H-1B Visa Labor Relations Director Jobs
Labor Relations Directors who need H-1B visa sponsorship are navigating a specialty occupation that requires demonstrating a direct link between a relevant degree and a complex management role. Employers filing your H-1B must document that collective bargaining, grievance resolution, and labor law compliance require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific field.
Find H-1B Visa Labor Relations Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 42+ Labor Relations Director jobs










See all 42+ Labor Relations Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Labor Relations Director roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
INTRODUCTION
Brandeis University is seeking a strategic, highly motivated, and compliance-driven Interim Director, Employee and Labor Relations to assist in planning, organizing, and directing key human resources operations and overseeing the University’s Human Resources Business Partner group. Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources and collaborating with other HR and Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) leaders, the Director is responsible for the development and execution of labor and employee relations strategy to support a positive work environment that promotes positive labor relationships, employee engagement, employee satisfaction, effective communication, and a culture of teamwork and trust. The ideal candidate combines deep labor and employee relations expertise with sound judgement, exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to build productive relationships across a varied university community and with external partners.
The hiring range for the position is $160k-$180k.
JOB DUTIES
Employee Relations (60%)
- Provide strategic consultation and support to senior leadership and managers throughout the University regarding all human capital-related issues including organizational structure, reorganizations, positive employee engagement, employee communications, performance concerns, and reorganizations/reductions in force.
- Coordinate and direct all aspects of Brandeis’ employee relations practice, including the development of human resources policies and practices designed to foster engagement, drafting and revising employee communications, and counseling managers and supervisors and oversight of performance management.
- Supervise and oversee the University’s Human Resources Business Partners who serve as the entry point for accessing human resources services and partner closely with their operational units to provide a high level of HR consultation and support.
- Oversee and conduct employee investigations that are not related to allegations of discrimination or sexual misconduct, including investigations related to employee conduct, workplace violence and consensual relationships.
- Support organizational change initiatives by ensuring that communication and employee relations strategies are in place to effectively manage transitions. Provide support and guidance to leaders and managers on implementing change.
- Provide technical guidance, leadership and support to human resources colleagues with regard leaves leave of absence, equitable hiring practices, and other compliance-related concerns.
- Support and facilitate all ADA reasonable accommodations for university faculty and staff.
- Partner with HR colleagues’ other constituents to design and deliver training to managers and employees on relevant employee relations compliance topics and recent employment law updates.
- Serve as the Human Resources Business Partner for faculty.
Labor Relations (40%)
- Coordinate and direct all aspects of the University’s labor relations practice, including contract negotiations, contract administration, grievance administration, oversight of union elections, developing labor strategy, union-related metrics and reporting, maintaining and cultivating union relationships and encouraging positive employee relations in non-union sectors of the University.
- Advise senior leadership and managers on labor compliance, reorganizations and other employment actions related to unionized employees, emerging issues and potential legal risks.
- Partner with General Counsel’s office and external counsel to manage labor relations issues and processes.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field. Masters in a related field or Law degree preferred.
Experience: 8-10 years of demonstrated, progressive human resources and labor relations experience, typically with direct exposure to unionized work environments. 5+ years of direct management experience. Experience in higher education is preferred.
Skills: Deep knowledge of labor and employment law, strong negotiation and mediation abilities, high emotional intelligence, and sound analytical and crisis-management skills.
Strong knowledge of related federal and state rules and regulations; excellent project management skills including successful leadership of projects from planning phase through completion; experience collaborating with groups, including faculty, staff, students, consultants, federal, state and local agencies, auditors, and community groups.
Pay Range Disclosure
The University's pay ranges represent a good faith estimate of what Brandeis reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Brandeis University is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, caste, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law (also known as membership in a "protected class").
See all 42+ H-1B Visa Labor Relations Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Labor Relations Director Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Labor Relations Director
Map your degree to the role
USCIS scrutinizes Labor Relations Director petitions for specialty occupation evidence. Pull the O*NET profile for this role and document exactly how your degree in HR, industrial relations, or law aligns with the position's required duties.
Target unionized industries with H-1B history
Healthcare systems, public utilities, and large manufacturers consistently file H-1B petitions for labor relations roles. Search Migrate Mate to filter employers by verified LCA filing history before you apply, so you're targeting companies that already know the process.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your specific location and job title. Run the OFLC Wage Search using SOC code 11-3131 before your offer conversation so you negotiate from an accurate floor.
Prepare documentation of labor law expertise
RFEs on Labor Relations Director petitions often challenge whether the role truly requires a specialized degree. Compile examples of NLRA compliance decisions, arbitration outcomes, or contract negotiations you led to substantiate the specialty occupation argument in your petition.
Clarify cap-exempt status with your employer
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and certain government contractors are cap-exempt H-1B filers. If you're considering roles in higher education or nonprofit labor relations, confirm the employer's cap-exempt status with USCIS before assuming lottery exposure.
Time your filing around collective bargaining cycles
Many labor relations hires are triggered by upcoming contract negotiations. If your employer times the offer around bargaining season, confirm the H-1B filing window aligns with the April 1 cap-subject filing period or use the 60-day grace period strategically if you're transitioning roles.
H-1B Visa Labor Relations Director: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Labor Relations Director role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, but the employer must document that the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field, not just any degree. Labor relations, HR management, industrial relations, or employment law are the strongest degree matches. Roles that accept any business degree without field specificity face higher RFE rates, so the job description must clearly articulate degree requirements tied to the actual duties.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Labor Relations Director positions?
Large unionized employers in healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and public utilities are among the most active filers for labor relations roles. Universities and nonprofit organizations can file outside the H-1B cap entirely. Use Migrate Mate to search employers by verified DOL Labor Condition Application filing history for this occupation, which filters out employers who have never sponsored this role type.
What SOC code applies to Labor Relations Director roles on the LCA?
Most Labor Relations Director positions fall under SOC code 11-3131, Labor Relations Specialists, though some senior roles may be classified under 11-3121, Human Resources Managers. The SOC code drives the prevailing wage your employer must certify on the LCA, so confirming the correct classification before filing directly affects your guaranteed minimum compensation.
Can a Labor Relations Director change employers while on H-1B?
Yes, H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer as soon as they file an H-1B transfer petition, without waiting for USCIS approval, as long as your current petition has been approved and you've maintained lawful status. For a senior role like this, confirm your new employer files promptly before your current status expires and that the new LCA reflects the correct prevailing wage for your new location.
Does a Labor Relations Director role support a green card through PERM?
Yes, but PERM labor certification for this role requires the employer to conduct a supervised recruitment process proving no qualified U.S. workers are available at the offered wage. Labor relations roles with highly specific experience requirements, such as sector-specific collective bargaining expertise, can support a narrower job description that strengthens the PERM case. The EB-2 or EB-3 category typically applies depending on degree and experience level.