Employee & Labor Relations Manager
4 days ago
Portland
Job Description Position Title: Employee & Labor Relations Manager Status: Full-Time/Exempt Reports To: Human Resources Officer Compensation: $70,000 - $79,000 DOE, plus benefits Location: Portland, OR or Fully Remote Application Deadline: October 28th, 2025 (may be extended) About the Organization: Lines for Life is a regional non-profit that is dedicated to preventing substance abuse and suicide. We offer help and hope to individuals and communities, and promote mental health for all. Our work addresses a spectrum of needs that include intervention, prevention, and advocacy. We educate, train, and advocate to prevent issues of substance abuse, mental illness, and thoughts of suicide from reaching crisis levels. But when a crisis arises or support is needed, we are available 24/7/365 to intervene with personalized help. Employee & Labor Relations Manager Position Summary: Lines for Life is seeking to hire an experienced human resources professional with experience working in a union environment to manage employee and labor relations activities at Lines for Life under the direction of the Human Resources Officer and collaborate with the Human Resources Team on Human Resources Initiatives with the goal of ensuring compliance, inspiring and developing Lines for Life’s staff, promoting employee wellness, and continuing to improve the work environment. Employee & Labor Relations Manager Responsibilities: • Managing Employee Relations:, • Conduct stay interviews, exit interviews, and organizational surveys in collaboration with the Human Resources Assistant to gather information from employees, summarize and analyze trends, and provide recommendations to Lines for Life Leadership and the Human Resources team to improve the work environment., • Oversee the process for review and resolution of informal and formal employee grievances and complaints., • Conduct timely and fair workplace investigations and provide recommendations for the appropriate course of action., • Advise employees and supervisors on workplace matters utilizing human resources best practices and in compliance with organizational policies and procedures., • Support timely and relevant Human Resources Communications to employees and assist with continuously improve the HR Helpdesk system to improve the timeliness in meeting the HR needs of employees., • Labor Relations:, • Provide project management of the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements and side letter agreements., • Represent the organization in labor negotiations and arbitrations as part of a team. Uses appropriate negotiation strategies to develop bargaining goals and negotiate contracts consistent with Lines for Life’s mission, values, and goals., • Train supervisors on labor relations and policies., • Interpret the labor contract and provide guidance to managers and employees on sensitive labor matters including grievance and arbitration procedures, performance issues, and disciplinary actions., • Facilitate ongoing communications and working relationships with union council representatives, stewards, management and employees about labor relations topics., • Develop agendas and help to lead Labor Management Committee Meetings, publish meeting minutes on SharePoint and provide project management of the implementation of management’s action items., • Prepare responses to requests for information from the union, including helping to maintain employee personnel files and records., • Maintain knowledge of employee and labor relations trends, legal decisions, and statutory changes including through consulting with a labor relations attorney., • Conduct research necessary to support contract negotiations and employee relations., • HR Policy and Procedures:, • In collaboration with the Human Resources Officer and HR Manager, develop and review HR policies and procedures and ensure compliance with national, state, and local employment laws, labor laws, and regulations., • Ensure consistency in the application of HR policies and collective bargaining agreements., • Educate supervisors and employees on employment laws and workplace policies., • Performance Management:, • Provide project management of annual performance reviews, which are due within 60 days of an employee’s work anniversary date., • Advise and counsel managers on HR best practices within performance management., • Manage disciplinary actions and progressive discipline processes and provide oversight to ensure consistency., • Other Duties:, • Collaborate with Human Resources staff and other departments on special projects and initiatives., • May be asked to support with ADA and leave of absence or benefits topics when the primary HR contact is out of the office or at capacity., • Manages the process to investigate and respond to any complaints received from the EEOC, Bureau of Labor or other agencies., • Participates in the development and delivery of management training programs designed to advance the human resources skills of Lines for Life management., • Performs other related duties as assigned. Employee & Labor Relations Manager Required Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field or relevant experience in lieu of a degree., • Five years progressively responsible, professional experience in collective bargaining and labor relations activities, including supervisory experience. Experience must include leading contract administration, grievance processing, performance management, and disciplinary activities, as well as facilitating ongoing communication and working relationships with employee representative organizations and other organizational stakeholders., • Knowledge of:, • Principles and practices of employee and labor relations, collective bargaining and employment laws;, • Human Resources theories, practices, and techniques;, • Supervisory principles;, • Cultural humility; and, • Project management principles., • Skills in:, • Practical application of collective bargaining and employment laws;, • Effective written and oral communications, listening, presentation, group facilitation; influencing, and negotiations;, • Application of processes for influencing performance management;, • Effective use of mediation and conflict resolution techniques;, • Utilizing Microsoft Office 365 (including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Forms); Human Resource Information Systems (ADP TotalSource); and HR helpdesk systems; and, • Effective project and time management., • Ability to:, • Reconcile employee and labor relations issues;, • Work with diverse staff and engage in sensitive topics, including crisis intervention and mental health;, • Manage multiple complex projects concurrently. Employee & Labor Relations Manager Preferred Qualifications: • PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification preferred. Work Schedule, Environment, and Physical Requirements • This position typically works Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm, and upon request, occasionally working early mornings, evenings, and weekends to meet with swing, overnight, and weekend crisis lines staff., • This position can work remotely from home so long as telecommuting requirements can be met, including having a secure internet connection with adequate speed and a private, HIPAA compliant workspace, or it can also work from the Portland, office., • This position requires the ability to sit and/or stand at a computer for extended periods of time., • This position will have frequent interruptions and requires the ability to reprioritize as new requests come in. Compensation Package: The starting salary for this position is $70,000 - $79,000, depending on relevant education, trainings and experience. Lines for Life offers a great benefits package valued at over $9500 which includes health, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance benefits; a matching 401k plan; a flexible spending plan; an employees assistance program; and a free Fitbit tracker. This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company. EEO: Lines for Life strives to create a diverse, inclusive environment to better represent the communities that we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer. Lines for Life shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. However, it shall not be a violation of this clause for Lines for Life to extend a publicly announced preference in employment to Indians living on or near an Indian reservation, in connection with employment opportunities on or near an Indian reservation, as permitted by 41 CFR 60-1.5. All Lines for Life employees must be approved to work by the Oregon Department of Human Services’ Background Check Unit. Background checks are completed after a conditional offer of employment has been extended.