Director - Employee & Labor Relations

ABOUT ENCORE BOSTON HARBOR
Encore Boston Harbor is a luxury global destination gaming resort that features 671 hotel rooms with sweeping views of the Boston skyline and Boston Harbor, ultra-premium spa, luxury retail, high-end dining, and state-of-the-art ballroom and meeting spaces. At a total cost of $2.6 billion, it is the largest private single-phase development in the history of the Commonwealth. Situated on the waterfront along the Mystic River and connected to Boston Harbor, Encore Boston Harbor includes a six-acre park along the water that features a harbor walk, an events lawn, public viewing areas, ornate floral displays and retail and dining experiences that overlook the Encore Harbor Walk. 

Job Description

The Encore Boston Harbor Director of Employee & Labor Relations oversees the property’s relationships with union partners, leading labor relations matters such as grievances and arbitrations, and leading negotiations for new or ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreements (“CBA”). This position works collaboratively with all other members of the Human Resources Department to ensure that the work environment is free from harassment, discrimination, and retaliation and in compliance with all federal, state and local employment laws and regulations while providing excellent guest services. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: manage staff who address union and employee relations related matters that arise, oversee and participate in the CBAs’ grievance and arbitration processes, conceive and conduct supervisory and management level training on effective management under CBA’s and effective union avoidance strategies, and establishing productive and proactive relationships with union partners before and during negotiations, and after CBA ratification and implementation.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure all Encore Boston Harbor core values and property and department standards are implemented and applied.
• care about everyone and everything
• show never ending attention to detail
• take responsibility; don't leave it to others
• always strive to be better
• In collaboration with the VP of Human Resources, implement short-and long-term departmental goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; monitor and evaluate operational effectiveness; effect changes required for improvement. Identify and execute upon mutual key drivers of success.
• Accountable for the successful execution and resolution of labor relations activities.
• In collaboration with the Director of Employee Relations, maintain the accuracy, confidentiality, and thoroughness of departmental policies and procedures; records and reports.
• Oversee the performance of team members under their area of responsibility.
• In collaboration with the Director of Employee Relations, monitor activities of the department to ensure that all applicable internal policies, federal and state laws, rules, regulations and controls property wide are enforced.
• Ensures the labor relations team delivers and maintains a maximum level of property-wide service and satisfaction.
• In collaboration with the VP of Human Resources, facilitates communication throughout the property by organizing and presiding over regularly scheduled meetings with team members within the department and with other departments as appropriate to ensure property wide communication and consistency in application of all policies and guidelines.
• Oversee hiring, performance management, and employee engagement within the Labor Relations team. Provide training opportunities, constructive and positive feedback to team members within area of responsibility. Create a motivating and learning environment, cross training where advantageous to the successful execution of all responsibilities.
• Keep informed of all new developments within the labor relations field and specific to the Boston market, making recommendations designed to maximize department and company success.
• Effectively manage internal and external guest relations, which may require levels of patience, tact and diplomacy. Responsible for addressing team member issues as appropriate.
• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously and meet deadlines, often in stressful and high-pressure situations.
• Must have the ability to promote positive, fair, and ethical relations with all team members, with all Encore contractors, and in all interactions within the Host and Surrounding communities as an ambassador of the Encore brand.
• Administer policies and procedures designed to increase the effectiveness of employee and labor relations and support positive team member working relationships.
• Provide guidance, counsel, and instruction for management in the administration of human resources policies and procedures, and specifically on all CBA related matters, to include all team member-related items relative to attendance, seniority, work performance, discipline, and proper corrective action.
• In collaboration with the VP of Human Resources, ensure that all federal, state, and local laws are followed and consistently applied throughout the property.
• Determines the appropriate support for counseling and guidance to team members on employee and labor relations issues. May investigate or oversee the investigation of team member allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, or other questionable behavior. Under guidance of departmental leadership, recommends disciplinary action to include verbal, written, and separation.
• Assist Company legal counsel in preparation of legal defense.
• Provide formal and informal training for management/supervisory staff on the collective bargaining agreement; applicable laws; policies and procedures; discipline and discharge; and federal, state, and local laws. Work collaboratively with the Learning and Development team to create modules for dissemination property-wide on labor matters relevant to the daily operations.
• Create and maintain all required documentation in compliance with state, federal and local regulations, as well as company policy. Verify forms and documents for accuracy, completeness, and correct dates.
• Work with safety as a priority and follow department and company safety standards.
• Maintain relevant knowledge of industry through continuing education and training.
• Perform any other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

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

Age, Gaming and Certifications:

21 years of age or above.

Will be required to obtain and maintain registration, or a license issued by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or above in a related field or equivalent experience required.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience; 5 years in a leadership role required.
• Extensive knowledge of union/collective bargaining environments is essential along with a working knowledge of non-union working environments.
• Must have experience with planning and project management with the ability to multi-task with competing and time sensitive priorities.
• Must possess outstanding interpersonal and administrative skills, as well as excellent attention to detail.
• Proven communication and facilitation skills, both verbal and written, with an ability to communicate to all levels of the organization.
• Able to commit to a flexible work schedule to support a 24/7 operation.
• Strong organization and time management skills that enables prioritization and managing a high volume of detailed work with conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills to facilitate routine and accelerated work requests.
• Must possess the desire to quickly and accurately resolve issues in a professional, sensitive, confidential, and courteous customer-focused manner.
• Must demonstrate the desire to acquire and maintain knowledge of relevant HR programs, processes, technology, and policies in order to function as a resource for team members.
• Passion for solving employee problems and cultivating a culture where employees feel truly heard and helped.
• A positive, professional, and collaborative team player approach that works well under pressure and is flexible and responsible
• Requires strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office specifically Outlook, Word, Excel, & PowerPoint.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents, such as policy and procedure manuals, maintenance instructions, and other related documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries from other employees or guests. Fluency in English required, second language a plus. Ability to write detailed instructions and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and group situations.

Mathematical Skills & Reasoning Ability:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to decipher reports and maintain reports on request.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is also regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, and to sit, climb or balance, and stoop, stretch, bend, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Essential responsibilities include moderate physical ability such as lift or maneuver at least thirty (30) pounds, and varied instances of standing/walking.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that exists while Team Members are performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate. When on the property or some back of house areas, the noise level increases to loud. Must be able to interact with internal and external guests in a professional manner.
• Due to the unpredictable nature of the hospitality/entertainment industry, Team Members must be able to work varying-schedules to reflect the business needs of the property.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.