ONEOK Energy Services

Labor Relations Partner - Senior

ONEOK Energy Services • $116K — $174K *
Tulsa, OK 74133In-Person
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in human resources, labor relations, business administration, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
  • Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
  • 7-10 years of relevant experience in labor relations or HR functions in a unionized environment is required.
  • Experience with collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate complex labor matters and support labor strategy initiatives.

Responsibilities

  • Lead administration and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements across the business.
  • Support collective bargaining activities, including proposal evaluation and strategy development.
  • Manage the grievance and arbitration process from intake to resolution.
  • Conduct proactive labor relations risk assessments and advise on mitigation strategies.
  • Serve as a liaison between labor representatives, leadership, HR, and legal stakeholders.
  • Oversee contract administration activities for represented employees.
  • Partner with HR Business Partners to provide strategic labor relations guidance.

Benefits

  • Certification in HR or employee relations (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP) preferred.
  • Opportunities for professional development and training.
  • Access to employee assistance programs.
  • Flexible work environment and workplace assessments for engagement improvement.
Full Job Description
JOB SUMMARY

Job Profile Summary
This role is responsible for leading and supporting labor relations strategy, including contract administration and collective bargaining activities, while serving as a key liaison across the business, HR, legal, and external counsel. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in union environments and a proven ability to navigate complex labor matters with sound judgment and a solutions-oriented approach. This individual will play a critical role in fostering productive relationships between labor and management, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws, and advising leaders on risk mitigation and labor strategy. In addition, the Senior Labor Relations Partner will support the Employee Relations function by leading high-priority workplace investigations and organizational climate assessments, contributing to a fair, consistent, and positive employee experience.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities
  • Lead the administration and ongoing interpretation of collective bargaining agreements, ensuring consistent application and compliance with contractual obligations across the business.
  • Support and participate in collective bargaining activities, including preparation, strategy development, proposal evaluation, and coordination with internal stakeholders and external counsel.
  • Manage the grievance and arbitration process end-to-end, including intake, investigation, documentation, resolution, and partnership with legal counsel on arbitration proceedings.
  • Conduct proactive labor relations risk assessments, identifying potential issues and advising leaders on mitigation strategies to reduce organizational risk and maintain positive labor-management relations.
  • Serve as a key liaison between labor representatives, leadership, HR, Legal, and external partners, ensuring alignment and effective communication across all stakeholders.
  • Oversee and support contract administration activities related to represented employees, including payroll-related coordination, seniority list management, and adherence to contract provisions tied to workforce processes.
  • Partner with HR Business Partners and business leaders to provide strategic labor relations guidance, including contract interpretation, workforce planning considerations, and employee communications.
  • Lead complex workplace investigations involving represented and non-represented employees, ensuring fair, thorough, and timely resolution in alignment with company policies and legal requirements.
  • Conduct organizational climate assessments and support action planning efforts to address workplace concerns, improve engagement, and strengthen labor-management relationships.
  • Recommend and support the administration of corrective action, up to and including termination, ensuring alignment with company policies, past practice, and collective bargaining agreement provisions.


Education
  • Bachelor's Degree in human resources, labor relations, business administration or related field, or an equivalent combination of formal education and the following job-related experience
  • Master's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field


Work Experience
  • 7 - 10 years of relevant experience in labor relations, employee relations, or related HR functions required. Experience should include work in a unionized environment, with exposure to collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance processes. Demonstrated ability to navigate complex labor matters, partner effectively with business and legal stakeholders, and support or lead labor strategy initiatives is preferred. Experience conducting workplace investigations or supporting employee relations matters is also preferred.


Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Skills in: labor Relations Expertise: Deep knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, contract interpretation, grievance procedures, and arbitration processes within a unionized environment.
  • Ability to: navigate Complex Labor Matters: Applies sound judgment and experience to manage sensitive labor issues, balancing business objectives with contractual and legal obligations.
  • Ability to: collaborate Cross-Functionally: Effectively partners with Labor (GWC), Legal, HR Business Partners, leadership, and external counsel to align on strategy and execution.
  • Ability to: influence and Advise Leaders: Provides credible, strategic counsel to leaders at all levels on labor relations risks, contract interpretation, and employee engagement in a union environment.
  • Ability to: build and Maintain Relationships: Establishes trust with union representatives, frontline employees, and leadership, fostering productive labor-management relationships.
  • Skills in: collective Bargaining Support: Demonstrates experience preparing for and supporting negotiations, including data analysis, proposal development, and coordination of stakeholders.
  • Ability to: manage Grievance and Arbitration Processes: Leads end-to-end grievance handling with strong investigative, documentation, and resolution capabilities; partners effectively with legal on arbitration strategy.
  • Skills in: risk Assessment and Mitigation: Identifies labor-related risks proactively and develops practical, compliant solutions to minimize exposure and drive consistency.
  • Skills in: investigation and Fact-Finding: Conducts complex workplace investigations with neutrality, ensuring findings are based on facts, evidence, past practice, and contract provisions.
  • Ability to: interpret and Apply Contracts: Translates complex CBA language into clear guidance for leaders and HR, ensuring consistent application across the organization.
  • Skills in: analytical Thinking: Uses data (grievances, arbitrations, workforce trends) to identify patterns, inform strategy, and support decision-making.
  • Skills in: communication: Communicates clearly and effectively in both written and verbal formats, including drafting grievance responses, summaries, and executive-level briefings.
  • Ability to: respectfully Challenge: Confidently challenges assumptions or decisions that may create risk or inconsistency, offering constructive, solutions-oriented perspectives.
  • Ability to: adapt and Manage Ambiguity: Remains effective in dynamic labor environments, managing multiple priorities such as active grievances, investigations, and bargaining preparation.


