Director Labor Relations

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our managerial teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you. 

The Director of Labor Relations sets the long-term strategy and supports the implementation and execution of labor relations initiatives to advance the business objectives for Horizon Air. This role partners with leaders across Horizon Air to address labor challenges and, at appropriate times, prepares for and executes the collective bargaining process for the airline across all bargaining units.

As a people leader, this role establishes strategic goals and direction for the Labor Relations Team and is responsible for maintaining productive relationships with employee groups and union representatives to support the collective bargaining process.

• Establish strategic goals and direction for the labor relations function for Horizon Air.
• Set the long-term strategy and support the implementation and execution of labor relations initiatives to advance business objectives.
• Make decisions for and participate in all aspects of collective bargaining and contract administration, ensuring compliance with established agreements and policies.
• Advise and provide strategic recommendations to align processes and procedures across labor relations to develop outputs and measures that inform and guide consistent, long-term decision making.
• Develop and communicate labor relations programs and initiatives.
• Liaise with cross-divisional leaders to develop a clear sense of issues emerging within their workgroups and take preventative action to head off potential problems down the line.
• Establish and maintain productive and positive relationships with key union representatives and assist in resolving labor disputes.
• Perform as the subject matter expert for significant, impactful decisions in the day-to-day administration of union contracts, including discipline issues, and support the development of processes and measures to monitor those outputs, including improved analytics and reporting.
• Partner with managers and operational leaders in providing guidance with investigations, grievance processes/hearings, and disciplinary assessments.
• Facilitate weekly Problem Resolution Meetings (PRM) for organized work groups.
• Provide advice and counsel to management in collective bargaining contract interpretation and discipline matters.
• Assess/support leadership training in Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) and Labor Relations for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Manage labor relations professionals, providing guidance and support.

Required

• 7 years of relevant work experience in Human Resources, Labor Relations, or other related operational/airline industry senior leadership roles.
• 4 years of leadership experience, with at least 2 of those years directly leading people.
• Bachelor’s degree or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to drive outcomes in the best interest of the company.
• Ability to mentor and provide guidance to others and the management team on complex issues.
• Proficient strategic planning skills with the ability to build and execute a negotiation plan to support company objectives.
• Track record of strong leadership, team building, and personnel management ability.
• Demonstrated project management/organizational skills and knowledge.
• Proficiency in the preparations of documents, financial analysis, and presentations, etc.
• Ability to identify, develop plans, and lead changes across the organization.
• Ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to persuasively communicate ideas verbally and in writing.
• Proven tactful negotiation skills, an ability to build trust with internal customers, and manage confidential data with discretion.
• Ability to work well under pressure while remaining professional, reliable, enthusiastic, self-reliant, self-motivated, and assertive.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred

• Prior experience negotiating contracts and airline labor negotiations.
• Exposure/education in labor law, conflict resolution, and arbitration/mediation.
• Airline industry experience with knowledge of labor relations history both across the industry and within Horizon Air.
• Knowledge of contract law, labor law, Railway Labor Act and relevant case law.

• Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be caring and kind, and deliver performance.

• Demonstrated ability to quickly scope situations, develop an accurate understanding of risks, and develop plans responsive to those risks.

• Skilled at making and defending tough decisions, while demonstrating care and concern for the opinions of others, both inside and outside the organization.

• Ability to cut through complexity and ambiguity, prioritize effectively, set clear goals, and operate in an agile fashion.

The pay range and total target compensation package listed above is the expected pay offered for this position at the start of employment. Your pay will be based on multiple factors, including and not limited to location, your relevant experience/level, experience level, and skillset while balancing internal equity relative to other Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon employees. Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate.

Note: We don't typically hire at the top of the range. 

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air pay and benefits can vary by company, location, number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status.

• Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air with high priority status 
• Select number of confirmed travel credits provided annually 
• Comprehensive well-being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits
• Generous 401k match program
• Quarterly and annual bonus plans
• Generous holiday and paid time off 

For more information about Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon Total Rewards please visit our career site and view benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement  
It is the policy of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment and to ensure equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and benefits of employment or potential employment.   

We also prohibit discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.  

We have established an EEO Compliance Program under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 503”) and the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA”).  All applicants and employees are treated without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. In addition, we have established an audit and reporting system to allow for effective measurement of its equal employment opportunity activities.   

To implement this policy, we will: 

(1) Recruit, hire, train and promote qualified persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and any other legally protected categories; 

(2) Ensure that employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements; and 

(3) Ensure that all personnel actions and employment activities such as compensation, benefits, promotions, layoffs, return from layoff, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air sponsored programs, and tuition assistance will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories. 

Employees and applicants for employment will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have engaged or may engage in (1) filing a complaint, (2) opposing any act or practice made unlawful by, or exercising any other right protected by, any Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity, including Section 503 and the equal opportunity provisions of VEVRAA, or (3) assisting or participating in any investigation, compliance evaluation, hearing, or any other activity related to the administration of any Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity, including Section 503 and the equal opportunity provisions  of VEVRAA. 

Government Contractor & Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations 
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT – regulations, 49 CFR part 40) and all applicants are advised that post-offer and/or pre-employment drug testing will be conducted to determine the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opioids, phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamines or a metabolite of these drugs prior to any offer or employment or transfer into a safety-sensitive position. Failure to submit to testing or positive indications of drug use will render the applicant ineligible for employment with Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines/Horizon Air and any employment offer will be withdrawn.