Employee and Labor Relations Manager

Job content

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Make a difference in the community you live in! As a Community Builder—an employee with the City of Gainesville— you will have a direct hand in building and improving your community and making a visible impact on the lives of your neighbors. Working for local government is more than a job, it’s a chance to contribute to community success and to help enhance the Gainesville way of life.

Department:

GG_Human Resources: Employee and Labor Relations

Salary Range Minimum:

$76,560.00

Salary Range Maximum:

$114,840.00

Closing Date:

12/01/2022

Job Details:

This is highly responsible managerial and professional work in the development, administration and delivery of all Labor and Employee Relations services. This position acts as the City of Gainesville’s spokesperson in labor negotiations for all assigned City bargaining units; maintains efficient and collegial labor management relationships while implementing, through the negotiation process, the City’s strategic goals and objectives.

The single position allocated to this class reports to the Human Resources Director and works under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its management responsibilities, its professional level knowledge of labor and employee relations matters and its labor negotiations responsibilities.

This is highly responsible managerial and professional work in the development, administration and delivery of all Labor and Employee Relations services. This position acts as the City of Gainesville’s spokesperson in labor negotiations for all assigned City bargaining units; maintains efficient and collegial labor management relationships while implementing, through the negotiation process, the City’s strategic goals and objectives.

The single position allocated to this class reports to the Human Resources Director and works under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its management responsibilities, its professional level knowledge of labor and employee relations matters and its labor negotiations responsibilities.

Job Description:

Summary

This is highly responsible managerial and professional work in the development, administration and delivery of all Labor and Employee Relations services. This position acts as the City of Gainesville’s spokesperson in labor negotiations for all assigned City bargaining units; maintains efficient and collegial labor management relationships while implementing, through the negotiation process, the City’s strategic goals and objectives.

The single position allocated to this class reports to the Human Resources Director and works under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its management responsibilities, its professional level knowledge of labor and employee relations matters and its labor negotiations responsibilities.

EXAMPLES OF WORK*

• This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower level duties may be required.
  
  

Essential Job Functions

Managerial:

Maintains a positive working relationship with and provides consistent and regular updates to the Human Resources Director.

Manages, plans, organizes, and coordinates the work of assigned staff; sets work goals, objectives, and priorities.

Leads, coaches and develops a high-performance team.

Performs periodic, consistent, fair and timely performance evaluations of assigned staff.

Recommends selection, promotion, discharge, and other appropriate personnel actions.

Performs activities similar to the staff it supervises.

Employee Relations:

Acts as a resource person for matters pertaining to employee relations.

Maintains a positive working relationship with and acts as a strategic partner with supervisory and managerial personnel in all matters pertaining to employee relations.

Counsels, advises, and makes recommendations to supervisory and managerial personnel so as to avoid grievances or complaints.

Provides technical assistance to managers and supervisors concerning employee performance issues, disciplinary actions, grievances and complaints.

Provides guidance and assistance to managers and supervisors on administering and ensuring compliance with the City’s Drug Free Workplace program.

Conducts fact finding interviews and investigations in response to grievances or complaints.

Serves as a consultant to internal customers in areas of behavior modification, conflict resolution, harassment, discrimination and disciplinary issues.

Works closely with City management, the Human Resources Director and Legal Staff to make recommendations involving grievance or complaint resolution.

Assists and counsels managers and supervisors on federal and state employment laws (e.g., ADA, FMLA, FLSA, EO, AA, FCHR and Re-employment Compensation).

Labor Relations:

Represents the City of Gainesville in the achievement of good faith negotiations, in accordance with Florida Statute, Chapter 447, Part II requirements and City strategic objectives. Seeks policy guidance from the City Commission through Executive Session to develop organizational negotiation strategy and plan.

Researches best practices and trends in the labor negotiations field; provides updates to the Human Resources Director and recommends contract changes accordingly.

Proposes rule and regulation changes governing collective bargaining agreements based on an analysis of State legislation affecting collective bargaining.

Applies appropriate bargaining tactics to a wide variety of difficult, complex or highly adversarial situations, demonstrating the City’s continuous “good faith” negotiations, while retaining appropriate leverage for final settlement.

Manages the bargaining team(s) to ensure that team members fully understand City objectives, provides operational input and guidance when drafting language, analyzes union proposals, and responds in a timely manner to requests for bargaining information.

Oversees the strategy and process of costing the labor contracts including reoccurring costs by article and management’s and union’s proposals.

Tracks and complies with all statutory and contractual timelines relative to contract negotiations. Provides necessary oversight of assigned individuals’ work required to ensure timely and accurate completion.

Compares known union goals and “market” with City objectives and identifies information needed to best represent the City’s interests during negotiations.

Identifies, at the earliest possible stage, issues which are contrary to City goals and strategies, and works with Human Resources Director, City Attorney, City Manager, and/or General Manager to determine appropriate alternate strategies.

Drafts and presents City proposals and counter-proposals to union demands, which reflect City strategic objectives and which demonstrate good-faith consideration of union issues and respect for the union’s role.

Works with City Attorney staff to assure that all negotiated contract language is complete, accurate and legally correct.

Works closely with City management, the Human Resources Director and Legal Staff to make recommendations involving collective bargaining agreement interpretation.

Applies a high level of working knowledge of policies, operational needs and salary and budget issues for clear and persuasive presentation at the bargaining table, calling in subject matter experts as necessary to influence action.

Collaborates with appropriate management to develop parameters, and address emerging policy matters, provides bargaining history and intent; serves as City advocate system wide.