Licenses and Certifications
  • Certification in HR or employee relations (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP) preferred


Strength Factor Rating - Physical Demands/Requirements
  • Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.


Strength Factor Description - Physical Demands/Requirements
  • Standing: Remaining on one's feet in an upright position at a work station without moving about (Occasionally)
  • Walking: Moving about on foot (Frequently)
  • Sitting: Remaining in a seated position (Constantly)
  • Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling) (Occasionally)
  • Carrying: Transporting an object, usually holding it in the hands or arms, or on the shoulder (Occasionally)
  • Pushing: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (Occasionally)
  • Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking) (Occasionally)
  • Climbing: Ladders, Stairs (Occasionally)
  • Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling (Occasionally)
  • Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist (Occasionally)
  • Kneeling: Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees (Occasionally)
  • Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine (Occasionally)
  • Crawling: Moving about on the hands and arms in any direction (Occasionally)
  • Reaching: Extending hands and arms in any direction (Constantly)
  • Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with the hand or hands (Manual Dexterity) (Constantly)
  • Fingering: Picking, pinching or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (Finger Dexterity) (Constantly)
  • Feeling: Perceiving such attributes of objects/materials as size, shape, temperature, texture, movement or pulsation by receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips (Constantly)
  • Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas/information by means of the spoken word (Frequently)
  • Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sound by the ear (Frequently)
  • Tasting/Smelling: (Occasionally)
  • Near Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less (Constantly)
  • Far Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 feet for more (Frequently)
  • Depth Perception: Three-dimensional vision; ability to judge distances and spatial relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are (Frequently)
  • Vision: Color - The ability to identify and distinguish colors (Constantly)


Working Conditions/Environment
  • Employee is subject to inside environmental conditions


Working Conditions
  • Well lighted, climate controlled areas (Constantly)
  • Frequent repetitive motion (Constantly)
  • CRT (Computer Monitor(s)) (Constantly)


Travel
  • Travel to other locations and job sites out-of-doors required


Driving
  • Based on assigned tasks, employee may be assigned a company vehicle requiring the applicable driver's license


Expected Salary Range
$116,000.00 - $174,000.00

About ONEOK Energy Services

ONEOK is a publicly-traded limited partnership engaged in natural gas liquids, natural gas pipelines, and natural gas gathering and processing. It is a Fortune 500 company and is included in Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Stock Index. Originally founded in 1906 as an intrastate natural gas pipeline business in Oklahoma, today ONEOK is one of the nation's premier energy companies involved in the natural gas and natural gas liquids businesses. Its business segments provide safe, reliable energy and services to their diverse customers. By following a strategy that blends the performance and profitability of all of the segments, ONEOK is able to deliver sustainable earnings growth for shareholders. ONEOK’s success is driven by employees who strive to better not only their company but also the communities in which they live.

ONEOK Energy Services Careers

Join the dynamic team at ONEOK Energy Services, a leader in the energy sector, and propel your career to new heights in an environment that fosters growth, innovation, and leadership. As one of the premier energy companies, ONEOK offers a range of job opportunities that allow professionals to excel in their fields and contribute to a sustainable energy future.

Work You’ll Do

At ONEOK Energy Services, you will engage in meaningful work that directly impacts our company and the industry. Our team is at the forefront of the energy sector, leading projects that enhance how energy is produced, distributed, and consumed. Your role within our company will position you at the intersection of energy solutions and technological advancement, driving change and delivering results that matter.

Innovative Work Environment

Embrace the opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the energy sector. Our team of over 10,000 dedicated professionals is committed to fostering an atmosphere of innovation and excellence. At ONEOK, you will leverage cutting-edge technology and deep industry expertise to deliver high-impact solutions across various markets.

Career Development and Growth

ONEOK Energy Services is committed to the professional growth of its employees. Whether you are just starting your career or are a seasoned professional, ONEOK provides unparalleled career advancement opportunities, including professional development programs, leadership training, and diversity initiatives. Our robust training programs are designed to enhance your skills and prepare you for leadership roles within the company.

Join Our Team

Explore the wide range of job opportunities at ONEOK Energy Services, from entry-level positions to executive roles. We are hiring talented individuals who are passionate about the energy industry and eager to make a difference. Our team values diversity, and we strive to create an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with an internship at ONEOK Energy Services. Our internships provide hands-on experience in real-world projects that prepare you for a successful career in the energy sector. Interns at ONEOK gain valuable industry insights and have the opportunity to network with professionals and leaders within the company.

Benefits and Culture

ONEOK Energy Services offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees and their families. Our company culture promotes teamwork, integrity, and respect—values that are integral to our corporate identity and business approach.

Stay Connected

Stay up-to-date with the latest from ONEOK Energy Services by joining our career network. Receive job alerts, read about our latest projects, and gain insider tips that can help you during the interview process and beyond. Customize your preferences to see how your skills and interests align with potential job opportunities at ONEOK.

Apply Now

Ready to take the next step in your career? Search open positions that match your skills and interests on our Jobs page. We look for driven, curious, and innovative team players who are ready to make an impact. Submit your resume, prepare for your interview, and join a company that values your unique contributions.

Explore ONEOK Energy Services Careers

Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities waiting for you at ONEOK Energy Services. Let your ambition lead you to success in a company that is as committed to your career as you are. Join us and be part of a team that is reshaping the energy landscape. [SEARCH ONEOK JOBS](#) [READ CAREERS BLOG](#) [JOB ALERT EMAILS](#)
Learn more about ONEOK Energy Services
Size
2,847 employees
Market Cap
$28.8 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
$612.8 million
Founded
1988
5 Year Trend
+13.1%
Revenue
$8.5 billion
NASDAQ
OKE
* Ladders Estimates

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