Fast Facts

The Labor Counsel at First Student is a key role in the Labor Relations/HR team, focusing on collective bargaining and providing legal guidance on labor-related matters. This position requires effective communication, strategic leadership skills, and significant experience in labor law.

Responsibilities: Lead collective bargaining negotiations, serve as company representative in NLRB matters, provide guidance on labor relations issues, and develop strategies for labor law compliance.

Skills: Proficient communication and interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, understanding of labor relations, and ability to multitask and work independently.

Qualifications: A law degree and 2-4 years of labor and employment law experience are required. Strong leadership and organizational skills are preferred.

Location: This position is based in Saint Louis, Missouri, with required travel of 50-60%.

Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $100,000 - $150,000.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

The Labor Counsel position is an integral role to the organization and a key functioning hands-on member of the Labor Relations/HR team. In this role you will work closely with the Labor Relations/HR leadership team, and collaborate closely with key members of the company Operational, Finance and other key support positions. Serve as a subject matter expert, providing day to day guidance on Labor Relations and related legal matters. This includes leading the preparation for collective bargaining union contract negotiations and serving as the Chief Spokesperson during collective bargaining negotiations. Serve as the company representative for related Federal, State and agency matters, including NLRB matters and conducting arbitrations and mediations.

Major Responsibilities:

• Serves as chief negotiator in collective bargaining negotiations for various operational locations, involving a variety of unions.
• Having first-chair, chief labor negotiator spokesperson experience is highly preferred.
• Must be a subject matter expert in Labor Relations related matters.
• Serve as the company representation before the NLRB on representation issues.
• Provides Operations and HR leaders with day-to-day guidance regarding all Labor Relations related matters, such as Labor contract interpretation, regulations, policies, and procedures. 
• Lead the facilitation, application, and rollout of new labor law requirements, working closely with Operations and Human Resources leaders, developing strategy and communication execution.
• Serve as the strategic leader for collective bargaining preparation initiatives, ensuring timely and effective advanced planning.
• Provide guidance in addressing any potential work stoppage, from Operation contingency planning to media and security involvement.
• Collaborate closely with the Labor Relations, Human Resources, Operations and Financial team leaders in all collective bargaining preparation and execution matters.

Minimum Experience & Skills Required:

• Minimum of 2-4 years of traditional labor and employment experience.
• Law degree.
• Highly effective verbal and written communication skills to include; clear, concise, and persuasive skills.
• Computer proficiency. 
• Can function self-sufficiently and independently.
• Must be a detailed oriented strategic leader, responsible for delivering on the execution of initiatives.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize and manage multiple assignments while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work as a strong collaborative and influential team player.
• Strong administrative skills and superior interpersonal skills.
• Effective leadership and organization skills. Must have the ability to be a strategic thinker, develop strategy and goals, while working with individuals across the organization.
• Travel 50% - 60%.

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.