Position PurposeThe Senior Labor Relations Partner serves as the organization's primary expert on labor relations, providing strategic and tactical guidance in a unionized, regulated utility environment. This individual contributor role leads labor relations activities, advises leaders on collective bargaining agreement interpretation and application, and partners closely with unions to support stable, respectful labor-management relationships. The role also provides flexible support across employee relations and employee experience initiatives, ensuring continuity and balanced expertise across the team.
Core ResponsibilitiesNote: This is not an all-inclusive listing.
- Serve as the primary labor relations advisor supporting a workforce with multiple collective bargaining agreements
- Lead day-to-day labor relations activities, including contract interpretation, grievance management, and labor-management meetings
- Provide guidance to leaders on discipline, performance management, and workplace issues within the context of labor agreements
- Support preparation and execution of collective bargaining activities in collaboration with HR leadership and legal counsel
- Monitor labor trends, arbitration outcomes, and contractual issues to identify risks and inform strategy
- Partner with Employee Relations to ensure consistency between labor agreements, employment policies, and management practices
- Provide employee relations support as needed, including investigations, conflict resolution, and policy interpretation
- Pinch hit on employee experience and engagement initiatives by advising on workforce sentiment, trust, and labor impacts
- Advise leaders on respectful labor-management practices and effective communication with represented employees
- Collaborate with Human Resources, Legal, Safety, and Operations to align labor strategies with organizational objectives
- Ensure labor relations practices comply with labor laws, collective bargaining agreements, and internal standards
Behavioral CompetenciesNote: These are in addition to MGE's Core Competencies.
- Manages Conflict - Effectively navigates high-risk, sensitive labor situations
- Judgment and Decision Making - Applies sound judgment in complex labor and employee matters
- Builds Effective Relationships - Establishes credibility and trust with union leaders and stakeholders
- Manages Complexity - Balances operational needs, labor agreements, and regulatory considerations
- Courage - Addresses difficult labor and employee issues with professionalism and confidence
- Communicates Effectively - Delivers clear, calm, and purposeful communication in challenging situations
Skills- Labor Relations - Advanced; leads contract administration, grievance resolution, and labor-management interactions
- Collective Bargaining Agreement Interpretation - Advanced; applies contractual language accurately and consistently
- Employee Relations - Proficient; supports investigations, discipline, and conflict resolution when needed
- Stakeholder Influence & Advisory Skills - Advanced; advises leaders with confidence and credibility
- Regulatory & Legal Awareness - Proficient; understands labor law considerations in a regulated utility environment
- Employee Experience & Engagement Awareness - Proficient; assesses workforce sentiment and supports engagement efforts
Education- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business, or a related field
Experience- 7-10 years of experience in labor relations or human resources, including significant experience working with unionized workforces and administering collective bargaining agreements
- Experience in a regulated or capital-intensive environment preferred
Work Location- This hybrid role is based at our Madison, WI headquarters. While three days onsite is the minimum, team collaboration and business needs may require additional in-office presence.
