Senior Director, Associate Relations

Our values start with our people, join a team that values you!

We are the nation’s largest off-price retailer with over 2,000 stores, and a strong track record of success and growth. Our focus has always been bringing our customers a constant stream of high-quality brands and on-trend merchandise at extraordinary savings. All while providing a fun and exciting treasure hunt experience.
As part of our team, you will experience:

• Success. Our winning team pursues excellence while learning and evolving
• Career growth. We develop industry leading talent because Ross grows when our people grow
• Teamwork. We work together to solve the hard problems and find the right solution
• Our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and our community. We celebrate the backgrounds, identities, and ideas of those who work and shop with us because our differences make us stronger. We strive to be a positive force in our community.

Our Corporate headquarters are in Dublin, CA, we have 3 buying offices in key markets in New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston, and 8 distribution centers nationwide. With 2023 revenues of $20.4 billion, we are a Fortune 500 company who is committed to providing an inclusive work environment with continuous learning opportunities and development for our teams.

GENERAL PURPOSE:
As a strategic advisor, functional expert and thought partner, this role is responsible for all aspects of the design, implementation and maintenance of our positive associate/labor relations program for Stores, Supply Chain, and the Corporate Office, including third party vendors. Works with cross-functional partners to continuously improve the workplace environment, enhance engagement, and promote health and safety of our associates; recommends and helps drive strategies to foster our pro-associate culture and facilitate leader connection and responsiveness to associate voice. Monitors internal and external trends and legislative developments, drives proactive change in response to developments and if ever needed, represents Ross/dd's in labor-management relations.

The base salary range for this role is $143,500 - $270,100. The base salary range is dependent on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, qualifications, relevant education, certifications, seniority, and location. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards vary by position and location.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Strategizes and oversees all aspects of the design, implementation and maintenance of our positive associate/labor relations program and policies, including third party vendors, for Stores, Supply Chain, and the Corporate Office.

• Develops major goals and leads initiatives to support broad functional objectives; works cross-functionally with other teams to achieve them.

• Analyzes Human Resources workforce analytics and other internal data, as well as external trends and insights, and recommends actions to support our pro-associate culture and positive workplace. Develops employee engagement predictive analytic resources and tools.

• Influences and supports cross-functional partners and key stakeholders to continuously improve the workplace environment, enhance engagement, and promote health and safety of our associates; recommend and help drive strategies to impact the quality of managers and their level of empathy/associate connection/responsiveness to associate issues

• Collaborates and aligns as a close business partner with the Associate Experience leader, other areas of HR, and the Operations teams to ensure the labor relations perspective is represented from the outset of operational initiative design, appropriate change management and communication; evaluate impact of new programs on associates and if changes are negative, employ appropriate change strategies

• Keeps a keen eye on developing issues that could have labor relations ramifications and provide ongoing current feedback to the HR functional leaders and business partners.

• If required: drives overall direction of labor strategy, advising leaders on issues, labor best practices, labor trends, and labor laws. Possesses skills and experience to represent the organization in all labor-management relations including NLRB proceedings, contract negotiations, dispute resolution, and union communications, and conduct day to day administration of collective bargaining agreement including contract interpretation, grievance handling, arbitration cases, and responding to Unfair Labor Practices.

COMPETENCIES:
People

• Building Effective Teams (for managers of People and Projects)

• Developing Talent (for managers of people only, N/A for this role/level)

• Collaboration
Self

• Leading by Example

• Communicates Effectively

• Ensures Accountability and Execution

• Manages Conflict
Business

• Business Acumen

• Plans, Aligns and Prioritizes

• Organizational Agility
With particular emphasis on the following specific position-related competencies:

• Communication

• Technical Competence

• Strategic

• Agility

• Decision Quality

• Integrity & Trust

• Listening

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS REQUIRED:

• 15+ years in directly relevant Human Resources/Labor Relations roles with a minimum of 10 years' experience in Labor Relations. Prefer experience with contract negotiations

• Bachelor's Degree

• Thorough understanding of labor law and its practical application

• Associate experience mindset, i.e. balancing the needs of the associate with the needs of the business; moving quickly to resolve issues.

• Deep experience working with both unionized and non-unionized workforces, analyzing data and designing proactive strategies and drafting communication, designing and conducting interventions for troubled work areas, collective bargaining/contract administration, designing tools and trainings, monitoring labor trends, working and with outside experts.

• Ability to relate in-person and in writing to all levels of associates - up, down and sideways; both internal leaders as well as external union stakeholders. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with ability to deliver messages that either will persuade/influence and or drive to agreement. Manage disagreements and conflicts.

• Business/thought partner and advocate

• Ability to manage large-scale projects, write decks and analyze/tell story with data

• Bilingual - English/Spanish in written and verbal communications skills is highly desirable

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/ADA:
This position requires the ability to work in an office environment, including using a computer, attending meetings, working as part of a team, and the ability to communicate with team members and others. Regular attendance also is a requirement of the position.
Some travel required
This role requires regular in-office presence, including attending in-person team interaction, meetings and collaboration, client support, mentoring, coaching, and/or feedback. However, this role can perform duties effectively using a combination of in-office and remote work. #LI-Hybrid

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None

DISCLAIMER:
This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at management's discretion.

Ross is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. We believe that it is an essential part of the Company's overall commitment to attract, hire and develop a strong, talented and diverse workforce. Ross is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.