Vice President, Labor Relations & Market Development

SUMMARY:  Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Legislative & Industrial Affairs (SVP) and serving as a member of the executive leadership team (ELT), the Vice President, Labor Relations & Market Development (VP, LRMD) is accountable for the operational and financial success of assigned programs, ensuring seamless team management, program delivery, staff training, and quality control. The VP, LRMD is charged with developing and overseeing the implementation of all strategies and goals related to labor relations, labor markets and activities, industrial relations, and labor policies and agencies that affect the association.

Using an active and practical approach, the VP, LRMD will direct and manage the labor relations team to attain the company’s strategic goals established in the company’s strategic plan/map. The position will provide technical assistance and information to a variety of association committees and district/regions regarding labor relations activities, issues, and compliance. The position will also engage in national conversations and research regarding the labor markets and their impacts on California. The VP, LRMD will be both a statewide and national voice for labor issues and will support the elevation and position of the association in California and across the country.

The VP, LRMD will promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning including the development of staff using a supportive and collaborative approach. Also, responsible for establishing and monitoring staff development goals through assigning accountability by setting goals and objectives, establishing priorities and following up accordingly.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Include the following:

Executive Leadership Team (ELT)

• Serve as member of the ELT.
  • Be an active member of the “First Team” by engaging and contributing to the overall development of the culture, vision, and strategies of the organization.
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with other ELT members and association volunteer leaders.
  • Actively model the highest standards of the organization including our core values of “Lead,” “Engage,” and “Grow.”
  • Be committed to the whole of the association and help develop an interdependence model in each team that supports the global goals of the association – not just individual team goals.
  • Represent the association and CEO both internally and externally through presentations, interviews, publications, and trainings.

Labor Relations

• Develop and implement strategies and goals for the labor relations team that support the engagement and growth of union/signatory contractors within the association.
  • This includes strategies and goals for developing stronger relationships with our union partners, partner associations, prospective union/signatory contractors, and public agencies.
  • Strategies for better negotiations for the association’s master labor agreements, grievance management and disputes, union contractor councils, and trustee selection and retention.
• Foster deeper relationships with the association’s membership and volunteer leaders including:
  • State board members, district board members, union contractor council leadership and membership, trustees, bargaining representatives/committee members, council and committee leaders, task force members, and CEF board members.
• Supervise and manage labor relations team performance.
  • Hold regular check-ins with team and direct reports.
  • Communicate goals and expectations clearly and provide the appropriate level of support and challenge to direct reports.
  • Coach teammates to help them succeed and support their continued growth.
  • Provide consistent accountability to team and direct reports.
• Proactively position the association as a thought leader in the labor/industrial relations market both in California and nationally.
  • Develop original content for publications both internally and externally.
  • Serve on labor/industrial relations panels and present at keynote speaking opportunities.
  • Provide training to both internal and external audiences on critical issues facing contractors and/or labor/industrial relations markets.
• Monitor, advise, and comment on legislation and policies that affect the labor/industrial markets & agencies, union/signatory contractors, and union partners.
  • Actively engage with the government affairs team and contract lobbyists to provide feedback on existing and proposed legislation, policies, and regulations.

• • With the SVP, serve as a primary lead to the CA Department of Labor, Department of Industrial Relations and Department of Labor Standards and Enforcement.
• Serve as a “go-to” source of expertise for AGC staff and all members on related government policy and regulation.
• Help develop compliance documents and/or trainings for policies and regulations that affect the association and its membership.
• Support policy objectives through coalition building with labor partners and partner associations.

• On-call support and redundancy.
  • In the event that the association’s capacity is impacted, the position will backfill all day-to-day roles and functions of any and all teammates on the LR team.
• Develops fee-for-service and other revenue opportunities and aids in existing fee-for-service programs as directed by the CEO, ELT, and/or state board.
• Participates in outside committees as directed, i.e., trust funds, labor-management committees, industry organizations, etc.

Market Development

• Researches and engages with internal and external stakeholders and thinktanks to develop strategies and insights on the challenges and opportunities facing the labor markets in California and the country.
  • Leverage this information to support better outcomes in our labor agreements, grievance management, trustee and trust fund performances, and policy issues.
• Tracks economic and market data to advance opportunities for union/signatory contractors in California and the country.
  • Monitors markets and projects to help anticipate future economic growth or decline and its potential impacts on the association’s members.
  • Look for emerging market sectors that could benefit the association’s members and support policy outcomes and wins for the government affairs team.
• Create original content in relationship to markets, both current and emerging, that can position the association as the thought leader in California and nationally.

Ancillary Functions

• From time-to-time, support and engage with other teams to help them in their understanding of industry knowledge in labor and labor markets.
• Attend association events.
  • This includes setting up the event, marketing the event, and working any and all tasks as assigned by the events team, ELT, and/or CEO.
• Travel as assigned.
  • This role is expected to travel 25%-33% time.
• Other duties that may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: The Vice President, Labor Relations & Market Development directly supervises the Sr. Director, Field Services & Compliance – NorCal, Director, Field Services & Compliance – SoCal, Director of Labor Relations – NorCal, and Director of Labor Relations – SoCal and any other support staff as assigned.  This position carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education and/or Experience:  Bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.S.) from four-year college or university in business or social sciences and/or ten (10) years experience in labor relations with at least two (2) years in construction labor relations with five (5) to ten (10) years of direct experience in labor contract negotiations on behalf of management preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:  A current CA driver’s license and proof of auto insurance are required.