Case Study:
How Mulberry Supported A Nonprofit Organization to Fill a Labor Relations Position
Friends of the Children in Portland
Friends of the Children in Portland is a nonprofit founded in 1993 that empowers youth facing obstacles to break the cycle of generational poverty. Their model pairs children with salaried, professional mentors called “Friends” who provide consistent, loving support for 12+ years from kindergarten through high school.
Location:
Portland, Oregon
Position Title:
Chief, HR & Labor Relations
Position Type:
Executive Non-Profit
Quote / Testimonial from Client
“We are overjoyed and were delighted to take our new Chief, HR & Labor Relations Officer, Matthew out for his first day. He is going to be a wonderful addition to our leadership team, and our organization’s team. You found the candidate we were dreaming of and didn’t even know existed. You all did great work, and it was wonderful to partner with you.”
– Traci R., Executive Director
Challenge:
Following their recent unionization, the nonprofit needed an HR leader who could immediately step in and bring expertise to a complex labor relations environment.
Solution:
Mulberry Talent Partners Portland executive recruiters executed a targeted search for HR professionals with specific, hands-on experience in a unionized nonprofit setting. We successfully identified and placed a candidate with a proven track record in collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance resolution, ensuring they also possessed the empathy and communication skills vital for building bridges during this transition.
Outcome: Friends of the Children fills Chief, HR & Labor Relations in Portland, Oregon
The placed candidate delivered immediate and tangible value, ensuring the nonprofit navigated its critical post-unionization period with confidence.
Key results included:
- Successful onboarding and built relationships with the executive team and union leadership.
- Provided collective bargaining agreement (CBA) interpretation, ensuring consistent and fair application from the start.
- Established clear, respectful channels for dialogue, proactively preventing grievances and building a collaborative culture.