Under administrative direction, manages and coordinates the City's Labor Relations program including discipline/discharge, grievances, arbitrations, and other varied labor relations matters; performs a variety of professional, administrative, and programmatic work in support of the Labor Relations programs including to administer and interpret provisions of labor contracts, resolve grievances and complaints, and counsel and assist management staff in disciplinary matters; assists in contract negotiations; participates in the decisions of management affecting collective bargaining; and provides highly responsible complex administrative support to the Director of Human Resources or designee.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Manages and administers assigned activities of the City's labor relations program including discipline/discharge, grievances, arbitrations, contract negotiations, and other varied labor relations matters; administer and interpret provisions of labor contracts and resolve grievances and complaints.

Manage and participate in the development and implementation of program goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities; develop strategies for the achievement of these goals; recommend and administer policies and procedures.

Provide responsible staff assistance, administrative support, and professional and technical expertise related to the Labor Relations Program; research, prepare, and present comprehensive professional, technical, fiscal, and administrative studies, surveys, and reports; present information to various groups.

Serve as liaison for the Labor Relations Program with other departments, divisions, and outside agencies; provide requested data and answer questions; provide technical direction; resolve sensitive and controversial issues; direct and participate in the investigation and resolution of complaints related to assigned program areas and activities.

Provide information to management staff regarding provisions of current contracts, significance of proposed changes, labor market conditions, prevailing union and management practices, labor legislation, and trends in wage and benefit programs.

Assist in negotiating labor contracts with various bargaining units; research, analyze, and interpret collective bargaining agreements and decisions; collect data to support the City's position.

Prepare contract language and execute final contracts; solicit input from management staff on proposed changes; keep management staff informed of matters affecting their department.

Counsel management staff on the development and application of labor and employee relations practices consistent with City policies and procedures; ensure compliance with appropriate labor agreements, contracts, and City policies.

Counsel departments on appropriate response to grievances; negotiate settlements with union representatives; prepare settlement agreements; prepare information and exhibits for arbitration.

Interpret contracts for management staff, supervisors, payroll staff, and other employees; resolve disputes over contract interpretation and other problems.

Coordinate assigned labor relations program activities City-wide to ensure effective cooperation consistent with optimal efficiency and effectiveness; coordinate data, resources, and work products as necessary.

Attend and participate in professional group meetings; keep informed of new trends and innovations related to labor relations, public administration, and business administration.

Perform related duties as required.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:
Operational characteristics, services, and activities of the City's Labor Relations program.
Principles, practices, and techniques of program development and administration.
Principles and practices of labor relations including employee grievances, techniques of contract negotiation, and collective bargaining procedures.
Procedures and processes of arbitration and mediation.
Methods and techniques of conflict resolution.
Basic practices of personnel administration.
Recent developments, research methods, current literature, and sources of information related to assigned programs, services areas, and program administration.
Standard organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs.
Methods and techniques of effective technical, administrative, and financial report preparation and presentation.
Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
Organization and operation of municipal government.
Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including those pertaining to fair labor practices and employment laws.

Ability to:
Plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and evaluate assigned labor relations services and activities.
Participate in the management of comprehensive labor relations program.
Negotiate grievance resolutions.
Understand the organization and operation of the City, the labor relations program, and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
Understand, interpret, and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including fair labor laws and practices.
Coordinate and participate in the development and administration of program goals, objectives, and procedures.
Identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs.
Research, analyze, and formulate recommendations, work plans, and activities regarding planning, technical, and administrative issues.
Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
Establish and maintain various data collection, record keeping, tracking, and reporting systems.
Prepare clear and concise technical, administrative, and financial reports.
Communicate and negotiate in a persuasive and productive manner with groups and individuals.
Operate a variety of office equipment including personal computers and related peripheral equipment and software applications.
Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems.
Perform responsible and difficult programmatic and administrative duties involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.
Exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality in maintaining critical and sensitive information, records, and reports.
Work in a team based environment to achieve common goals.
Coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously.
Meet the physical requirements to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in personnel administration, labor relations, public administration, business administration, or a related field.

Experience:
Three years of increasingly responsible labor relations experience including experience in labor board hearings, grievance hearings, arbitrations, impasse procedures, and collective bargaining negotiations.

License or Certificate:
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with some travel to different sites and locations.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Mid-Management
B33
Last Update: 03/04/2019
JD 11/2018