Labor Relations Partner - Senior

ONEOK, Inc

Tulsa, OK

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JOB DETAILS

SALARY

$116,000–$174,000 Per Year

SKILLS

Administrative Skills, Analysis Skills, Bid Analysis, Business Administration, Business Strategy, CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Displays, Channel Support, Collective Bargaining, Communication Skills, Computer Workstations, Contract Analysis, Contract Management, Contract Requirements, Corporate Policies, Corrective Action, Cross-Functional, Crude Oil, Data Analysis, Decision Support, Depth Perception, Disability Accommodations, Documentation, Employee Relations, Fortune 500 Customers, Human Resources, Identify Issues, Industrial Relations, Leadership, Legal, Legal Support Skills, Maintain Compliance, Manual Dexterity, Multitasking, Natural Gas, Negotiation Skills, Physical Demands, Proposal Development, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Requirements, Research Skills, Risk, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Sustainability, Team Player, Time Management, Trend Analysis, Willing to Travel, Workforce Planning

LOCATION

Tulsa, OK

POSTED

5 days ago

#WeAreONEOK–Fortune 500 company. 100+ years in business. Leading midstream service provider. Safety first. Sustainable operations. Environmentally responsible. Employee focused.

JOB SUMMARY

Job Profile Summary

This role is responsible for leading and supporting labor relations strategy, including contract administration and collective bargaining activities, while serving as a key liaison across the business, HR, legal, and external counsel. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in union environments and a proven ability to navigate complex labor matters with sound judgment and a solutions-oriented approach. This individual will play a critical role in fostering productive relationships between labor and management, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws, and advising leaders on risk mitigation and labor strategy. In addition, the Senior Labor Relations Partner will support the Employee Relations function by leading high-priority workplace investigations and organizational climate assessments, contributing to a fair, consistent, and positive employee experience.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

+ Lead the administration and ongoing interpretation of collective bargaining agreements, ensuring consistent application and compliance with contractual obligations across the business.

+ Support and participate in collective bargaining activities, including preparation, strategy development, proposal evaluation, and coordination with internal stakeholders and external counsel.

+ Manage the grievance and arbitration process end-to-end, including intake, investigation, documentation, resolution, and partnership with legal counsel on arbitration proceedings.

+ Conduct proactive labor relations risk assessments, identifying potential issues and advising leaders on mitigation strategies to reduce organizational risk and maintain positive labor-management relations.

+ Serve as a key liaison between labor representatives, leadership, HR, Legal, and external partners, ensuring alignment and effective communication across all stakeholders.

+ Oversee and support contract administration activities related to represented employees, including payroll-related coordination, seniority list management, and adherence to contract provisions tied to workforce processes.

+ Partner with HR Business Partners and business leaders to provide strategic labor relations guidance, including contract interpretation, workforce planning considerations, and employee communications.

+ Lead complex workplace investigations involving represented and non-represented employees, ensuring fair, thorough, and timely resolution in alignment with company policies and legal requirements.

+ Conduct organizational climate assessments and support action planning efforts to address workplace concerns, improve engagement, and strengthen labor-management relationships.

+ Recommend and support the administration of corrective action, up to and including termination, ensuring alignment with company policies, past practice, and collective bargaining agreement provisions.

Education

+ Bachelor's Degree in human resources, labor relations, business administration or related field, or an equivalent combination of formal education and the following job-related experience

+ Master's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field

Work Experience

+ 7 - 10 years of relevant experience in labor relations, employee relations, or related HR functions required. Experience should include work in a unionized environment, with exposure to collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance processes. Demonstrated ability to navigate complex labor matters, partner effectively with business and legal stakeholders, and support or lead labor strategy initiatives is preferred. Experience conducting workplace investigations or supporting employee relations matters is also preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

+ Skills in: labor Relations Expertise: Deep knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, contract interpretation, grievance procedures, and arbitration processes within a unionized environment.

+ Ability to: navigate Complex Labor Matters: Applies sound judgment and experience to manage sensitive labor issues, balancing business objectives with contractual and legal obligations.

+ Ability to: collaborate Cross-Functionally: Effectively partners with Labor (GWC), Legal, HR Business Partners, leadership, and external counsel to align on strategy and execution.

+ Ability to: influence and Advise Leaders: Provides credible, strategic counsel to leaders at all levels on labor relations risks, contract interpretation, and employee engagement in a union environment.

