System Director Employee and Labor Relations

About Tufts Medicine

Tufts Medicine is an innovative, mission-driven health system that unites the best of academic and community medicine to deliver exceptional, connected, and accessible care. Our system includes Tufts Medical Center, the principal teaching hospital of Tufts University and Tufts University School of Medicine, as well as Lowell General Hospital, Lowell General Hospital - Saints Campus, MelroseWakefield Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford, Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital (opening Fall 2025), Tufts Medicine Care at Home, Tufts Medicine Integrated Network and a network of 2,300 physicians across Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. We treat the most complex conditions, keep our communities healthy, and bring research breakthroughs to life.

Job Overview

The System Director of Employee & Labor Relations will lead and manage the employee and labor relations functions across Tufts Medicine. The System Director will lead the implementation of an integrated, system-wide approach to employee and labor relations, ensuring consistency and alignment across all parts of the organization. This strategic role is responsible for fostering a positive work environment, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and effectively managing employee relations issues across multiple entities. This role will oversee a dedicated team, managing case workflows and driving initiatives that foster a culture of respect, inclusivity, and organizational excellence. The System Director will collaborate with leadership and staff to develop and execute programs that enhance employee engagement, address concerns through case management, and provide a consistent experience for Tufts Medicine employees.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.

2. Seven (7) years of experience in employee and labor relations within a multi entity environment.

3. Three (3) years of leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.

2. Ten (10) years of experience in employee and labor relations within a multi entity environment.

3. Healthcare experience across multiple locations

4. Human resources professional certification (e.g. PHR, SPHR, SHRM).

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Develops and implements employee and labor relations strategies aligned with Tuft Medicine's mission and values, incorporating an integrated, system-wide approach that ensures consistency and efficiency across multiple entities.

2. Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on employee relations and labor relations strategies, focusing on consistent approaches to issue resolution and proactive relationship management across the system.

3. Leads, mentors, and develops a high-performing team of employee and labor relations professionals, ensuring consistent practices and case management across the entire healthcare system. Promotes a culture of collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement within the team.

4. Oversees the implementation and execution of a standardized case management process across the system, ensuring consistent tracking, resolution, and follow-up of employee grievances, complaints, and disciplinary matters.

5. Identifies and implements employee engagement programs aimed at enhancing workplace satisfaction, retention, and morale. Partners with Talent Development and HRBPs to implement initiatives that support a positive employee experience.

6. Leads labor contract negotiations, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, compliance with labor laws, and an integrated, system-wide approach to labor relations that supports consistency across entities.

7. Manages relationships with labor unions, ensuring proactive communication and addressing concerns with a unified, system-wide approach to labor relations.

8. Directs investigations related to complex employee complaints, grievances, and disciplinary actions, ensuring fairness, consistency, and alignment with organizational policies and legal standards across all entities. Provides guidance to leadership on appropriate outcomes, while maintaining confidentiality and procedural integrity.

9. Develops and implements system-wide programs to promote employee engagement, retention, conflict resolution, and consistent handling of employee relations issues.

10. Establishes and communicates comprehensive employee relations policies and procedures that are consistently applied across all healthcare system entities, ensuring compliance with accreditation bodies (i.e. Joint Commission) and federal, state, and local laws.

11. Monitors and assesses changes in labor laws and regulations, ensuring all practices remain compliant, and implement consistent changes across the system.

12. Partners with the talent development team to design and conduct system-wide training programs for managers and employees on conflict resolution, employee relations, and consistent practices.

13. Fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement in employee relations practices, driving system-wide initiatives to enhance performance and consistency.

14. Analyzes employee relations data and metrics to identify trends, inform decision-making, and ensure that case management and employee engagement strategies are effective across the system.

15. Prepares and presents reports for senior management on employee relations activities, issues, and strategic initiatives, ensuring a consistent system-wide approach is emphasized.

16. Collaborates with the Legal, Compliance, and Risk teams to proactively address and resolve employment and labor related legal matters, including collective bargaining, grievances, and investigations.

17. Collaborates with HR Operations and Business Partners to drive continuous improvement, leveraging data and analytics to identify trends, improve processes, and implement best practices in employee and labor relations.

Physical Requirements:

1. Frequent sitting, occasional standing & walking, and lifting of 5-10 lbs.

2. Mental requirements will be intense at times with involvement in many concurrent multi-faceted projects.

3. Requires manual dexterity using fine hand manipulation to operate a computer keyboard or related equipment

4. Requires ability to see computer screen, monitoring equipment and reports.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Ability to develop and implement system-wide strategies for employee and labor relations aligned with organizational goals.

2. Strong change management skills leading integration across multiple entities, ensuring smooth transitions and aligning diverse teams and processes

3. Strong leadership skills to manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing, cross-entity employee relations team.

4. Proficiency in designing and overseeing consistent case management processes for grievances, complaints, and disciplinary matters.

5. Expertise in resolving employee relations issues, promoting a positive work environment, and mediating conflicts.

6. Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively articulate policies and initiatives across multiple entities.

7. Demonstrated ability to analyze employee relations data, identify trends, and provide insights to senior management for decision-making.

8. Deep knowledge of labor laws and regulations to ensure consistent, legal, and compliant employee relations practices.

9. Ability to adapt to changing needs, resolve complex issues, and drive operational efficiency across the system.
10. Proven experience working with legal counsel to manage investigations, collective bargaining, and employment litigation risk.

11. Strong skills in policy development and implementation, ensuring policies are accessible, up-to-date, and aligned with organizational values and compliance standards.

12. Analytical mindset with the ability to use employee relations metrics and case trends to inform strategic decisions and process improvements.

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on supporting the design, development, and implementation of human resource programs and policies, including recruitment, training and development, compensation and benefits, mobility, talent acquisition, diversity, talent management & organization development and employee/labor relations. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Employee/Labor Relations duties: Manages interactions and relationships with employees and labor unions, implements measures to increase employee morale, motivation and satisfaction, investigates and resolves complaints, grievances, and disputes, represents management in union/labor relations including the negotiation, interpretation, and administration of collective bargaining agreements, diversity/equal employment opportunity programs, training, and compliance, and advises management on strategies that ensure a productive and harmonious workplace. A management role that supervises employees focusing on tactical, operational activities within a specified area, with the majority of time spent overseeing area of responsibility, planning, prioritizing and/or directing the responsibilities of employees. Goal achievement is typically accomplished through performance of direct and/or indirect reports. A role that directs a department or small unit that includes multiple teams led by managers and/or team Leaders. Responsibilities typically include: ownership of short to mid-term (1-3 years) execution of functional strategy and the operational direction of the Department, problems faced are often complex and require extensive investigation and analysis, and requires ability to influence others to accept practices and approaches, and ability to communicate and influence executive leadership.

Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated health system bringing together the best of academic and community healthcare to deliver exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts. Comprised of Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, MelroseWakefield Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford, Care at Home - an expansive home care network, and large integrated physician network. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at Tufts Medicine. Tufts Medicine does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation by emailing us at careers@tuftsmedicine.org.