Job Description

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.

Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

Position Summary

Provide strategic direction to various Operating Company Leadership and interface with Union Executives for the purpose of negotiating labor agreements and interpretation of corporate policies. Serves as Lead Negotiator for interim and general Labor Agreements as well as grievance and arbitration resolutions. Primary responsibility for corporate compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to employee/labor relations. Assumes a leadership role in balancing consultant workload and manages the implementation of systematic processes to improve workforce relations products and services. Provide strategic direction, guidance and consultation to business unit leaders that improve overall effectiveness of the business and ensure alignment of Workforce Relations and business unit strategies processes and practices.

Essential Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing an effective and collaborative working relationship between the local union and Business Unit company management assuring alignment with the Xcel Energy Labor Strategy.
• Develops and manages strategies to achieve corporate goals and initiatives for agreements and solutions to business needs (Business Unit) which may include brokering of services to internal/external vendors, direct services and/ or referral to appropriate Xcel experts.
• Strategically coordinating and overseeing the Company's managerial activities regarding union organizing drives. Manages the implementation of the Company's response to such activity.
• Serves as Lead Negotiator for large interim agreements. Works independently to provide expert testimony and research services on company policy, employment and labor law, bargaining agreements in processing grievances, ULP charges, arbitrations and other litigation to minimize corporate liability and exposure.
• Provide overall direction in the development and implementation through specific cost avoidance analysis, forecasting analysis and cost benefit analysis for potential modifications to Labor Agreements. Direct, influence, guide and advise Company management (Business Unit specific) regarding interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, letters of understandings and corporate policy.
• Responsible for conducting customer needs analysis regarding training requests from the various Business Units and assuring resource availability.
• Responsible for leading labor relations activities associated with Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), community workforce agreements, prevailing wage obligations, and other labor requirements applicable to public works and large capital projects. Partners with project teams, contractors, and union representatives to mitigate labor risk and ensure successful project delivery.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources Management, Business Administration or equivalent education and /or experience.
• 8 years of progressively, responsible experience in Labor Relations, Employee Relations or management experience.
• Additionally, a minimum of 5 years of experience working with bargaining unit employees is required.

Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.

Our Values

Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe

Our Employee Commitments

• Work that makes a difference
• A team you can count of
• Opportunities to grow
• Rewards that help you thrive

Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $97,600.00 to $159,100.00 per year

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 10/29/26

EEO is the Law (PDF) | Equal Opportunity Statement (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)

All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

Accessibility Statement

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.