+ Ability to: build and Maintain Relationships: Establishes trust with union representatives, frontline employees, and leadership, fostering productive labor-management relationships.

+ Skills in: collective Bargaining Support: Demonstrates experience preparing for and supporting negotiations, including data analysis, proposal development, and coordination of stakeholders.

+ Ability to: manage Grievance and Arbitration Processes: Leads end-to-end grievance handling with strong investigative, documentation, and resolution capabilities; partners effectively with legal on arbitration strategy.

+ Skills in: risk Assessment and Mitigation: Identifies labor-related risks proactively and develops practical, compliant solutions to minimize exposure and drive consistency.

+ Skills in: investigation and Fact-Finding: Conducts complex workplace investigations with neutrality, ensuring findings are based on facts, evidence, past practice, and contract provisions.

+ Ability to: interpret and Apply Contracts: Translates complex CBA language into clear guidance for leaders and HR, ensuring consistent application across the organization.

+ Skills in: analytical Thinking: Uses data (grievances, arbitrations, workforce trends) to identify patterns, inform strategy, and support decision-making.

+ Skills in: communication: Communicates clearly and effectively in both written and verbal formats, including drafting grievance responses, summaries, and executive-level briefings.

+ Ability to: respectfully Challenge: Confidently challenges assumptions or decisions that may create risk or inconsistency, offering constructive, solutions-oriented perspectives.

+ Ability to: adapt and Manage Ambiguity: Remains effective in dynamic labor environments, managing multiple priorities such as active grievances, investigations, and bargaining preparation.

Licenses and Certifications

+ Certification in HR or employee relations (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP) preferred

Strength Factor Rating - Physical Demands/Requirements

+ Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Strength Factor Description - Physical Demands/Requirements

+ Standing: Remaining on one's feet in an upright position at a work station without moving about (Occasionally)

+ Walking: Moving about on foot (Frequently)

+ Sitting: Remaining in a seated position (Constantly)

+ Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling) (Occasionally)

+ Carrying: Transporting an object, usually holding it in the hands or arms, or on the shoulder (Occasionally)

+ Pushing: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (Occasionally)

+ Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking) (Occasionally)

+ Climbing: Ladders, Stairs (Occasionally)

+ Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling (Occasionally)

+ Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist (Occasionally)

+ Kneeling: Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees (Occasionally)

+ Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine (Occasionally)

+ Crawling: Moving about on the hands and arms in any direction (Occasionally)

+ Reaching: Extending hands and arms in any direction (Constantly)

+ Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with the hand or hands (Manual Dexterity) (Constantly)

+ Fingering: Picking, pinching or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (Finger Dexterity) (Constantly)

+ Feeling: Perceiving such attributes of objects/materials as size, shape, temperature, texture, movement or pulsation by receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips (Constantly)

+ Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas/information by means of the spoken word (Frequently)

+ Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sound by the ear (Frequently)

+ Tasting/Smelling: (Occasionally)

+ Near Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less (Constantly)

+ Far Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 feet for more (Frequently)

+ Depth Perception: Three-dimensional vision; ability to judge distances and spatial relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are (Frequently)

+ Vision: Color - The ability to identify and distinguish colors (Constantly)

Working Conditions/Environment

+ Employee is subject to inside environmental conditions

Working Conditions

+ Well lighted, climate controlled areas (Constantly)

+ Frequent repetitive motion (Constantly)

+ CRT (Computer Monitor(s)) (Constantly)

Travel

+ Travel to other locations and job sites out-of-doors required

Driving

+ Based on assigned tasks, employee may be assigned a company vehicle requiring the applicable driver's license

_ONEOK is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, national origin, gender identity, disability, military/veteran status, genetic information or any other categories protected by applicable law._

_The job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of ONEOK._

_ONEOK is committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request an accommodation email HRSolutions@ONEOK.com or call 1-855-663-6547._

Expected Salary Range

$116,000.00 - $174,000.00

At ONEOK (NYSE: OKE), we deliver energy products and services vital to an advancing world. We are a leading midstream operator that provides gathering, processing, fractionation, transportation, storage and marine export services. Through our approximately 60,000-mile pipeline network, we transport the natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), refined products and crude oil that help meet domestic and international energy demand, contribute to energy security and provide safe, reliable and responsible energy solutions needed today and into the future. As one of the largest integrated energy infrastructure companies in North America, ONEOK is delivering energy that makes a difference in the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world.

About the Company

ONEOK, Inc

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