Director Labor Relations Corporate Human Resources

Department: Corporate Human Resources 

Location: Penn Medicine Bala Cynwyd - 2 Bala Plaza

Schedule: Hybrid

Summary:

• The Director of Labor Relations is responsible for leading the emerging labor relations function across the Penn Medicine Health System, including the development and coordination of proactive positive employee relations strategies and programs that help drive organizational goals and objectives. Will partner with other HR leaders across the health system to evolve this function as part of a currently transforming Human Resources enterprise. The director will establish governance structures, processes and protocols to support collective bargaining activities that align with the Health System's overall employment practices. 
• The director will represent the University of Pennsylvania Health System as a primary spokesperson and subject matter expert in labor negotiations and help organizational leaders interpret and administer collective-bargaining agreements. Responsible for fostering and maintaining effective and collegial relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including labor unions. As the lead labor expert for the health system, apply system-level thinking, sound judgment and maintain a solution orientated approach in managing difficult negotiations. 
• Cultivates, develops and leads a team to provide broad labor relations support across the health system as the function evolves.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement comprehensive labor relations strategies and programs, including development of positive employee relations initiatives to strengthen relationships between leaders and our employees.
• Serves as a key partner within the HR team and provides support and guidance on a variety of labor relations matters to promote a positive employee experience and ensure legal compliance.
• Provides day-to-day advice to HR partners and business leaders on a broad range of labor matters, including issue spotting and strategy development
• Proactively conducts risk and vulnerability assessments that include monitoring employee sentiments, organizing activity, and workforce trends to recommend and implement mitigation strategies and leadership action.
• Partners with inside and outside legal counsel as necessary on union-related matters including arbitrations, administrative hearings and trials.
• Provide guidance and support to local entity teams responsible for handling local grievances to ensure that contractual rights are upheld.
• Monitor employee climate to identify workforce opportunities and trends, and recommend proactive solutions based on business needs and best practices. Proactively communicates on labor environment and legislative trends.
• Develops and provides training, tools, and resources to Human Resources and Health System leadership on labor relations topics, including union engagement and labor law compliance, with the goal of building internal response capabilities.
• Serves as a lead spokesperson and chief negotiator for all UPHS collective-bargaining negotiations including but not limited to first contract bargaining, successor contract bargaining, mid-term bargaining, decisional and impact bargaining, and accretion bargaining. Develops and applies appropriate bargaining strategies to a wide variety of difficult, complex or highly adversarial situations, demonstrates UPHS’s continuous good faith in negotiations. Partners with entity leadership to ensure that their perspectives are well represented and ensure that there is system-wide alignment.
• Negotiates and administers collective bargaining agreements to align with health system objectives. Ensures that local entities are effective in administering contracts and plays a lead role in maintaining UPHS compliance with its obligations and its collective-bargaining agreements. Works in a way to avoid lack of clarity and misinterpretation of contract principles and advises on NLRB related issues in conjunction with legal- council while upholding fair labor practices.
• Collaborates with UPHS leadership, and entities in furtherance of the health system’s employee relations, labor relations and collective-bargaining objectives. Facilitates and leads discussions with labor union representatives toward the resolution of disputes and ensures healthy labor-management relations.