned employee groups.
• Develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with bargaining unit and other group representatives.
• Develop bargaining strategies and prepare proposals.
• Analyze impact of proposals and develops alternative proposals that work for both parties.
• Achieve tentative agreements within established parameters and prepares agreements for leadership approval.
• Create and implement organized system of case management and ensures all cases are completed in a timely manner.
• Perform ongoing assessment of City labor relations positions and agreements and prepares reports.
• Provide recommendations and support for management decision-making processes.
• Recommend improvements to labor relations and contract negotiations.
• Compliance with federal and state regulations, laws regarding labor relations and human resources.
• Recognize potential employee relations issues and take or recommend necessary corrective action.
• Collaboratively integrate approaches, outcomes, deliverables, and solutions with partners in HR, Legal, and Finance

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a closely related field
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in labor relations, employee relations, or human resources within a unionized environment
• Experience supporting multiple bargaining units is preferred, as is prior supervisory or management experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong working knowledge of public-sector labor relations—preferably within the Commonwealth of Virginia—and the ability to interpret and administer complex collective bargaining agreements with precision and sound judgment.
• A master’s degree in Public Administration, Labor Relations, or a related field is preferred, as is experience supporting police, fire, public works, or general government bargaining units.