The Associate Vice President (AVP) of Labor Relations is a people manager and senior practitioner responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the Labor Relations function at Temple University Health System (TUHS) and its affiliated entities, including Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC), Temple Physicians Inc., and Temple Faculty Practice Plan. Reporting to the Vice President of Labor & Employee Relations, the AVP directly supervises a team of Labor Relations Managers and Specialists, providing coaching, workload oversight, quality review, and professional development.
In addition to managing the team, the AVP serves as a hands-on subject matter resource for complex collective bargaining support, contract administration, grievance and arbitration management, and labor-management relations. This role requires a seasoned labor relations professional who combines strong technical expertise with the supervisory skill to build a high-performing, service-oriented team operating across a large, multi-union health system.
This role requires deep expertise in healthcare labor law, union negotiations, grievance arbitration, and workforce strategy.
- Lead and develop the Labor Relations team, including workload management, case assignment, coaching, performance oversight, and escalation support for complex labor matters.
- Direct the administration and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements across represented employee groups, ensuring consistency, compliance, and alignment with organizational objectives.
- Partner with the VP of Labor & Employee Relations in collective bargaining strategy, preparation, negotiations, contract implementation, and labor cost analysis; serve as lead negotiator for designated bargaining units as assigned.
- Oversee the grievance and arbitration process, including strategy development, case preparation, risk assessment, trend analysis, and resolution of high-risk or precedent-setting matters.
- Foster constructive labor-management relationships through ongoing engagement with union representatives, participation in labor-management committees, and proactive issue resolution.
- Monitor labor relations trends, identify organizational risks, and provide guidance to HR and operational leaders regarding contract compliance, workforce changes, bargaining obligations, and employee relations concerns.
- Ensure compliance with the National Labor Relations Act, applicable state and federal labor laws, accreditation requirements, and organizational policies; coordinate responses to labor agency inquiries and legal proceedings as needed.
- Develop labor relations metrics, reporting, and training initiatives to strengthen manager capability, improve contract compliance, and support organizational effectiveness.
Required Education & Experience - Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Industrial Relations, or a related field required; Master's degree (MLHR, MHRM, JD, or MBA) preferred.
- Minimum of 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in employee and/or labor relations, with demonstrated expertise in contract administration, grievance management, and collective bargaining support.
- Minimum of 3 years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
- Experience supporting arbitration cases through hearing, including witness preparation and evidence organization.
Knowledge, Skills & Competencies - Working knowledge of the NLRA, Pennsylvania labor relations statutes, and relevant federal employment law (FMLA, ADA, ADEA, FLSA).
- Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of labor relations professionals across varied complexity and experience levels.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret workforce data, develop contract costing, and track and present grievance metrics.
- Clear and effective written communication; ability to draft grievance responses, MOUs, management guidance, and team-facing documentation.
- Sound judgment and strong conflict resolution skills; able to de-escalate sensitive situations while maintaining firm organizational positioning.
- Highly organized with strong attention to detail; able to manage team workload and multiple active cases across competing deadlines.
- Collaborative leadership style; skilled at coaching others, building trust, and operating constructively within a defined reporting structure.
- High degree of professional integrity and discretion in handling sensitive employee and organizational information.
Licenses Sr Prof in Human Resources Preferred or SHRM - SCP Preferred
