Director of Labor Relations

Position: Unifi seeks an experienced labor relations professional to join its growing legal team to provide collective-bargaining and general labor relations guidance and assistance to Unifi’s operators and professionals throughout the country. The position is part of the Legal Department and reports directly to the General Counsel, but the position will interact frequently with members of the Human Resources and Finance Departments. The position will also collaborate with multiple operational leaders on strategic labor matters.

The position must use knowledge, experience, and skills in labor relations to address and resolve highly complex issues in accordance with Unifi’s policies and labor relations mission. The position requires excellent analytical skills, written and oral communication skills, and the ability to effectively interface with internal and external stakeholders and clients. Building and maintaining strong professional relationships with union personnel is a must. 

The Unifi team administers approximately 34 labor agreements covering 6000 employees across the country for Unifi and its affiliated entities.

Responsibilities

Responsible for administering highly complex collective bargaining agreements and for interpreting the agreements. Research and establish bargaining goals, strategies, and objectives, including the issues to be covered, the language goals and parameters, and the balance between management rights and employee rights, and represent Unifi in all phases of bargaining. Advise Unifi managers and HR professionals on labor relations implications relating to complex individual and company-wide issues or courses of action. Identify contract issues requiring research, development, and decision-making, covering the full span of HR issues, (e.g., discipline, hours of work) and potential incorporation into long-range strategy and/or negotiations objectives. Contribute to the development of model contract language that can be included in a labor agreement. Assist with contract implementation following execution of negotiated agreement. Work independently with local management to ensure that negotiation objectives comply with strategic goals and applicable laws and regulations. Apply advanced understanding of labor relations concepts to pursue Unifi’s objectives during informal negotiations and at the bargaining table. Establish and maintain on-going rapport with union leadership to understand contract application concerns and ensure early resolution when possible. Comprehend union strategic objectives and work with unions to determine possible harmonization into Unifi strategies. Work in a highly collaborative manner with diverse client groups across the Company, external contacts, and members of Unifi management at all levels on various issues. Advise Unifi colleagues on requests for information and other projects and topics. Drive final resolution of escalated and/or exceptional policy issues. Initiate appropriate action and coordination to resolve significant, escalated, or exceptional policy issues. Promote internal and external organizational teamwork using collaborative problem-solving skills. Provide clear and timely implementation documents for represented employees that meet the operational needs of the Company. Lead and/or participate on teams to address issues as appropriate. Oversee implementation of approved policy changes and labor agreements. Develop and maintain familiarity with market and HR trends, and recommend changes to policies and programs. Manage grievance and arbitration proceedings. Work with the HR team and internal/external counsel, assisting in all labor relations activity including grievance processing and job action activity. Provide expert policy and contract guidance to Company representatives to ensure local compliance with strategic goals set forth in policies and as achieved through contract negotiations. Obtain working understanding of commitments made at the bargaining table in the achievement of strategic objectives, and incorporate into training materials and compliance analysis.

Qualifications & Skills

5+ years of labor relations experience Advanced knowledge of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) and National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), as well as the principles and techniques of labor negotiations Excellent written and oral communication skills that will be reflected in contract negotiations, contract drafting, management training, responding to union information requests, and union grievances. Advanced understanding of the collective bargaining process and collective bargaining agreement administration, including but not limited to grievance and arbitration, and negotiations. The ability to work independently and with minimal supervision on multiple projects at one time. Must be able to advise, lead, and collaborate with company stakeholders, internal and external attorneys, and union contacts to develop and execute agreements.

 

Benefits include 401k matching and flight benefits on Delta Air Lines.