Labor Relations Director

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is seeking an Employee and Labor Relations (ELR) Director to lead our ELR function and drive strategies that foster an inclusive, respectful, and high-performing work environment.

In this role you will:

• Develop and lead the ELR team, providing coaching, mentorship, and growth opportunities while ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery
• Partner with the Deputy Human Resources (HR) Director to advance the competencies and skills of the ELR function, aligning with DEED’s strategic priorities and workforce culture goals, and developing tools/training to strengthen the team’s ability to navigate complex ELR issues
• Serve as a trusted advisor to agency leadership on complex ELR matters, respectful workplace concerns, and investigations
• Provide expert guidance on performance management, progressive discipline, investigations, and grievances
• Represent DEED in union partnership efforts, collaborating with union partners to resolve issues constructively and ensuring alignment with enterprise labor strategies and fostering positive relationships
• Collaborate with HR leadership to integrate ELR insights into agency-wide initiatives that enhance employee experience and advance the organization

This position is telework eligible. Telework options for this position are dependent on where the employee lives. Staff are provided with the tools and equipment to be successful in a virtual work environment. Please note, the telework policy could change with notice based on business needs.

This role requires 5-10% travel as needed for collective bargaining agreement negotiations, training, and other needs across the state.

Please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held. Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for this position.

Four (4) years of advanced Human Resources experience in Employee Relations and Labor Relations.

* Associate's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or other closely related field as determined by the agency may substitute for six (6) months of experience; bachelor's degree substitutes for one (1) year of experience; master's degree for eighteen (18) months of experience; and PhD substitutes for twenty-four (24) months of experience

• Experience as a supervisor, team lead, lead worker, or project lead
• Advanced Employee/Labor Relations skills, sufficient to effectively manage the Employee/Labor Relations team with an emphasis on developing/maintaining a productive, cohesive, and engaged team that provides exemplary service delivery
• Ability to mediate disputes, contribute to collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations, and manage labor partnerships
• Ability to lead complex workplace investigations and performance management/progressive discipline, including the ability to write clear, defensible documentation including investigation reports and case summaries
• Ability to coach HR professionals on having difficult conversations with stakeholders to convey both favorable and unfavorable decisions respectfully and persuasively, including coaching leaders through complex and sensitive workplace scenarios
• Experience in training large and small groups on HR topics, making effective presentations, and persuading others to adopt ideas

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to…