Agency Labor Relations Manager

State of Connecticut - Office of Policy and Management; Newington (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management, Office of Labor Relations, seeks an Agency Labor Relations Manager to lead the staff and operations of its labor relations program in the greater Hartford area.

You will collaborate with agency leaders to manage union relationships, provide expert advice on collective bargaining, investigations, and grievances, and ensure compliance with state and federal laws while supporting strategic agency needs.

Qualifications

• Nine years of professional experience in labor relations or HR management.
• Experience at the advanced working level in HR or labor relations management.
• Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements; ability to interpret laws and manage investigations.

Responsibilities

• Lead agency labor relations program and staff.
• Advise executives and managers on collective bargaining agreements.
• Coordinate bargaining with union units and agencies.
• Oversee investigations and disciplinary actions.
• Participate in labor contract negotiations and hearings.
• Ensure compliance with laws and policies.

Skills

Labor relations

HR management

Negotiation

Investigations

Policy analysis

Job description

Introduction

About Us

The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management’s (OPM) Office of Labor Relations (OLR) seeks to hire an Agency Labor Relations Manager. OLR serves as the Governor’s designated representative, through the Secretary of OPM, on collective bargaining matters for the majority of executive branch State employees.

This opportunity is available to current State of Connecticut employees.

Who We Are

At OPM, we report directly to the Governor and provide information and analysis that the Governor uses to formulate public policy for the state. We also assist state agencies and municipalities in implementing the law and public policy on behalf of the people of Connecticut. We prepare the Governor’s budget proposals; implement and monitor the execution of the enacted budget; and oversee the executive branch agencies that report to the Governor.

Your Role

In this position you will be deployed at an agency and will be accountable for providing leadership over the staff and operations of an agency’s labor relations program.

In this position, you will work with your staff to provide consultative services to agencies and commissioners on a variety of issues that impact the mission of each organization. You will be expected to play an integral role in managing the relationships between the State Employee Bargaining Units and the Agencies to ensure the delivery of services to Connecticut residents. Working in OLR will provide an opportunity to assist in labor relations matters such as union contract negotiations, contract grievances, arbitrations, hearings, and other labor and employment issues.

This is a full time (40 hours per week) position located in the greater Hartford area. This recruitment may be considered for future Agency Labor Relations Manager opportunities within OPM, for locations in the Greater Hartford and surrounding areas.

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of Connecticut employee, who has worked for the state for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In the Office of Policy and Management, Office of Labor Relations this class is deployed at an agency and is accountable for providing leadership over the staff and operations of an agency’s labor relations program.

In a state agency this class is accountable for providing leadership over the staff and operations of an agency’s labor relations program that involves collective bargaining agreements not under the jurisdiction of the Office of Labor Relations.

Examples of Duties

• Partners with and is accountable for successful relationships with agency leadership to ensure alignment of labor relations support with organizational goals and strategies;
• Proactively analyzes data and plans for emerging agency labor relations needs;
• Interprets and ensures adherence to collective bargaining agreements;
• Advises executives, administrators, managers and supervisors on collective bargaining agreements and other employee relations issues;
• Communicates with bargaining unit representatives and other interested parties to ensure cooperative relationships;
• Trains and evaluates staff and provides guidance and assistance on complex issues;
• Conducts a variety of investigations and determines appropriate action;
• Assigns, directs and reviews investigations performed by assigned staff;
• Coordinates and participates in Agency Labor Management meetings;
• Administers collective bargaining agreements, progressive discipline and conducts grievance hearings;
• Triages crisis situations and recommends appropriate action in conjunction with appointing authority;
• Analyzes complex workplace situations and issues and leverages solutions;
• Oversees performance management system;
• Ensures compliance with applicable state and federal laws, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Supports related agency strategic needs as required;
• Prepares and maintains relevant documentation;
• Serves as a member of labor contract negotiating teams, as assigned;
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May work with local and State Police, in conjunction with the Under Secretary for Labor Relations, regarding issues of criminal activity involving employees;
• May serve as a project team leader on complex projects involving labor relations initiatives and other projects with statewide impact;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

Considerable knowledge of

and ability to apply management principles and practices within a matrixed organization; relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, policies and procedures; labor relations, collective bargaining and human resources management; Knowledge of employee classification and compensation; Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communications skills; negotiation and conflict resolution skills; Considerable ability to effectively conduct investigations; analyze and interpret collective bargaining agreements, laws, regulations, policies and procedures; counsel employees; Ability to effectively serve as an advocate, supervise and strategically plan; apply innovative solutions to workforce problems.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

Nine (9) years of professional experience in labor relations or human resources management.

Minimum Qualifications - Special Experience

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the full advanced working level in human resources or labor relations management.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of Principal Human Resources Specialist, Human Resources Generalist 3 or Agency Labor Relations Specialist.

Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in human resources management, labor relations, business administration, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• A law degree may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Acknowledgement

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not intended to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.