Labor Relations Consultant

The Port of Portland is Hiring for a

Labor Relations Consultant

Your Role

At the Port, our workforce is at the heart of everything we do. We are seeking an experienced Labor Relations Consultant who will play a critical role in shaping how we partner with our unions and support our represented employees. In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to leadership, lead complex labor negotiations, and help navigate challenging labor relations matters with professionalism, fairness, and sound judgment. Your work will directly influence the strength of our labor-management partnerships and help ensure our workplace reflects the Port's values of respect, collaboration, and accountability.

From the Hiring Manager

Labor relations work sits at the intersection of people, trust, and organizational success. In this role, you'll partner closely with leaders across the Port to navigate complex labor issues, support thoughtful decision-making, and help foster productive labor-management relationships. You'll have the opportunity to lead meaningful negotiations, resolve challenging employee matters, and contribute to a workplace where represented employees feel respected, heard, and supported. If you are someone who brings sound judgment, strong relationship skills, and a collaborative approach to labor relations, you'll find this role both impactful and rewarding.

• Perform a wide range of labor relations job tasks.
• Assist with labor negotiations and development of the Port's positions, proposals, counterproposals, and strategies in collective bargaining activities.
• Use appropriate negotiation strategies to assist in developing bargaining goals and negotiating collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) consistent with the Port's mission, vision, and values.
• Conduct research necessary to support CBA negotiations, prior to and arising out of the bargaining process.
• Negotiate and prepare Memoranda of Agreement, Understanding, and Exception, along with Supplemental Agreements as required.
• Facilitate or attend labor management meetings as required, research issues brought forward and prepare the Port's response.
• Maintains current knowledge of labor relations trends, legal decisions, and statutory changes.
• Develops, facilitates, and maintains cooperative working relationships with employee representatives, Port leadership, and department managers, including coordination of joint labor-management committees. Exercises professional leadership in promoting good employee/management relations.
• Serve as liaison between management and labor representatives to communicate operational, policy, information, and other changes related to represented staff. Develop and maintain good relations with labor representatives.
• Provide consultation to employees and managers on workplace conflicts, disciplinary issues, and performance improvement expectations.
• Coach and counsel managers on how to handle employee performance issues and concerns, make recommendations necessary to prevent and/or resolve employee issues, actively manage the process, monitor and follow up, and report on employees' progress.
• Track employee issues, analyze data, and provide reporting.

Full position description is available upon request.

Education and Experience required for this role.

• Experience: Eight (8) or more years of progressively more senior experience in human resources, to include a minimum of three years' experience as a negotiator of successful labor agreements between management and labor organizations
  1. To include experience planning, directing, and coordinating the labor relations activities of a public agency is preferred, or the equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience.
• Education: Master's/bachelor's degree in labor relations, Human Resources, Business, social sciences, or related field. Experience may be substituted for the educational qualifications.
• License and/or Certification: PHR/SPHR and CLRP preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of employee and labor relations principles and practices, including contract administration, interpretation, and collective bargaining.
• Strong understanding of applicable labor laws and regulations, including the National Labor Relations Act, Oregon's Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act, and related state and federal employment laws.
• Familiarity with rulings and processes from the National Labor Relations Board and the Oregon Employment Relations Board.
• Knowledge of relevant court decisions, labor relations trends, and public sector labor practices, including PERS rules and regulations.
• Ability to analyze complex labor issues, develop strategic responses, and communicate effectively with leaders, employees, and union representatives.

Working Conditions

We offer a flexible hybrid schedule that combines work-life balance with team collaboration. You'll be in the office Tuesday through Thursday to engage with colleagues and support our business lines, with the flexibility to work from home on Mondays and Fridays. Due to the nature of this role, alternative or after-hours work may be necessary due to involvement in negotiations and meetings outside of normal work hours.

Compensation

Our organization adheres to established salary ranges for each position to ensure equitable pay practices. However, final offers are determined based on various factors, including the candidate's experience, qualifications, and considerations of internal pay equity.

SELECTION PROCESS (tentative schedule):

1. A minimum qualification evaluation of the education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources the week of March 16, 2026.
   
   
2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials, including any responses to the supplemental questionnaire.
   
   
3. Candidates who successfully pass the SME evaluation will be invited to a first-round virtual interview by March 20th, unless the application period is extended. Candidates who successfully pass the first round of interviews will be notified by invitation for a panel interview at the Port of Portland offices.

About us:

At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have - our three airports, three working marine terminals, six business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them - to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone's life better. And we'll use our power and influence to unlock new opportunities and ensure more people share in our region's success. With YOUR help - together with our partners, customers, and community - we'll help drive meaningful change!

Do you have questions about this job?

Contact us: careers@portofportland.com

Safety: The Port promotes safety as a Core value and we seek to eliminate harm through a culture of active prevention, curiosity, evaluation, and action. We comply with safety and health policies and procedures and consistently look for improvements that support operational excellence.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Port of Portland is dedicated to maintaining and improving a work environment, which extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Employment decisions shall be made in such a manner as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination.

Veterans Preference: Under Oregon law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Port of Portland positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veteran's preference for this job, please provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Background Checks and Drug Testing: The Port of Portland will conduct background checks and/or drug tests for positions where such tests are required by regulation and for other safety-sensitive positions.

ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the Port can reasonably do so without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources: call 503-415-6690 or email careers@portofportland.com.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal