Position OverviewThe Manager of Labor Relations will lead the organization's labor strategy across a nationwide full-service maintenance and capital construction business specializing in mechanical and electrical solutions. This role serves as the company's primary expert on union relations, collective bargaining, contract administration, and labor-risk mitigation. The Manager partners closely with Operations, HR, Legal, and senior leadership to drive consistent and compliant labor practices that enable safe, efficient, and profitable project delivery across all regions.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and execute a comprehensive labor relations strategy that supports company objectives and aligns with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
- Lead collective bargaining negotiations with multiple trade unions across mechanical, electrical, and related skilled trades.
- Interpret, administer, and enforce collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), ensuring consistent application across operating regions.
- Advise senior leaders and project management teams on labor issues, including jurisdictional challenges, grievances, staffing models, and project labor agreements (PLAs).
- Manage the grievance and arbitration process, including case assessment, documentation, and representation.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with union leadership, industry associations, and workforce development partners.
- Monitor industry trends, prevailing wage requirements, and labor-market dynamics to anticipate risk and inform workforce planning.
- Provide guidance on workforce deployment strategies to support project schedules, bid competitiveness, and margin protection.
- Ensure compliance with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Davis-Bacon Act, state wage laws, and other labor standards relevant to multi-state operations.
- Partner with HR and Operations to design and implement training for leaders on labor practices, union-management relations, and issue mitigation.
- Support bid preparation and project planning by providing labor input, including union requirements, labor cost impacts, and field-staffing implications.
- Oversee labor-relations documentation, reporting, and record-keeping.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business, or related field.
- 10+ years of labor relations experience, ideally within construction, mechanical/electrical contracting, or other unionized skilled-trade environments.
- Demonstrated success in negotiating and administering CBAs across multiple unions and jurisdictions.
- Strong knowledge of federal and state labor laws, wage-and-hour regulations, and industry labor standards.
- Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to translate complex labor requirements into practical guidance for field and operational leaders.
- Willingness to travel nationally to support regional operations and union negotiations.
What Success Looks Like in This Role- Stable, constructive relationships with union partners.
- Reduced labor-related risk, grievances, and cost exposure.
- Strong collaboration with Operations to ensure field teams are staffed effectively and contracts are executed smoothly.
- Improved consistency and compliance across all labor-related processes nationwide.
Physical Work Environment- Primarily remote office environment requiring extended periods of computer use, sitting, and virtual communication
- Periodic travel to project sites, fabrication facilities, and vendor locations
- Exposure to active construction zones, heavy equipment, industrial noise, and moving machinery during site visits
- Walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, and navigating large or complex industrial facilities
- Occasional need to stand or walk for extended periods during inspections, tours, or meetings
- Requirement to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, protective footwear, high-visibility clothing, and hearing protection
- Exposure to variable outdoor weather conditions when visiting construction or laydown areas
- Must comply with all company, regulatory, and site-specific safety protocols
