Agency Labor Relations Specialist Trainee

State of Connecticut - Office of Policy and Management; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional growth and development

Healthy work/life balance

Job summary

The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM) invites applications for multiple Leadership Associate positions in the Office of Labor Relations as Agency Labor Relations Specialist Trainee.

Selected candidates will be appointed to the target class upon completion of the training program and will provide labor relations services to assigned agencies in the Executive Branch, with Hartford-area opportunities.

Qualifications

• Strong oral and written communication skills, with ability to convey complex information clearly.
• Interpersonal skills enabling effective collaboration with agencies, unions, and leadership.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, and policies related to labor relations.
• Ability to analyze problems, manage change, and deliver high-quality customer service.
• Experience interpreting or applying collective bargaining agreements and related procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform the full range of basic labor relations functions within assigned agencies.
• Administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements.
• Administer progressive discipline and employee relations actions.
• Advise executives and managers on collective bargaining agreements and related issues.
• Conduct agency-level grievance conferences and respond on behalf of the agency.
• Analyze workplace situations and provide practical solutions.
• Provide labor relations guidance and training to assigned agencies.

Skills

Oral/written communication

Interpersonal skills

Policy knowledge

Problem solving

Customer service

Managerial aptitude

Job description

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is currently recruiting for multiple Leadership Associate positions, in the functional role of Agency Labor Relations Specialist Trainee, within the Office of Labor Relations (OLR). The qualified individuals for these positions will be appointed to the target class of Agency Labor Relations Specialist upon completion of the applicable training period.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

HIGHLIGHTS

These are full time positions assigned to provide labor relations services to one or more assigned customer agency(ies) within the Executive Branch of Connecticut State Government. This recruitment may be considered for future Agency Labor Relations Specialist Trainee opportunities within OPM, for locations in the Greater Hartford and surrounding areas.

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Provide consultative labor relations services to your assigned customer Agency on a variety of issues that impact the mission of each organization.
• 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.
• Participate in labor relations matters such as investigations, union contract negotiations, contract grievances, arbitrations, hearings, and other labor and employment issues.
• Independently perform labor relations activities to your assigned customer Agency.

ABOUT US

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. 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.

THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Office of Policy and Management’s (OPM) Office of Labor Relations (OLR) as an Agency Labor Relations Specialist Trainee (Leadership Associate with a target class of Agency Labor Relations Specialist).

WHAT TO EXPECT IN YOUR DAILY WORK

• Perform the full range of basic labor relations functions within the assigned Agency(ies), conducting a variety of investigations and recommending appropriate action;
• Administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements;
• Administer progressive discipline;
• Advise executives, administrators, managers and supervisors on collective bargaining agreements, and other employee relations issues, including contract interpretation and employee discipline;
• Conduct labor relations activities to assure consistency in the application of policies and procedures, and uniform interpretation and administration of agreements;
• Triage crisis situations and recommend appropriate action in conjunction with appointing authority;
• Conduct agency-level grievance conferences with agency and union officials, and respond on behalf of agency;
• Analyze complex workplace situations and issues and leverage solutions;
• Provide labor relations guidance, training and support to assigned agency(ies) in the administration of their performance management systems;
• Prepare and maintain relevant documentation;
• Serve as member of labor contract negotiating teams, as assigned; and
• Prepare information and testimony concerning negotiated contracts or other labor relations matters.

Learn more about making an impaCT by serving the state of Connecticut by watching the video below:

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency incumbents in this class participate in a formal development program designed to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to qualify for appointment to a designated managerial or professional confidential class assigned to the MP Pay Plan.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Please take a look at “What to Expect in Your Daily Work” (see above) for information on examples of duties in this position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; Considerable ability to understand and apply state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; analyze and solve problems; effect and manage change; plan for and implement excellent customer service; learn a new knowledge base in functional area; learn and apply policy and procedure; Managerial aptitude.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated class at the completion of the development program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in labor relations and/or human resources;
• Experience analyzing and interpreting Collective Bargaining agreements, laws, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Experience conducting employee investigations and making recommendations for corrective action;
• Experience with performance management and conflict resolution for employees;
• Experience with the grievance and arbitration process; and
• Experience working in a high-volume working environment.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Prior to appointment to this class there must be an approved managerial or professional confidential designated class identified to which the incumbent will be appointed upon successful completion of an approved development program. Incumbents in this class must meet the experience and training requirements of the identified designated class at the end of the development program. The work schedule for this classification is full-time. Incumbents must work a full-time forty (40) hours per week schedule. Incumbents in this class will be eligible for reclassification to the designated class without competitive examination upon successful completion of the development program and satisfactory service. The length of the development program should be designed around the requirements of the designated class and the prior experience of the incumbent but in no case should be less than one (1) year or exceed three (3) calendar years in accordance with C.G.S. 5-234. All appointments to this class shall be under terms of an approved development program and in accordance with a time schedule approved by the Department of Administrative Services. No additional working test period shall be required upon successful completion of the development program.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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 meant to be all inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.