Labor Relations Director Jobs in Illinois
Labor Relations Director jobs in Illinois are active and competitive, concentrated in manufacturing, healthcare, higher education, and public-sector agencies, with openings at every level from emerging labor relations managers through senior directors overseeing enterprise-wide bargaining strategy. Chicago is the dominant hiring hub, but Rockford, Springfield, and the greater Chicagoland suburbs generate steady demand, anchored by employers like United Airlines, Advocate Health Care, and the University of Illinois system. The most in-demand specialties are collective bargaining, grievance administration, and labor compliance for organized workforces. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 14+ Labor Relations Director jobs
ARE YOU A CURRENT US FOODS EMPLOYEE? PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR INTERNAL WORKDAY CAREER SITE
Join Our Community of Food People!
The Labor Relations, Sr Director is responsible for shaping and leading the company’s labor relations agenda while supporting the “You Matter” culture. This role partners with senior leadership to design strategies that foster positive labor-management relations, mitigate risk, and align with long-term business objectives. Key responsibilities include leading complex collective bargaining negotiations, managing arbitration and grievance processes, and overseeing company responses to regulatory matters. The position requires a proactive, collaborative leader with deep labor relations expertise, strong executive influence, and a demonstrated ability to promote a workplace culture where associates feel valued, respected, and supported.This position has been segmented as Remote Anywhere meaning the work is completed 100% remote anywhere in the U.S. except Hawaii or United States Territories.
Responsibilities:
Direct labor relations activities, programs, and strategy implementation to achieve goals aligned with company objectives while fostering a “You Matter” culture where every associate feels valued and respected.
Serve as chief spokesperson in contract negotiations, representing the company and operationalizing labor policies that are both market-competitive and strategically aligned, while reinforcing a culture of inclusion and respect.
Provide advice and counsel in grievance-arbitration matters and occasionally act as company advocate in labor arbitration cases, ensuring consistent, fair, and equitable application of company policies and practices.
Manage the preparation and presentation of responses to charges under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) with integrity and transparency.
Stay current on labor relations trends, case law, and best practices in the distribution industry, integrating relevant insights that support both business objectives and associate engagement.
Drive excellence in negotiations by ensuring thorough preparation and successful execution of labor contracts that balance organizational needs with associate value and respect.
Assess and develop labor and employee relations training programs, in partnership with business leaders, to build organizational capability and reinforce a “You Matter” culture.
Other duties as assigned by manager.
Relatoinships:
- Internal: This role partners closely with Executive Leadership; Supply Chain and Field Operational leadership; Human Resources; Legal; and Finance
- External: This role collaborates with union representatives, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), external labor counsel, industry associations, and consultants to manage labor negotiations, resolve disputes, ensure regulatory compliance, and incorporate best practices into the company’s labor relations strategy.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Minimum of 7 years of labor relations experience, with relevant industry experience in retail, wholesale, manufacturing, consumer products, or distribution.
Minimum of 3 years of experience presenting cases before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Extensive experience in the development and execution of labor relations strategies.
Hands-on experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements and labor contracts.
Proven ability to work with and influence leaders at all levels, from frontline supervisors to C-Suite executives.
Willingness to travel up to 75% of the time (with an average of approximately 50% travel).
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in related discipline required. Law degree preferred.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in leading labor relations within large, multi-site organizations.
Advanced knowledge of labor law and grievance-arbitration processes.
Track record of fostering a positive labor-management relationship and promoting a “You Matter” culture.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret labor trends and data to drive strategic decisions.
Proven ability to develop and mentor labor relations teams or HR professionals.
Experience managing high-profile or complex labor disputes with measurable outcomes.
This role will also receive an annual incentive plan bonus and a Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP).
Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please click here: https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html.
Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between
$145,000 - $225,000***EOE – Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Age/Genetic Information/Protected Veteran/Disability Status***
ARE YOU A CURRENT US FOODS EMPLOYEE? PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR INTERNAL WORKDAY CAREER SITE
Join Our Community of Food People!
The Labor Relations, Sr Director is responsible for shaping and leading the company’s labor relations agenda while supporting the “You Matter” culture. This role partners with senior leadership to design strategies that foster positive labor-management relations, mitigate risk, and align with long-term business objectives. Key responsibilities include leading complex collective bargaining negotiations, managing arbitration and grievance processes, and overseeing company responses to regulatory matters. The position requires a proactive, collaborative leader with deep labor relations expertise, strong executive influence, and a demonstrated ability to promote a workplace culture where associates feel valued, respected, and supported.This position has been segmented as Remote Anywhere meaning the work is completed 100% remote anywhere in the U.S. except Hawaii or United States Territories.
Responsibilities:
Direct labor relations activities, programs, and strategy implementation to achieve goals aligned with company objectives while fostering a “You Matter” culture where every associate feels valued and respected.
