Senior People Relations Consultant

This Senior People Relations Consultant provides guidance, support, and recommendations to Delta Dental leadership for the resolution of critical and complex labor and employee relations activities. This role self-manages multiple cases simultaneously on a variety of employee related areas including but not limited to Collective Bargaining Agreement ("CBA") and Employment Law interpretation and counsel, harassment, conduct and policy interpretation and violation investigations, complex performance management, conflict resolution, and termination management. Partners with union leadership to resolve concerns. Counsels business leadership on employment law and CBA interpretation. The Senior People Relations Consultant must build strong partnerships and works closely with all levels of management, union leadership, the People Organization, internal and external employment counsel, internal stakeholders, and Centers of Excellence ("COEs") to drive high employee engagement, efficient labor utilization, and a high-performing culture.

• Partners with leaders in the enterprise to promote a positive labor and employee relations climate, manage and resolve workplace issues, share information and drive business and/or People initiatives.
• Provides proactive and real-time consultation on basic and complex labor and employee relation matters across the employee lifecycle including but not limited to contract interpretation and grievance administration.
• Conducts timely and thorough workplace investigations and prepares written summary reports of investigative findings with recommended resolution.
• Serves as a primary contact for labor issues as it relates to CBA interpretation, labor policy, labor disputes, grievance administration, and record keeping for long-term agreements and awards.
• Ensures advocacy for the organization, management, and employees consistent with policy, practice, procedure, best practices, and employment law while proactively managing liability and risk on behalf of the organization.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for management and employees in labor/employee relations, employment practices, human resource policies/procedures, employment law, and government regulations.
• Conducts trend and root cause analysis and provides recommendations for reducing the number of labor/employee relations issues, while providing proactive employee relations training and interventions where necessary.
• Partners with internal or external counsel to prepare for and when necessary attend mediations, arbitration, and other court proceedings, including unemployment claim responses.

• 5+ years of experience as an employee and labor relations consultant.
• 3+ years of experience working directly with union leadership.
• 5+ years of experience conducting complex investigations with proven results.
• Bachelor's degree. Experience in lieu of degree may be considered.
• Seasoned knowledge of labor relations best practices, NLRB rules, effective CBA interpretation.
• Expert knowledge of employment, wage and hour, FMLA and EEO laws.
• Expert knowledge of People systems, programs, processes, practices, and policies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality while mitigating organizational risk.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.
• Expert verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to listen and understand diverse points of view.
• Strong consulting skills and the ability to facilitate conflict resolution.
• Strong interpersonal skills, mediation skills, consultation, and the ability to handle difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to prioritize, handle multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment in order to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work across multiple teams, and with people on a variety of organizational levels in often ambiguous circumstances.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office products.
• Experience working across time zones, constituent groups, and locations, utilizing technology to complete duties is preferred.
• SHRM-CP certification preferred upon hire.
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification through HRCI preferred upon hire.

Base Pay Information
The national base pay range at the end is a good-faith estimate of what Delta Dental may pay for new hires. Actual pay may vary based on Delta Dental’s assessment of the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), related experience, education, certifications and ability to meet required minimum job qualifications. Other factors impacting pay include prevailing wages in the work location and internal equity. 
Pay Grade 21. $81,265 - $176,073