Provides appropriate staff with contract negotiations history and intent, to facilitate their development of contract interpretation and training materials, and to enable the HR/OD function to accurately oversee contract compliance.

Analyzes union requests against Florida Statute, Chapter 447, Part II, requirements for response: if request is not relevant and/or necessary, or is overly burdensome, immediately presents City’s best case for denying information request.

When settlement cannot be achieved in accordance with City parameters, leads the development and implementation for the City’s positions for impasse, mediation or fact-finding.

May serve as the City’s advocate in the arbitration hearing if grievances move to the arbitration stage and they either allege a misapplication of the contract intent or an arbitrator’s decision would have a City-wide impact.

Serves as the City advocate or fact-finding panel member during the fact-finding procedure; in either event, assists in the development and presentation of the City’s case to ensure all information, facts, and documents that best support City positions are put into the record.

General:

Composes a range of written documents, including original correspondence, memoranda in final form, reports, contract language, position statements, and related items, which are intended to present management’s official position on a given matter.

Reviews, analyzes and makes recommendations for updating of City policies, procedures and guidelines as they relate to labor and employee relations and collective bargaining matters.

Stays current on developments in federal and state employment laws, employee/employer relations, labor relations and collective bargaining trends.

Develops and delivers training on labor and employee relations and other human resources-related subjects.

Works on special teams to promote effective and efficient human resources processes.

May be required to testify in court or serve as an expert witness in labor and employee relations cases.

Completes special HR/OD projects as assigned.

Attends work on a continuous and regular basis.

Non-essential Job Functions

May act in the absence of Supervisor.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And Experience

Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university with a degree in Labor Law, Employment Law, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field, and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in public or private collective bargaining, preferably in a large, multi-faceted organization, and a minimum of two (2) years leading, supervising, or managing subordinate team members.

Highly responsible negotiations experience in a large, multi-faceted, Florida public organization may be substituted for specific education requirements on a year-for-year basis.

A Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES

Licenses

Valid driver license required. Valid Florida Driver License required within thirty (30) days of appointment.

Certifications

Human Resources Professional (PHR, SPHR) certification through the Human Resources Certification Institute or Certified Professional (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP) through the Society for Human Resource Management is preferred.

Certification in Labor Relations is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Ability to plan, assign, delegate, supervise and evaluate the work of assigned personnel.

Thorough knowledge of principles, practices, methods, materials and theories of public employee collective bargaining and labor law as it applies to federal, state and local government.

Strong negotiation skills as demonstrated by the ability to articulate a specific position and persuade as necessary, presenting ideas and proposals in a convincing manner to influence negotiations outcome.

Demonstrated working knowledge of principles and practices of human resources, including employee and labor relations programs and associated legal and procedural requirements and federal and state rules and regulations.

Strong critical and creative thinking skills to assess and resolve problems or issues by gathering and assessing information, taking advice, and using judgment that is consistent with standards, practices, policies, procedures, regulations or law.

Excellent analytical and research skills as demonstrated by the ability to develop, assess, and blend information and recommendations from a wide variety of sources.

Excellent written and oral communication skills as demonstrated by the ability to articulate complex information and issues clearly, concisely, and persuasively.

Strong interpersonal skills as demonstrated by the ability to interact collaboratively and productively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds including elected and appointed government officials, Charter Officers, City employees, union representatives, representatives of other agencies, and the general public.

Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team in a collaborative environment, build consensus and promote the exchange of information among management bargaining team, union bargaining team, HR/OD professionals, and effected support departments.

Strong project management and organizational skills to plan and independently execute projects/tasks within specific deadlines.

Ability to teach, motivate, and influence others in order to accomplish a goal.

Demonstrated ability to understand interrelated needs of the City Commission, the City Manager/General Manager, and/or bargaining unions while being conscious of alternatives and their consequences.

Ability to work under high stress levels, with frequent interruptions and with tight and often changing deadlines.

Strong attention to detail in order to compose a variety of written documents which are intended to present management’s official position on a given matter.

Ability to maintain security and confidentiality.

Ability to coach employees and management through complex and difficult issues and to handle difficult conversations.

Ability to function effectively in the resolution of grievances and complaints.

Ability to testify at hearings and trials.

Ability to develop and implement long- and short-term plans and programs and to evaluate results.

Ability to identify actual and potential problems.

Ability to work in a collaborative environment and respect the perspective and opinions of others.

Ability to effectively lead or work as a member of a self-directed work team.

Ability to work independently and take initiative.

Ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands with the appropriate sense of urgency.

Demonstrates a strong customer orientation.

Demonstrated intermediate level knowledge of personal computers and related departmental software, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Physical And Environmental Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess certain physical abilities and be able to withstand work related environmental conditions.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is often required to sit for prolonged periods of time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Will be required to work outside regular business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Note:

May Require Assessment(s).

May fill multiple positions.

May establish an eligibility list.

Come join our team! The City of Gainesville offers a competitive benefits package and opportunities to grow both professionally and personally.

All ‘regular’ employees are eligible for traditional benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, paid leave, 11 paid a holidays a year, a pension plan and a deferred compensation plan, but we also offer great things like on-sitefitness centers, tuition reimbursement, interest free loans for purchase of fitness equipment, on-site medical staffand a wellness program to keep you healthy and happy.Please note; benefits are not available for temporary employees.

If you are unable to apply online due to a disability, contact recruiting at HR@cityofgainesville.org or by calling 352-334-5077.