Director of Labor Relations

The Director, Labor Relations for WHSmith North America is a hands-on leader responsible for employee relations and union matters across a multi-site travel retail operation. This role partners with Operations, People, Legal, and union representatives to support a high performing, people first culture. Responsibilities include labor agreements, collective bargaining, and managing union employee relations, including grievances and arbitration.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Partnership

Serve as the primary advisor on labor strategy, union matters, and risk. Build strong relationships with union representatives and internal stakeholders, aligning labor practices with business goals and a consistent employee experience across locations.

Positive Employee Relations (PER)

Lead PER initiatives, including engagement strategies and issue identification. Coach leaders on communication and early resolution, and leverage data to identify trends and drive targeted improvements.

Labor Peace Agreements (LPAs)

Oversee negotiation, implementation, and compliance of LPAs. Develop playbooks and training, monitor adherence, and partner with legal counsel on risk mitigation and updates.

Union Campaigns

Lead company response to union organizing activity in compliance with labor laws. Coordinate communications, training, and field readiness while tracking activity and escalating risks as needed.

Collective Bargaining

Partner with legal, finance, and HR to develop bargaining strategies and proposals. Support negotiations, ensure contract ratification and implementation, and maintain contract documentation for operational use.

Unionized Employee Relations

Manage grievance, mediation, and arbitration processes. Interpret CBAs, guide leaders, and resolve issues proactively in partnership with site leadership and union representatives.

Training & Communications

Develop and deliver training on PER, union practices, and CBA administration. Create communication tools to ensure clarity, consistency, and compliance across teams.

Reporting, Risk & Compliance

Ensure compliance with labor laws and manage investigations and filings with legal counsel. Track and report key labor metrics, provide leadership updates, and drive process improvements through root cause analysis.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner with HR, Operations, Safety, and senior leadership to align labor strategies with hiring, staffing, compliance, and organizational priorities.