Sr Labor/Employee Relations Specialist

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

The Sr Labor/Employee Relations Specialist works under the Director, Human Resources to resolve employee relations issues, such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency promptly. This role conducts daily operations including investigations, mediations, and administration of company policies and procedures related to employee relations, performance management, and workplace conduct, resolve employee relations issues, such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency promptly. Additionally, the role stays updated on trends and industry practices within the employee relations domain, collaborates with teams to implement training programs, and ensures compliance with policies. The role maintains accurate and confidential employee records and data related to employee relations matters.

***Must reside in or be ready to relocate to Virginia***

Main Duties:

• Provides accurate and timely advice, guidance, and support on the interpretation of collective agreements to management and collaborates with the legal department to ensure compliance with legal obligations under collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws.
• Promotes early dispute resolution objectives to identify and reduce potential conflict, coaches management for issue resolution.
• Participates and supports the handling of the grievance and arbitration process.
• In collaboration with the legal department, serve as an advocate in administrative proceedings for the Company.
• Assists in the development of the negotiation strategy that includes economic and non-economic impacts of the CBA
• Maintains a comprehensive library of all CBAs, negotiation schedules, strategy briefs, grievance & arbitration logs, etc.
• Assists in the preparation of the negotiation strategy package to submit for corporate leadership approval
• Conducts thorough and compliant labor relations investigations.
• Fosters effective relationships with the CWC team, Human resources team, Union, and Representatives.
• Provides training and information sessions for stakeholders on labor relations matters.
• Maintains in-depth knowledge of applicable employment and labor laws, reducing risk and ensuring regulatory compliance
• Responsible for achieving goals around driving organizational mission, strategic labor relations initiatives, continuous improvement, and the professional development of others and self.
• Works closely with the Human Resources Team, assigned business units, and legal to continuously improve service delivery.
• May serve as a lead or team member on special project teams.
• Proactively analyzes and interprets complex employee data to provide solutions to employee labor relations matters that have an impact on operations.
• In conjunction with the legal department, provides expert legal advice on labor relations matters to management.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field; equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 5+ years minimum of practical experience in human resources, union relationships, negotiating contracts, and investigating grievances.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the hospitality field.
• Experience with case management technology.
• Legal experience and/or degree.

Key Skills / Competencies:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to influence others on policies, practices, and procedures.
• Effective at capturing and synthesizing information from multiple parties.
• Solid understanding of employment laws.
• Ability to handle sensitive and highly personal information daily and maintain confidentiality in a mature and insightful manner.
• Knowledge of multiple areas of employee relations.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.