Director, Labor Relations

Intro

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!

Why you'll love this job

The Director, Labor Relations will support all aspects of the company’s relationship with their team’s union (APA, APFA, TWU-IAM, etc.) and have responsibility for implementing, maintaining, and administering the collective bargaining agreement covering the affected union employees and other employee groups, as needed. This role will primarily support the APFA flight attendant union. 

What you'll do

As noted above, this list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced.  Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations including any collective bargaining obligations.

• Develops and maintains a responsible relationship with their union(s)
• Develops and maintains working partnerships with key work group senior leadership
• Ensures company compliance with labor agreement rules and regulations and applicable laws; manages the administration and interpretation of labor agreements for pilots 
• Manages disputes and negotiates resolutions between union representatives and management
• Provides prompt and effective support on labor-related issues to management within multiple corporate departments
• Develops and conducts labor relations training programs for management
• Monitors and stays current with Labor Relations laws, trends/practices
• Provides lead support to labor staff (i.e., managers, advisors), to ensure broad labor relations support to all departments within assigned groups
• Provides support for grievance handling (up to and including arbitration)

All you'll need for success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Demonstrates the highest level of ethics and integrity
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant studies, such as Industrial Relations, or equivalent experience/training; Advanced degree preferred, legal or labor-related degree a plus
• 7 years of experience in Labor Relations, or operational leadership of frontline employees at an airline, with 3 years of experience working on flight attendant related issues, including flight attendant pay, scheduling, and seniority
• Experience as a company representative or System Board member during arbitration, litigation, and/or government hearings
• Experience in early dispute resolution strategy
• Previous collective bargaining agreement and negotiations experience
• Ability to think strategically, negotiate skillfully, digest complex details, and use sound judgment and initiative in making decisions 
• Exceptional problem solving, analytical, and critical thinking ability
• Excellent communication skills (presentation, interpersonal, and written), with ability to handle complex topics comfortably and to interact effectively with all levels within the organization
• Ability to effectively advocate and communicate on behalf of American Airlines with all levels of external officials 
• Ability to build and facilitate long-term relationships at all levels, both internally and externally
• Ability to delegate effectively and handle multiple responsibilities, manage available resources, make timely decisions, and understand the impact of those decisions on others
• Ability to demonstrate time management, multi-tasking, and organizational skills
• Ability and willingness to travel as necessary 
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and work a varied schedule
• Ability and willingness to remain current with industry practices and developments
• Mentoring and relationship building skills with ability to manage group and interpersonal conflict situations
• Believes in and promotes the American Airlines five leadership attributes:
  • Caring – We care about all team members
  • Collaboration – We succeed as a team
  • Development – We build future leaders
  • Results – We drive to be the best
  • Future – We continually challenge the status quo

What you'll get

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer: 

• Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.
• Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. 
• Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.
• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.
• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more

Feel free to be yourself at American

From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.

Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.