Career Opportunities: Sr Dir National Labor Relations - multiple locations/open to remote (31310)

What You Need To Know

Open your future to incredible career potential. Work for an industry-leader who invests in their people. Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is North America’s preeminent wine and spirits distributor, as well as a family-owned, privately held company with a 50+ year legacy of success. We were named by Newsweek as a Most Loved Workplace and are included on the Forbes lists for Largest Private Companies and Best Employers for Diversity.

Southern Glazer’s offers a competitive compensation package with expected first year total earnings between $155,000 - $213,000 / year. This salary range is an average range for this position. In determining a final offer, the company will evaluate a specific candidate's education, skills and experience and will make an offer appropriately. 

As a full-time employee, you can choose from a full menu of our Top Shelf Benefits, including comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage, dental and vision plans, tax-saving Flexible Spending Accounts, disability coverage, life insurance plans, and a 401(k) plan. We also offer tuition reimbursement, a wellness program, parental leave, vacation accrual, paid sick leave, and more.

At Southern Glazer’s, you’ll enjoy an environment where continuous learning and growth are supported and experience a culture where you are respected, and your voice is heard. If you’re looking to fill your glass with opportunity, come join our FAMILY.

Overview

The National Senior Director, Labor Relations oversees and directs the national Labor Relations Center of Excellence (COE). This position will collaborate with the Labor & Employment Leadership Team to update and execute the short- and long-term labor relations strategy that aligns with the Company’s goals, objectives, and values. This position will lead and direct the three Regional Labor Relations Directors overseeing the consistent, standard development and implementation of labor relations activities including negotiations, union avoidance/containment, training, Joint Labor Management (JLM) meetings, and advanced steps of the grievance procedure. This position reports directly to the Vice President, Employee and Labor Relations.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead team of Regional Labor Relations Directors handling labor relations activities for their respective regions.
• Partner with labor attorneys and senior business leadership to develop and execute the Company’s labor relations strategies and objectives.
• Provide strategic labor relations advice and guidance to business leaders, ER/LR partners, and Human Resources professionals regarding the Company’s collective bargaining agreements, grievance handling, and managing productive union relationships.
• Attend, participate, and occasionally lead negotiations (end-of-term and interim) with Regional Labor Relations Directors and business leaders. 
• Oversee responses to union organizing campaigns and initiatives.
• Develop and implement labor relations metrics to track the execution and effectiveness of contracts and contract administration, enabling the Company to identify and act on improvement opportunities.
• Create and execute standard labor relations repository for the COE to file, track, and measure labor relations activities.
• Bring practical, creative, and innovative strategies for continued growth and development of the ER/LR COE.

Additional Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee regional negotiations preparation process – data gathering and proposal development and drafting.
• Partner with management and unions to work through complex issues.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with union leaders representing the Company’s organized employees.
• Assist with Joint Labor Management Council Meetings and ad-hoc negotiations of Letters of Understandings and other formal/informal agreements with labor unions.
• Develop union avoidance, positive employee engagement, contract management and administration, and other labor relations training for implementation by regional ER/LR teams.
• Partner with attorneys to respond to NLRB/ULP charges.
• Maintain pulse for employment issues impacting business, labor relations, and future negotiations.
• Assist senior leadership in resolving, coaching, and guiding managers through labor relations issues.
• Carry out all responsibilities in an honest, ethical, and professional manner.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in Business, Employee and Labor Relations (ER/LR), Human Resources (HR) or related field. Advance degree (i.e. LR, MBA, JD) preferred.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in the areas of employee/labor relations, union avoidance, union negotiations, internal investigations, conflict resolution, grievance handling, ad-hoc negotiations, and related matters
• Deep functional depth in various aspects of labor relations including strategy, collective bargaining, union avoidance/containment, and contract administration.
• Experience personally negotiating collective bargaining agreements with labor unions.
• Excellent communication skills – written, verbal, persuasion, motivation, facilitation of strong working relationships
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including the ability to analyze metrics
• Ability to Travel: 25-40%

Physical Demands

• Physical demands include a considerable amount of time sitting and typing/keyboarding, using a computer (e.g., keyboard, mouse, and monitor)
• Physical demands with activity or condition may occasionally include walking, bending, reaching, standing, and stooping
• May require occasional lifting/lowering, pushing, carrying, or pulling up to 20lbs

EEO Statement

Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, an Affirmative Action/EEO employer, prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. SGWS complies with all federal, state and local laws concerning consideration of a qualified applicant's arrest and/or criminal conviction records. Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits provides competitive compensation based on estimated performance level consistent with the past relevant experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education of employees. Unless otherwise expressly stated, any pay ranges posted here are estimates from outside of Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits and do not reflect Southern Glazer's pay bands or ranges.