Human Resources Director, Labor Relations

Microsoft Microsoft · Big Tech · Redmond, WA +1 · Labor Relations

Human Resources Director, Labor Relations for Xbox (U.S.), responsible for influencing and executing labor relations strategy in unionized environments. This role involves developing operating models, standards, and escalation frameworks, partnering with business leaders and Legal, and leading complex labor engagements. The Director will build and lead a labor relations team, develop enterprise labor capability, and cultivate relationships with union leadership. The role also involves creating training programs for business leaders on managing in a union environment and serving as a liaison with HR Legal.

What you'd actually do

  1. Supports and drives the labor relations strategy for Xbox (U.S.), aligned to Microsoft’s Labor Principles and broader HR strategy.
  2. Partners to build the labor relations operating model, including escalation paths, decision rights, and standards for engagement with union partners.
  3. Anticipates labor relations trends, legislative shifts, and organizing risk; proactively shapes business strategy and mitigation plans.
  4. Leads and develops a team of labor relations professionals, setting clear expectations for quality, consistency, and risk management.
  5. Builds a Labor Relations Community of Practice, enabling knowledge sharing, early risk detection, and consistent execution across regions.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 9+ years experience in in human resources operations, labor relations, mediation, collective bargaining, employee relations-related roles or related field; OR Master's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 6+ years experience in human resources operations, labor relations, mediation, collective bargaining, employee relations-related roles or related field human resources operations, labor relations or related field; OR equivalent experience.

Nice to have

  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 15+ years experience in in human resources operations, labor relations, mediation, collective bargaining, employee relations-related roles or related field; OR Master's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 12+ years experience in human resources operations, labor relations, mediation, collective bargaining, employee relations-related roles or related field human resources operations, labor relations or related field; OR equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years people management experience.
  • Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.
  • Experience leading labor relations strategy within a large, matrixed, global organization.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence executive decision-making in high-risk labor environments.
  • Experience leading teams through complex labor transformations or first-contract negotiations.

What the JD emphasized

  • senior labor relations leader
  • influencing and executing labor relations strategy
  • unionized environments
  • critical stakeholders
  • operating model
  • standards
  • escalation framework
  • Microsoft’s Labor Principles
  • business agility and innovation
  • business leaders
  • Legal
  • Chief Labor Negotiator
  • influences business decisions
  • union-represented employees
  • anticipates labor risk
  • leads complex, high-visibility labor engagement
  • builds and leads a high-performing labor relations team
  • develops enterprise labor capability
  • cultivates trusted, long-term relationships
  • union leadership
  • transparency, respect, and accountability
  • HR team
  • dynamic and strategic organization
  • Microsoft is on a mission
  • empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more
  • culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset
  • inspiring excellence
  • leaders to bring their best each day
  • life-changing innovations
  • billions of lives around the world
  • Within HR at Microsoft
  • mission is to empower the people who empower the planet
  • help us achieve our mission
  • Supports and drives the labor relations strategy for Xbox (U.S.)
  • aligned to Microsoft’s Labor Principles and broader HR strategy
  • Partners to build the labor relations operating model
  • escalation paths
  • decision rights
  • standards for engagement with union partners
  • Anticipates labor relations trends
  • legislative shifts
  • organizing risk
  • proactively shapes business strategy and mitigation plans
  • Leads and develops a team of labor relations professionals
  • setting clear expectations for quality, consistency, and risk management
  • Oversees and coaches the team in resolving very high-complexity, high-risk labor disputes and grievances
  • serving as escalation point for critical cases
  • Builds a Labor Relations Community of Practice
  • enabling knowledge sharing
  • early risk detection
  • consistent execution across regions
  • Creates a robust training program
  • support the education of business leaders on managing in a union environment
  • Drives manager and executive capability through scalable training
  • executive coaching
  • labor readiness programs
  • Serves as a liaison with HR Legal and other critical partners
  • set parameters for collective bargaining negotiations and arbitration strategy
  • assess risk and set enterprise negotiation parameters
  • Leverages stakeholder partners to influence policy and decision making based upon observed trends
  • Ensures consistent interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements across the organization
  • Serves as a trusted advisor to senior and executive leaders
  • influencing decisions with significant labor, reputational, or regulatory impact
  • Guides leaders through high-stakes labor moments (e.g., organizing activity, strikes, major negotiations, restructures)
  • May serve as a subject matter expert on Labor Relations-related topics both within teams and for other teams (e.g., Human Resources [HR] Consulting, HR Business Partnership [HRBP], HR Leadership, management)
  • Consults with colleagues and/or management as deemed appropriate
  • Maintains a feedback loop with HR Legal for any business decisions that may impact union represented employees
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 9+ years experience in in human resources operations, labor relations, mediation, collective bargaining, employee relations-related roles or related field; OR Master's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 6+ years experience in human resources operations, labor relations, mediation, collective bargaining, employee relations-related roles or related field human resources operations, labor relations or related field; OR equivalent experience.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 15+ years experience in in human resources operations, labor relations, mediation, collective bargaining, employee relations-related roles or related field; OR Master's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 12+ years experience in human resources operations, labor relations, mediation, collective bargaining, employee relations-related roles or related field human resources operations, labor relations or related field; OR equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years people management experience.
  • Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.
  • Experience leading labor relations strategy within a large, matrixed, global organization.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence executive decision-making in high-risk labor environments.
  • Experience leading teams through complex labor transformations or first-contract negotiations.
  • Labor Relations M6
  • USD $130,900 - $277,200 per year