Labor Relations Division Director (Human Resources Division Director)

Salary : $118,646.94 - $225,429.15 Annually
Location : FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01717
Department: Human Resources
Opening Date: 11/07/2026
Closing Date: 11/27/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: M03
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

This position manages and directs the labor relations division in the Department of Human Resources. Program activities include negotiation of collective bargaining agreements; contract administration and interpretation, and guidance/coordination of related management activities consistent with the mission of the county and the direction of the Board of Supervisors. Serves as a key contributor to development and maintenance of comprehensive Human Resources policies and strategies. Works under the direction of the Director of Human Resources and Deputy Director of Talent Management.
Illustrative Duties
(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

Overall Duties of the Class

• Serves as senior advisor to County Executive, Deputy County Executives, Director of Human Resources, and Deputy Directors of Human Resources on matters of policy, procedure and process;
• Supervises a team of senior level professionals performing advanced technical analysis and making decisions about County policies, procedures and processes;
• Serves as countywide lead responding to issues of critical importance including responsibility for managing and coordinating the responses of staff in agencies across the county;
• Coordinates and directs ongoing process improvement initiatives within the County;
• Makes presentations to the Board of Supervisors, citizen groups, and senior management and provides responses to inquires from citizens, press, and others.

Manages a Critical Area

• Responsible for major business areas such as a division or program;
• Develops vision, goals, objectives and performance measures;
• Plans and evaluates operations, programs and staff;
• Oversees budget, internal controls and fiscal operations;
• Oversees technology operations related to business area;
• Develops policy and coordinates policy with senior management team;
• Responsible for customer service;
• Conceptualizes and plans new or improved programs for business area, collaborates with senior management team on interdisciplinary programs.
• Responsible for communication and information dissemination regarding operations, programs, policies and procedures;
• Interprets legislation, regulations and case law that effect business areas, develops compliance strategies, proposes new legislation or changes to existing legislation.

Senior Management Team

• Collaborates with others inside and outside the organization to develop and implement HR policies and programs that support business areas countywide;
• Develops and facilitates interdisciplinary teams and teamwork;
• Represents the county on policy-making committees, teams and task forces;
• Manages department in director's absence.

Provides Consultant Services

• Creates, plans, facilitates, and evaluates strategic change initiatives;
• Develops conceptual solutions to complex problems and issues with countywide implications;
• Acts pro-actively to improve business processes within the organization;
• Serves as subject matter expert for internal and external clients;
• Serves as project manager for new systems and programs in various areas. For example: employee compensation and benefits; organizational training and workforce development; business process engineering; automated systems.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of management principles and practices;
• Knowledge of organizational development;
• Knowledge of consulting principles and practices;
• Knowledge of local government issues, operations and responsibilities;
• Knowledge of human resources issues, operations and responsibilities;
• Knowledge of information technology;
• Knowledge of financial, budget and internal control principles;
• Knowledge of methods of planning and evaluation;
• Ability to formulate the long-term view and direction (vision) for a business area, program or project in the organization;
• Ability to create strategies and plans for achieving that vision;
• Ability to analyze complex issues, processes and operations and develop solutions;
• Ability to manage the staff and operations of a business area, program or project;
• Ability to manage staff and operations using performance measurements;
• Ability to manage change;
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups in a diverse workforce and community;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, coworkers, senior managers, elected officials, members of boards, authorities and commissions, citizens, and representatives from other organizations;
• Ability to work as a team member or leader and develop teamwork in others;
• Highly developed skills in creative thinking;
• Highly developed skills in leadership;
• Highly developed skills in problem solving;
• Highly developed skills in oral and written communication;
• Highly developed skills in interpersonal relationships;
• Highly developed skills in collaboration;
• Highly developed skills in decision making.

Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in personnel administration, public administration, or a related field, plus six years of HR experience, including two years of experience as a Senior HR Consultant, program/project manager, or operations supervisor. A master's degree may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in public administration, business administration, human resources, or a related field; or a Doctor of Jurisprudence (law degree) from an accredited law school.
• Seven (7) years of experience in labor/employee relations and litigation, preferably in the public sector, which must have substantial experience as a primary negotiator in management-union contracts.
• Professional Human Resources certification.

The ideal candidate will understand, value, and appreciate the variety of opinions and positions of both labor and management; have previous experience in public sector collective bargaining, especially with contracts subject to binding arbitration; must be an effective, strategic negotiator proficient in building trust; identifying interests, not positions; and finding options for a path forward collaboratively.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 15 - 20 lbs. This position typically operates in an office environment, and duties are generally sedentary in nature. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:Panel interview; may include exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including ) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate the major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Human resources management
• Public administration
• Industrial/labor relations
• Industrial/organizational psychology
• Business administration
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

How many years of full-time equivalent professional human resources experience do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten or more years

06

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have as a Senior HR Consultant, program/project manager, or operations supervisor?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level, specialized experience do you possess as a senior analyst within the specialized area of labor relations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

08

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you possess managing a labor relations program in the public sector?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

09

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you possess negotiating labor agreements?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

10

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you possess researching, analyzing, and recommending policy in the areas of Human Resources and/or labor relations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years