Director, Labor Relations - Portland, OR or SLC, UT - #113820

POWER YOUR GREATNESS!

PacifiCorp is seeking customer-centric candidates to grow and sustain our commitment to a culture of customer service excellence, environmental sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion.
 

General Purpose

The Director, Labor Relations is a strategic leader responsible for managing and guiding all labor relations activities within a regulated utility environment. This role ensures compliance with labor laws and regulations, fosters collaborative relationships with unions, and supports the organization’s operational goals through effective labor strategies. The Director will serve as the primary liaison between management and union representatives, overseeing collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance resolution, and labor-related policy development.

Responsibilities

•    Lead and manage labor relations strategy across the organization, aligning with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
•    Serve as chief negotiator or lead advisor for eight collective bargaining agreements across a six-state territory.
•    Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of labor relations professionals, ensuring high performance, collaboration, and continuous development.
•    Interpret and administer collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), ensuring consistent application across departments.
•    Advise senior leadership and operational managers on labor relations issues, including discipline, grievances, arbitration, and contract interpretation.
•    Assign and oversee team responsibilities related to contract administration, grievance handling, arbitration preparation, and labor-related investigations.
•    Develop and maintain positive relationships with union leadership to foster a collaborative and productive labor environment.
•    Monitor and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws, including NLRB, FMLA, FLSA, and other applicable regulations.
•    Conduct investigations and represent the company in labor disputes, arbitrations, and hearings.
•    Analyze labor trends, grievances, and arbitration decisions to identify risks and recommend proactive solutions.
•    Partner with HR, Legal, and Compliance teams to ensure alignment on labor-related policies and practices.
•    Provide training and guidance to managers and supervisors on labor relations best practices and contract compliance.
•    Direct personnel on required collective bargaining changes, support managers and employees with understanding the applicability of rules.
•    Recommend and implement plans and approaches to support overall business strategies. 

Requirements

•    Bachelor’s degree in labor relations, Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field; or the equivalent combination of education and experience. 
•    A minimum of ten years’ progressive labor relations experience within a unionized and regulated environment (utility industry experience strongly preferred).
•    A minimum of five years’ experience of direct people management.
•    Ability to interpret financial models to facilitate economic analysis throughout the collective bargaining process and for monitoring of results thereafter. 
•    Deep knowledge of labor laws, collective bargaining processes, and union-management relations.
•    Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
•    Excellent negotiation, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills.
•    Ability to interpret complex contracts and legal documents.
•    Strategic thinker with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
•    Experience working with regulatory bodies and understanding of utility-specific labor challenges.
•    Leadership and teamwork skills to negotiate with and influence peers and management on policy and strategic issues.
•    Communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to manage and motivate employees, use oral and written communication to create a vision, communicate strategy, and effectively interface with other company leaders.
•    Understand and utilize the company’s strategic plan, regulatory and political environment, as well as the company’s policies, procedures and practices, and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations to guide decision-making. 
•    Travel will be required. 25%+

Preferences

• Advanced Degree (Juris Doctorate recommended).
• Experience in a regulated utility environment.
• PHR or SPHR Certification.