Job Summary

Compass Group, the world’s leading contract foodservice company, has a Great Opportunity for career development and growth as a Labor Relations Director. This position requires the successful candidate to be based in the New York City metropolitan area.

We seek a candidate with strong 1st Chair experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements. Candidates will have expertise in negotiating agreements, handling grievances, preparing for negotiations, arbitrations, and discipline hearings.

This position is accountable for assisting operational management in achieving labor relations environments that are efficient, cost competitive, consistent with Company policies, procedures, work rules, and free of unnecessary litigation. Position negotiates and administers collective bargaining agreements and provides internal consultation and training to operational management.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in identifying and implementing strategic labor objectives.
• Partners with HR and Operations in educating employees on all organized labor issues; review, interpret and make recommendations on company policies and procedures with respect to labor issues; serve as an organizational resource in raising issues that may result in a gap between stated organizational goals and actual practice.
• Aid in the adherence of Compass Group Labor Relations Policy & Philosophy.
• Analyze regional and nationwide bid opportunities and attend proposal meetings with potential clients, as assigned by the VP Labor Relations.
• Provide support, advice, and counsel, as necessary.

Labor Negotiations

• Acts as chief spokesperson for multiple labor agreements.
• Plans, sets objectives, and develops appropriate strategies and tactics with operational management.
• Strive to achieve cost effective, cost competitive labor agreements.

Labor Agreement Administration

• Administers multiple labor agreements.
• Oversees fact-finding process and provide input when necessary to investigations for site grievances and employee disciplinary issues.
• Advises operational management on disciplinary and contract interpretation issues.
• Train operational management and others to comply with labor agreements and company rules; works actively to avoid unnecessary litigation; recommends resolutions to effectuate the same.

Employee Relations

• Provides employee relations training for supervision/management

Arbitration

• Acts as company advocate in mediation, arbitration and other government proceedings.
• Prepares for and may present Company’s position; prepares briefs and other documents for proceedings.
• To uphold the integrity of Company’s labor agreements and management actions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is required; Labor Relations, Business, or Human Resources focus is preferred; advanced degree preferred (e.g., JD)
• 7 years of Labor Relations experience in a multi-location environment, where at least 25% of the locations are unionized
• Experience conducting effective & objective investigations and recommending the advisability of corrective action
• Experience in grievance handling and arbitration preparation
• Extensive experience in negotiations with excellent communications skills, including being Chief Spokesperson
• Experienced with Union organizing campaigns and awareness training with operators preferred
• Willing and able to travel 60% by air and automobile; driver's license required
• Experience can be either from a management or labor perspective
• Experience in food, vending services, and support services a plus
• Current knowledge of National Labor Relations Act rules and precedent
• Bilingual (e.g., Spanish) strongly preferred
• Strong ability to use advanced technology for remote meetings, trainings, and negotiations
• Self-started, personally manages all documentation and processes in a timely manner without administrative support