Director of Labor Relations

Job Description

About the company

Albertsons Companies is at the forefront of the revolution in retail. With a fixation on raising the bar with innovation and building belonging through our culture, our team is rallying our company around a unique purpose: to create joy around each table and inspire a healthier tomorrow for every community.

Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with over 2,200 stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Our well-known banners include Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets, and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. We support our stores with 22 distribution centers and 19 manufacturing plants.

Placing a premium on adaptability, safety and family well-being, our work model, Presence with a Purpose, offers a hybrid work environment between remote work and office time. A one-size-fits-all approach does not apply to everyone, and teams are empowered to make decisions best for them.

Bring your flavor

Building the future of food and well-being starts with you. Join our team and bring your best self to the table. #LI-AL1

What you will be doing

The Director of Labor Relations is responsible for managing, negotiating, administering, and implementing contracts, agreements, bargaining/negotiations and collective bargaining agreements for 1-2 specific geographic Divisions in the western United States. This role also regularly handles traditional labor questions/issues, union organizing, interpretation of complex contract terms, policies or rules, discipline/employment related issues as well as serving as a trustee on Taft-Hartley pension and healthcare trust funds. This role further supervises a team of Labor Relations Managers in their direct interaction with local unions and local business units. Finally, this role serves as a liaison between the Senior Leadership in the Divisions and the Local Unions regarding all aspects of our business, including technological advances, new business initiatives, changes in the law, efforts to make our business stronger and more viable as well as changes and/or modifications to terms and conditions of employment for our unionized associates.

The position will be based in Chicago, IL.

Main responsibilities

• Work with union representatives to ensure proper administration of contracts.
• Supervise team of Labor Relations Managers in their direct interaction with Local unions, unionized associates, and Division Leadership.
• Work with management to determine the needs of the business (quality, safety, performance, etc.) and work with union representatives to work towards an agreement. This includes drafting initial proposals and reviewing union requests and feedback. Must negotiate terms that best satisfy the needs of our employees and overall business. Once terms have been agreed upon work on putting together the final contract and communicating the terms to all management and employees as applicable.
• Act as the subject matter expert on contracts and manage and handle all escalated employee issues or problems related to the interpretation of the contracts. Negotiate and resolve difficult problems including discharge and termination of employees. Partner closely with Human Resources Directors/Vice Presidents for Divisions as needed to manage and administer any resolutions. Provide strategic direction and manage precedent setting issues or cases that come up that could have a significant impact to the business and operations.
• Jointly manage trusts between labor, management, and third-party service providers. Work with actuaries to determine projected costs and associated expenses to administer and fund different health and disability plan options. Identify and select a contract with third party negotiators (benefit providers, clinics) that will handle the payment and administration of the benefits. Review the benefit financial statements on a quarterly basis and audit/ monitor these accounts to ensure expenses are in line with expectations and that the trusts are properly funded.
• Collaborate closely with management and ensure that contract terms and rules are properly adhered to.
• Partner with unions daily to manage day-to-day issues and ongoing contract negotiations. Work with federal and state regulators on compliance and employer requirement standards and laws. Federal and local agencies include DOL, FLSA, ERISA, ADA HIPAA and the EEOC, etc.
• Works closely with payroll and other administrative departments to ensure proper interpretation and enforcement of collective bargaining agreements.
• Travel - up to 50%

A copy of the full job description can be made available to you.

What we are searching for

• Juris Doctorate (JD) and current member of state bar strongly preferred.
• Five years plus years of experience at a Labor & Employment law firm and/or equivalent experience leading Union negotiations.
• Excellent writing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work in cross functional teams and to work towards a consensus.
• Knowledge of business operations with the ability to see the long-term. objectives and goals Superior writing and contract development skills required.
• Legal knowledge as it relates to writing and interpreting contracts.
• Ability to diplomatically deal with difficult external groups and unions that have completely different objectives Ability to partner with management to determine the business needs and ensure that these areas are captured in the contracts.
• Knowledge of pension and benefit programs and how they are administered and what they typically cost.
• Knowledge of jointly managed trusts and how to set them up, administer them and ensure they are performing according to the terms of the agreement.
• Knowledge of federal and state requirements and agencies including DOL, EEOC, HIPAA, ADA, etc.

What is it like at Albertsons?

Our 290,000 associates have a passion for great service and building lasting relationships with our customers. Through a companywide focus on innovation, we are continually enhancing our digital and product offerings, making it easy for customers to get what they need, wherever they are.

Albertsons is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, or on any other basis prohibited by law. Consistent with applicable state and local law, the Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We endeavor to make this site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us at [redacted](option #4).