Director of Labor Relations - Construction

The Director of Labor Relations is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and executing labor relations strategy across a complex portfolio of power construction and energy infrastructure projects. This executive serves as the principal liaison with union organizations and bargaining groups, driving labor stability, workforce continuity, and effective contract administration in support of safe, productive, and timely project delivery. The role requires a strategic leader with deep expertise in union construction environments, multi-trade coordination, and labor risk management, as well as the ability to influence executive stakeholders, operational leaders, and external labor partners.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement labor relations strategy across a portfolio of power construction and energy infrastructure projects.
• Serve as the primary company representative with local, regional, and international building trades unions and multi-employer bargaining associations.
• Lead the negotiation, renewal, and administration of collective bargaining agreements, project labor agreements, and national maintenance agreements.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with union leadership to support workforce availability and project success.
• Manage jurisdictional matters, craft assignments, and workforce coordination across multiple union trades.
• Interpret labor contracts and advise leadership on compliance obligations and risk mitigation strategies.
• Resolve disputes, grievances, and labor conflicts in partnership with legal counsel and operational leadership.
• Provide guidance on labor-related provisions within EPC contracts and subcontract agreements.
• Collaborate with preconstruction and operations teams to develop labor strategies for new projects, including workforce planning, labor availability, wage and benefit forecasting, and productivity considerations.
• Support the development and execution of project labor agreements for major energy infrastructure projects.
• Ensure labor strategies align with project schedule, cost, and workforce performance objectives.
• Monitor labor trends, workforce availability, and broader market dynamics affecting the power construction sector.
• Identify and address potential labor disruptions before they affect project execution.
• Partner with field leadership to strengthen communication with craft workers and union representatives.
• Support initiatives that improve workforce productivity, safety performance, and retention.
• Ensure compliance with the National Labor Relations Act, Davis-Bacon Act and prevailing wage regulations, state labor regulations, and applicable union and project labor agreements.
• Work with legal counsel on labor disputes, grievances, and arbitration proceedings.
• Maintain documentation and reporting related to labor agreements and workforce compliance.
• Advise executive leadership on labor market conditions, union negotiations, and workforce strategy.
• Partner with Human Resources on workforce policies affecting union employees.
• Support operations teams in maintaining productive field relationships with union craft workers.
• Provide labor relations training and guidance to project managers and field leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Advanced degree or specialized labor relations certification preferred.
• 10 years of labor relations experience within power construction, heavy industrial construction, utilities, or large-scale infrastructure environments.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements and project labor agreements.
• Experience working with multiple building trades unions common to power construction projects.
• Proven ability to manage labor issues on large, complex projects.
• Strong understanding of labor dynamics within power generation construction, renewable energy, transmission and substation construction, industrial construction and maintenance, and utility infrastructure.
• Expert knowledge of union construction environments.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to influence union leadership, executive teams, and operational stakeholders.
• Strategic mindset combined with practical field-level understanding.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel to project sites as needed.