VP, Labor Relations – Altice USA

Job Description

Altice USA is a cutting-edge communications, media, and tech company. We connect people to what matters most to them; texting with friends, advertising that resonates, or binge watching their favorite show. Our differentiated approach centers around technologies that push the envelope and deliver the ultimate customer experience. We’re building a workforce that attracts and retains the best talent, not only to meet the needs of our customers, but that also reflects the diverse communities we serve.

Job Summary

The Vice President Labor Relations is responsible for ensuring alignment of Labor Relations initiatives with overall business strategy and creating a labor environment that is efficient, consistent with company policies, procedures, and work rules, and free of unnecessary litigation. This role will also provide strategic expertise and counsel to business leadership and Human Resources to achieve employee relations environments that cultivate management’s direct relationship with employees. The successful leader in this role will be a proactive partner to senior business leadership, HR colleagues, and Legal to drive Labor Relations plans and programs in a complex environment.

Responsibilities
• Partner with business leadership to develop union and non-union labor relations strategies needed to reach business objectives, ensuring execution of all key initiatives in support of these strategies.
• Prepare for and participate in the labor negotiations processes, providing advice on interpretation of collective bargaining agreements and arbitrating grievances when necessary.
• Act as chief spokesperson for multiple labor agreements; represent management in labor contract negotiations to reconcile opposing claims or propose adoption of new procedures.
• Proactively plan, set objectives, and develop appropriate strategies and tactics with operational management that strive to achieve efficient, cost driven labor agreements.
• Act as company advocate in mediation, arbitration, and other proceedings, as applicable.
• Lead the development of process and procedure improvement in a metrics-driven environment; use metrics to understand trends and make recommendations to business leaders.
• Manage the Company’s response to union organizing drives.
• Provide management labor training.
• Work with HR employee relations and field-based generalist staff to implement and maintain proactive, positive associate relations initiatives; provide advice, counsel and training to managers regarding all related issues.
• Provide strategic guidance on labor-specific employee relations assistance to managers and employees on diverse issues, including investigations and documentation of employee issues and/or violation of company code of conduct, collective bargaining agreement or any company policy; actively work to avoid unnecessary litigation.
• Discuss issues with union representatives, representing management and leading discussions during grievance meetings; provide input and/or advice to management and employees during the grievance process.
• Hold a leadership role in change and culture management initiatives that result from employee engagement surveys or other change initiatives

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Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, or a related field required; JD preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in Labor Relations managing and negotiating collective bargaining agreements, handling arbitrations, and managing issues related to union organizing drives.
• Demonstrated successful track record in the collective bargaining process, grievances and arbitration process, labor-management relations, and positive employee relations.
• Strong 1st Chair experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
• Up-to-date knowledge of National Labor Relations Act rules and precedents.
• Telecommunications industry experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to quickly develop a strong understanding of the industry, competitors, customers, and business strategy.
• Familiarity with the CWA and IBEW and their respective locals in the tri-state area.
• Ability to anticipate trends, changes, and repercussions, and bring a Labor Relations perspective to business decisions.
• Strong analytical abilities, business and financial acumen, and coaching skills.
• Exceptional negotiation, influencing, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to build and maintain trusting relationships with employees and managers across all levels, roles, and departments.
• Ability to be seen as a trusted advisor with utmost integrity capable of making timely, effective, principles-based decisions.
• Ability to regularly be present in Altice USA Headquarters in Long Island City, NY, with regular presence in Bethpage, NY, along with occasional travel across the Optimum field operations in 21 states.

Altice USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

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