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Labor Relations Division Director (Human Resources Division Director)

Fairfax County

FAIRFAX (EJ32), VAFull-time$119–225K/yrPosted 3 days agoStill listed 3 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$119–225K/yr
Location
FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree, required

Job overview

The Labor Relations Division Director manages labor relations programs in Fairfax County’s Department of Human Resources, including collective bargaining agreement negotiations, contract administration and interpretation, and related management guidance. The role advises senior county leaders, directs division operations and staff, develops HR policies and strategies, and represents the county in policy and labor matters. It also leads process improvement and strategic change initiatives.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Management Principles, nice to haveOrganizational Development, nice to haveConsulting, nice to haveLocal Government Operations, nice to haveHuman Resources, nice to haveInformation Technology, nice to haveFinancial Management, nice to haveBudgeting, nice to haveInternal Controls, nice to havePlanning and Evaluation, nice to haveStrategic Visioning, nice to haveStrategy Development, nice to haveComplex Problem Analysis, nice to haveStaff Management, nice to havePerformance Measurement, nice to haveChange Management, nice to haveCommunication, nice to haveRelationship Building, nice to haveTeamwork, nice to haveCreative Thinking, nice to haveLeadership, nice to haveProblem Solving, nice to haveOral Communication, nice to haveWritten Communication, nice to haveInterpersonal Skills, nice to haveCollaboration, nice to haveDecision Making, nice to haveCollective Bargaining, nice to haveStrategic Negotiation, nice to haveTrust Building, nice to haveInterest-Based Negotiation, nice to haveCollaborative Problem Solving, nice to haveLifting and Carrying, nice to have

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Personnel Administration or Related, requiredSix Years HR Experience, requiredTwo Years Senior HR Consultant or Manager Experience, requiredMaster's Degree Substitution for One Year Experience, requiredCriminal Background Check, requiredMaster's in Public Administration, Business Administration, Human Resources or Related, nice to haveJuris Doctor, nice to haveSeven Years Labor Relations and Litigation Experience, nice to haveProfessional Human Resources Certification, nice to have

Full job description

This position manages and directs the labor relations division in the Department of Human Resources. Program activities include negotiation of collective bargaining agreements; contract administration and interpretation, and guidance/coordination of related management activities consistent with the mission of the county and the direction of the Board of Supervisors. Serves as a key contributor to development and maintenance of comprehensive Human Resources policies and strategies. Works under the direction of the Director of Human Resources and Deputy Director of Talent Management.(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.) Overall Duties of the Class

  • Serves as senior advisor to County Executive, Deputy County Executives, Director of Human Resources, and Deputy Directors of Human Resources on matters of policy, procedure and process;
  • Supervises a team of senior level professionals performing advanced technical analysis and making decisions about County policies, procedures and processes;
  • Serves as countywide lead responding to issues of critical importance including responsibility for managing and coordinating the responses of staff in agencies across the county;
  • Coordinates and directs ongoing process improvement initiatives within the County;
  • Makes presentations to the Board of Supervisors, citizen groups, and senior management and provides responses to inquires from citizens, press, and others.

Manages a Critical Area

  • Responsible for major business areas such as a division or program;
  • Develops vision, goals, objectives and performance measures;
  • Plans and evaluates operations, programs and staff;
  • Oversees budget, internal controls and fiscal operations;
  • Oversees technology operations related to business area;
  • Develops policy and coordinates policy with senior management team;
  • Responsible for customer service;
  • Conceptualizes and plans new or improved programs for business area, collaborates with senior management team on interdisciplinary programs.
  • Responsible for communication and information dissemination regarding operations, programs, policies and procedures;
  • Interprets legislation, regulations and case law that effect business areas, develops compliance strategies, proposes new legislation or changes to existing legislation.

Senior Management Team

  • Collaborates with others inside and outside the organization to develop and implement HR policies and programs that support business areas countywide;
  • Develops and facilitates interdisciplinary teams and teamwork;
  • Represents the county on policy-making committees, teams and task forces;
  • Manages department in director's absence.

Provides Consultant Services

  • Creates, plans, facilitates, and evaluates strategic change initiatives;
  • Develops conceptual solutions to complex problems and issues with countywide implications;
  • Acts pro-actively to improve business processes within the organization;
  • Serves as subject matter expert for internal and external clients;
  • Serves as project manager for new systems and programs in various areas. For example: employee compensation and benefits; organizational training and workforce development; business process engineering; automated systems.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

  • Knowledge of management principles and practices;
  • Knowledge of organizational development;
  • Knowledge of consulting principles and practices;
  • Knowledge of local government issues, operations and responsibilities;
  • Knowledge of human resources issues, operations and responsibilities;
  • Knowledge of information technology;
  • Knowledge of financial, budget and internal control principles;
  • Knowledge of methods of planning and evaluation;
  • Ability to formulate the long-term view and direction (vision) for a business area, program or project in the organization;
  • Ability to create strategies and plans for achieving that vision;
  • Ability to analyze complex issues, processes and operations and develop solutions;
  • Ability to manage the staff and operations of a business area, program or project;
  • Ability to manage staff and operations using performance measurements;
  • Ability to manage change;
  • Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups in a diverse workforce and community;
  • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, coworkers, senior managers, elected officials, members of boards, authorities and commissions, citizens, and representatives from other organizations;
  • Ability to work as a team member or leader and develop teamwork in others;
  • Highly developed skills in creative thinking;
  • Highly developed skills in leadership;
  • Highly developed skills in problem solving;
  • Highly developed skills in oral and written communication;
  • Highly developed skills in interpersonal relationships;
  • Highly developed skills in collaboration;
  • Highly developed skills in decision making.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in personnel administration, public administration, or a related field, plus six years of HR experience, including two years of experience as a Senior HR Consultant, program/project manager, or operations supervisor. A master's degree may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in public administration, business administration, human resources, or a related field; or a Doctor of Jurisprudence (law degree) from an accredited law school.

  • Seven (7) years of experience in labor/employee relations and litigation, preferably in the public sector, which must have substantial experience as a primary negotiator in management-union contracts.
  • Professional Human Resources certification.

The ideal candidate will understand, value, and appreciate the variety of opinions and positions of both labor and management; have previous experience in public sector collective bargaining, especially with contracts subject to binding arbitration; must be an effective, strategic negotiator proficient in building trust; identifying interests, not positions; and finding options for a path forward collaboratively.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 15 - 20 lbs. This position typically operates in an office environment, and duties are generally sedentary in nature. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview; may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. [email protected] EEO/AA/TTY.

How this job compares

Set against the 5,874 open Human Resources jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$119–225K/yr
  • Virginia median$110–157K/yr130 salary ranges
  • US median$93–136K/yr2,938 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $172K, is 31% above the Virginia median midpoint ($131K) — in the middle half of Human Resources salary ranges in Virginia.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 211 open Human Resources jobs in Virginia and 5,874 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Virginia
Experience
This posting asks for at least 6 years of experience; Human Resources postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (4,233 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 1,540 of the 5,874 open Human Resources jobs (26%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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