Vice President of Labor Relations

About Wakefern

Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and supports its co-operative members' retail operations, trading under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, and Di Bruno Bros.

Employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services, Wakefern focuses on helping the independent retailer compete in a big business world. Providing the tools entrepreneurs need to stay a step ahead of the competition, Wakefern’s co-operative members benefit from the company’s extensive portfolio of services, including innovative technology, private label development, and best-in-class procurement practices.

About You

The Vice President of Labor Relations serves as the leader and liaison between co-operative executives and senior union officials, managing, negotiating, administering, and implementing contracts and collective bargaining agreements for retail locations and distribution centers. This role is responsible for traditional labor questions/issues, union organizing, interpretation of complex terms, policies or rules if escalated as well as serving as a trustee on Taft-Hartley pension and healthcare trust funds.

Responsibilities include:

The essential job functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop and refine the co-operative labor relations strategy by analyzing economic and labor relation trends, and incorporating feedback and approval from senior leadership, members, store/distribution leaders and key stakeholders.
• Serve as the co-operative’s main point of contact and representative, interfacing pro-actively with senior leadership, board members, and senior union officials to execute labor relations strategy and anticipate potential labor relations issues.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to determine needs of the business and work with union representatives to come to an agreement, including drafting proposals and reviewing union requests to negotiate terms that best satisfy the needs of our employees and overall business.
• Jointly manage trusts between labor, management, and third-party service providers. Work with actuaries to determine projected costs and associated expenses to administer and fund different health and disability plan options and select contract with third party negotiators (benefit providers, clinics) that will handle administration of the benefits. Review the benefit financial statements on a quarterly basis and audit/ monitor these accounts to ensure expenses are in line with expectations and that the trusts are properly funded.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee collective bargaining processes, engaging other leaders, staff, and external partners as appropriate for optimal outcomes.
• Serve as the subject matter expert in the co-operative on contracts, including managing and handling of all escalated employee issues or problems related to the interpretation of the contracts.
• Work with union representatives, internal labor relations staff and leadership to ensure proper administration and maintenance of contracts, supervise audit and timely payments of residuals
• Manage the development, planning, implementation, communication, and administration of labor relations-related practices, policies, procedures, and programs. Collaborate with HR department leaders, operations leaders, and other functional groups as necessary for input, alignment, and execution.
• Negotiate and resolve difficult employee relation issues including discharge and termination of employees by partnering closely with Human Resources and Legal as needed to manage and administer any resolutions.
• Provide strategic direction and manage precedent setting issues or cases that come up that could have a significant impact to the business and operations, communicate key agreed upon resolutions to all management and employees as applicable.
• Partner with unions daily to manage day-to-day issues and ongoing contract negotiations and work with federal and state regulators on compliance and employer requirement standards and laws, including but not limited to, DOL, FLSA, ERISA, ADA HIPAA and the EEOC, etc.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate (JD) and member of bar
• The position requires a minimum of five to ten years of demonstrated experience in labor relations (or its equivalent), preferably in a multi union environment with primary responsibility for managing labor and employee relations, leading Union negotiations.
• Knowledge and experience working with multi-employer pension and health and welfare programs and how they are administered
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and ERISA regulation
• Demonstrated experience in a collaborative labor relations environment
• Demonstrated experience successfully negotiating with unions and handling grievances and arbitrations
• Exceptional communication skills, ability to influence all levels in the organization
• Complete understanding of state and federal employment laws
• Experience leading complex projects and initiatives

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Ability to sit/stand in front of a computer for long periods of time.
• Ability to work in varied temperature settings.
• Ability to travel as required.

Core Competencies

• Communicate Effectively: Communicates thoughts and ideas in a well-organized manner, encouraging two-way communication.
• Build Relationships: Creates cross-functional partnerships through the development and maintenance of constructive and cooperative relationships.
• Stay Competitive: Demonstrates a mindset of continuous improvement while exhibiting passion and enthusiasm for their work.
• Embrace Change: Looks for new ways of working by supporting advancements in processes and technology.
• Develop You: Identifies and capitalizes on opportunities for personal and professional career growth.
• Drive for Results: Supports divisional and strategic objectives through achievement of work goals.

Leadership Competencies

• Think Strategically: Create a compelling vision, develop a strategy and empower others to achieve it
• Influence Others: The ability to effectively collaborate, inspire, persuade and align others
• Drive Change: Create the vision and drive the momentum for change
• Talent Planning: Build organizational and associate capability to achieve business goals
• Take Accountability: Drive a culture of ownership throughout the organization
• Inclusive Leadership: Role model inclusive leadership to leverage diversity

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $230,000 to $275,000. Placement in the range depends on several factors, including experience, skills, education, geography, and budget considerations.

Wakefern is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and professional development of our Associates. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with company match & annual company contribution, paid time off, holidays, and parental leave. Associates also enjoy access to wellness and family support programs, fitness reimbursement, educational and training opportunities through our corporate university, and a collaborative, team-oriented work environment. Many of these benefits are fully or partially funded by the company, with some subject to eligibility requirements.

About The Work

This job description is intended to set forth the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of the work performed by associates for this position. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates to do this job. Associates may be assigned additional responsibilities as necessary. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to require associates to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations or the work environment changes. This document describes the position currently available and is not an employment contract.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. If requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The position covered by this Job Description is expressly declared to be “at will,” meaning Wakefern has the right to terminate the incumbent’s employment at any time, with or without cause. Any written or oral promises or representations to the contrary are expressly disavowed and should not be relied upon by any associate. Any change to this “at will” employment status must be in writing and signed by the Vice President of Human Resource.