Serve as chief spokesperson in contract negotiations, representing the company and operationalizing labor policies that are both market-competitive and strategically aligned, while reinforcing a culture of inclusion and respect.
Provide advice and counsel in grievance-arbitration matters and occasionally act as company advocate in labor arbitration cases, ensuring consistent, fair, and equitable application of company policies and practices.
Manage the preparation and presentation of responses to charges under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) with integrity and transparency.
Stay current on labor relations trends, case law, and best practices in the distribution industry, integrating relevant insights that support both business objectives and associate engagement.
Drive excellence in negotiations by ensuring thorough preparation and successful execution of labor contracts that balance organizational needs with associate value and respect.
Assess and develop labor and employee relations training programs, in partnership with business leaders, to build organizational capability and reinforce a “You Matter” culture.
Other duties as assigned by manager.
Relatoinships:
- Internal: This role partners closely with Executive Leadership; Supply Chain and Field Operational leadership; Human Resources; Legal; and Finance
- External: This role collaborates with union representatives, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), external labor counsel, industry associations, and consultants to manage labor negotiations, resolve disputes, ensure regulatory compliance, and incorporate best practices into the company’s labor relations strategy.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Minimum of 7 years of labor relations experience, with relevant industry experience in retail, wholesale, manufacturing, consumer products, or distribution.
Minimum of 3 years of experience presenting cases before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Extensive experience in the development and execution of labor relations strategies.
Hands-on experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements and labor contracts.
Proven ability to work with and influence leaders at all levels, from frontline supervisors to C-Suite executives.
Willingness to travel up to 75% of the time (with an average of approximately 50% travel).
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in related discipline required. Law degree preferred.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in leading labor relations within large, multi-site organizations.
Advanced knowledge of labor law and grievance-arbitration processes.
Track record of fostering a positive labor-management relationship and promoting a “You Matter” culture.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret labor trends and data to drive strategic decisions.
Proven ability to develop and mentor labor relations teams or HR professionals.
Experience managing high-profile or complex labor disputes with measurable outcomes.
This role will also receive an annual incentive plan bonus and a Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP).
Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please click here: https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html.
Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between
$145,000 - $225,000***EOE – Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Age/Genetic Information/Protected Veteran/Disability Status***
See All 14 Labor Relations Director Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Labor Relations Director JobsLabor Relations Director Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Labor Relations Director Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in labor relations director jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in labor relations, human resources, or a closely related field required
- Demonstrated experience leading collective bargaining negotiations with union representatives
- Deep knowledge of the National Labor Relations Act and Illinois Public Labor Relations Act
- Experience managing grievance procedures and arbitration proceedings from initiation through resolution
- Strong background in employment law compliance within unionized Illinois public or private sectors
- SHRM-SCP, PHR, or CLRP certification preferred by Illinois healthcare and government employers
Labor Relations Director Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a labor relations director in Illinois?
Most labor relations directors in Illinois follow a path that begins with a bachelor's degree in labor relations, human resources, or business administration, then builds experience in union environments through roles like labor relations specialist or HR generalist in a unionized setting. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for this role. Familiarity with the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act is essential for anyone pursuing public-sector or school district positions, which represent a large share of the state's openings.
How much do labor relations directors make in Illinois?
Labor relations directors in Illinois earn a median of about $104,180 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $63,150 for the lowest 10% to over $144,200 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire labor relations directors in Illinois?
Employers hiring labor relations directors in Illinois right now include Advocate Aurora Health, ALDI, and US Foods, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of unionized manufacturers, major hospital networks, and large state and municipal agencies makes it one of the more active markets for this role in the Midwest.
Which Illinois cities have the most labor relations director jobs?
Oak Brook, Chicago, and Aurora have the most labor relations director openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its concentration of unionized industries, corporate headquarters, and large public employers, while Springfield generates consistent demand from state government agencies and Rockford reflects manufacturing and healthcare union activity in northern Illinois.
Are there remote labor relations director jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Labor relations directors regularly attend on-site negotiations, grievance meetings, and arbitration hearings, which limits full remote arrangements. About 80% of labor relations director openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with hybrid schedules most common at corporate HR departments where some policy and compliance work can be done off-site.
How can I get hired as a labor relations director in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a labor relations specialist or HR generalist within a unionized Illinois organization, such as the City of Chicago, a Cook County agency, or a major hospital network like Advocate Health Care or Northwestern Medicine. Illinois public employers and transit agencies like the Chicago Transit Authority frequently post associate-level labor relations roles. Completing a master's degree in labor and employment relations from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's School of Labor and Employment Relations or earning a CLRP credential gives candidates a measurable edge when competing for these entry-level positions.
Where can I find and apply to labor relations director jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to labor relations director jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and target industry, and apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 14 Labor Relations Director Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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