Employee Relations Consultant
Company : Legacy Health
Location : Portland, OR, 97209-1503
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 5 January 2026
Overview
This is a hybrid role that is highly consultative and requires regular in-person meetings at various Legacy Health locations across the Portland Metro area.
The People & Culture organization at Legacy is about prioritizing our people so that we can prioritize our patients. We are transforming a traditional human resources function into a team of professionals who develop creative solutions to attract, develop and retain diverse, high performing talent. Within the People & Culture team, we are building a spirit of curiosity, experimenting with innovative approaches and challenging past practices to ensure we aren’t just responding to today’s workforce challenges, but can predict them. This is a pivotal moment in the healthcare industry, and Legacy’s People & Culture team sees this as an opportunity to reimagine what it means to work in one of the world’s most complex yet rewarding industries. For us it’s about building a legacy where our people can do their best and be their best.
Our mission of making life better for others includes every person we serve, including our employees. By promoting HR services, initiatives and programs and managing labor relations, you will help to support management-level and employee customers so that Legacy Health can most effectively work as a team with a unified goal. If this is how you view your work as an Employee Relations Consultant, we invite you to consider this opportunity.
Another important thing about Legacy: We strive to be a diverse, culturally responsive, anti-racist organization. Diversity, equity and inclusion is a priority at Legacy — it shapes how we work, interact with one another and see the world. This is a commitment you must share too. If you want to make a real difference in the lives of people, communities and our beloved Pacific Northwest region, please take a look - we invite you to apply and consider joining our team, our organization and our mission.
As the largest nonprofit health system serving the Portland-Southwest Washington and mid-Willamette Valley areas, Legacy Health provides a range of services - we have six hospitals, one of which includes a center solely dedicated to children’s care, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. We run more than 70 primary care, specialty and urgent care clinics, employ nearly 3,000 doctors and providers and more than 13,000 employees. We also operate labs and a research center. Our major partnerships include those with PacificSource Health Plans and the Unity Center for Behavioral Health, a one-of-a-kind center for people facing a mental health crisis that is collaboratively operated between four regional health systems and numerous community partners.
Health care experience is preferred (i.e. familiarity with licensure and certifications, Joint Commission survey audits, etc.). Labor relations experience is also a plus.
Responsibilities
Provide consultative support to management and employees on human resources strategies, employee relations, and labor relations matters.
Serve as a trusted advisor and visible HR partner across the Legacy Health system.
Contribute to the strategic development and implementation of HR services, initiatives, and programs.
Manage all aspects of labor relations, including:
Union communications
Collective bargaining and contract negotiations
Contract interpretation and compliance
Grievance resolution
Education and coaching for managers on labor-related issues
Promote and maintain a professional, solutions-focused approach to internal HR partnerships.
Translate Legacy Health’s organizational goals and values into practical, people-centered solutions within assigned areas of responsibility.
Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree, Master’s preferred.
- Relevant experience may be substituted for educational requirements.
Experience:
- Seven years or more of progressively responsible experience in the HR field.
- Knowledge of laws, acts and regulations governing employee and labor relations.
- Health Care experience preferred.
Skills:
- Working knowledge of all HR functional areas (employment, benefits, compensation, employee relations, training and development, human resources information systems, workforce planning), in addition to in-depth knowledge of two to three functional areas.
- Strong presentation skills, ability to present data and information as a subject matter expert.
- Demonstrated ability to discern pertinent data from raw information, evaluate and consult around solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to influence decisions and actions of customers.
- Comfortable with public speaking to include a wide variety of audiences.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Licensure
- PHR or SPHR certification preferred.
Pay Range
USD $48.91 - USD $72.88 /Hr.Our Commitment to Health and Equal Opportunity
Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.
If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and succeed.
Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
To learn more about our employee benefits click here: www.legacyhealth.org/For-Health-Professionals/careers/benefiting-you
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Frequently asked questions
An Employee Relations Consultant in healthcare acts as a strategic partner during labor negotiations, ensuring compliance with contracts and fostering clear union communications. Their role is pivotal in balancing organizational goals with employee rights, which helps maintain a collaborative work environment crucial to patient-centered care.
Certifications like PHR (Professional in Human Resources) or SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) are highly regarded at Legacy Health. These credentials demonstrate mastery over labor laws and HR strategies, aligning well with the organization's commitment to professional HR consulting and labor relations expertise.
While both roles focus on employee relations, consultants typically engage in higher-level strategic advising, contract negotiations, and complex grievance handling. Specialists might concentrate more on routine employee communications and administrative support, whereas consultants provide visible HR partnership and influence organizational workforce planning.
Professionals often advance into leadership roles such as Director of Employee Relations or HR Business Partner positions. Gaining experience in Portland's dynamic healthcare sector enables them to develop expertise in labor relations and compliance, facilitating progression into senior roles that shape organizational culture and policy.
Legacy Health expects Employee Relations Consultants to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into labor relations and employee engagement strategies. This involves promoting culturally responsive HR solutions that support a respectful workplace, ultimately enhancing team cohesion and patient care quality.
Managing employee relations across diverse sites requires adaptability to varying workplace cultures and operational nuances. Consultants must coordinate in-person meetings efficiently while maintaining consistent HR practices, ensuring that labor relations strategies align with the complex needs of each facility within Portland's healthcare network.
Portland's healthcare sector shows robust demand for Employee Relations Consultants due to its large nonprofit systems like Legacy Health. Candidates with labor relations expertise and healthcare familiarity have an advantage, although competition remains moderate given the specialized nature of the role.
Legacy Health offers between $48.91 and $72.88 per hour for this role, which aligns with Portland’s market rates for experienced HR consultants in healthcare. This competitive pay reflects the position's seniority and the specialized skills required in labor relations and employee engagement.
The organization’s mission-driven culture emphasizes collaborative problem-solving and respect, guiding consultants to adopt a solutions-oriented stance in resolving grievances. Understanding Legacy’s values helps tailor communications and interventions to foster trust and maintain workforce morale across its healthcare facilities.
Legacy Health’s focus on transforming traditional HR into innovative, people-centered solutions sets its consultant role apart. The hybrid work model combined with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion creates a unique environment that demands creativity and proactive labor relations management.