Director, Labor & Employee Relations - North & Central America

Company Description

Raffles Hotels & Resorts
The Birthplace of stories and legends since 1887, Raffles is a legendary brand, steeped in history and loved by generations past, present and future. Raffles,  Its timeless elegance, refined manners and spirit of generosity ensure that every visitor arrives as a guest, leaves as a friend and returns as family.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Join a dynamic team and be part of the Fairmont family – with 90+ spectacular properties, and 30+ more in the pipeline, in 30 countries around the globe, stretching from the beaches of Hawaii, to the unspoiled national parks of Canada, to the heart of London, to the deserts of the United Arab Emirates. 

Job Description

As the Director, Labor & Employee Relations – North & Central America for Raffles and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, you will play a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of positive labor and employee relations across the region. Supporting the VP, People & Culture, you will develop strategies, tools, and resources that empower People & Culture teams to manage employee and labor relations matters effectively and in alignment with the company’s values and brand culture.

Key Responsibilities

Culture Cultivation

• Champion and reinforce Raffles and Fairmont’s brand culture, values, and core beliefs across all organizational levels.
• Foster an inclusive, supportive work environment where employees feel empowered, engaged, and valued.
• Partner with senior leadership to drive cultural initiatives that enhance morale, satisfaction, and overall well-being.

Labor Relations

• Provide strategic direction and guidance for collective bargaining agreement renewals, including pre-bargaining preparation, objective setting, and negotiation strategies.
• Lead and support labor relations in both union and non-union properties, ensuring a positive and compliant work environment.
• Advise property leadership on grievances, arbitrations, organizational changes, and corrective action processes.
• Develop learning tools, costing models, and pre-/post-bargaining resources to strengthen labor relations capabilities across leadership teams.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with union representatives and other key labor constituencies.
• Stay current on emerging labor relations trends, legislation, and best practices through participation in industry associations and collaboration with legal and HR peers.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local labor laws.
• Design and deliver labor relations training programs across all organizational levels.
• Proactively manage all Collective Bargaining Agreements in alignment with company values and goals.

Leadership

• Execute the Raffles and Fairmont People & Culture strategy, aligning with overall business objectives and core values.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the New York corporate office and regional teams to foster a positive and high-performance culture.
• Lead onboarding initiatives for all new hires within the corporate New York office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Labor/Industrial Relations, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive HR management experience with a strong focus on labor and employee relations.
• Proven leadership experience in luxury hospitality or a comparable industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in collective bargaining and union negotiations.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business goals into actionable labor and employee relations strategies.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required.

Additional Information

Location: Office based New York, NY

Salary: $225,000 – $250,000 

We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.