Employee & Labor Relations and Compliance Representative

City of Gainesville; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Gainesville is seeking a Community Builder to support upper-middle managers in employee and labor relations and compliance. This intermediate-level role involves handling public records requests and ADA accommodations while maintaining organized records.

You will coordinate with unions, assist in investigations, draft policy documents, and prepare reports and minutes. Strong communication and analytical skills are essential to help promote transparency and lawful operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in employee relations, HR, or related field with 2+ years of ER/HR experience.
• Associate degree with 4+ years of ER/HR experience; union setting preferred.
• Experience with policy development, compliance, and records management.

Responsibilities

• Assist the supervisor with administration of labor agreements.
• Answer labor relations inquiries and guide on CBA and City policies.
• Coordinate meetings between unions, employees, and management.
• Assist with confidential investigations into employee complaints.
• Prepare minutes and distribute meeting materials for union meetings.
• Manage public records requests under Florida law and collaborate across departments.

Skills

Communication skills

Labor relations knowledge

Policy understanding

Analytical ability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in employee relations / HR / related field

Associate degree + 4 years of experience in ER/HR

Job description

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.

SUMMARY

This is intermediate-level, professional-to-moderately complex administrative work supporting upper-middle-level managers in the development and administration of Employee and Labor Relations (ELR). The ELR and Compliance Representative is responsible for overseeing and managing the organization's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including public records requests, ADA accommodations, and administering policies and procedures. This role involves coordinating with unions, ensuring transparency and adherence to laws, and maintaining organized records. Some judgment and discretion are required to perform duties related to matters of policy and interpret collective bargaining agreements.

Positions allocated to this classification typically report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its application of varied, moderately complex, and innovative administrative duties in support of employee and labor relations matters.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Assist the supervisor with the administration of labor agreements.
• Answer Labor Relations inquiries, directing as appropriate, or providing information requiring knowledge of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and City policies, procedures, and operations; provide information as appropriate to the knowledge base and level of issue
• Coordinates meetings between union officials, employees, and management to facilitate the dispute resolution process
• Assist with confidential investigations into employee complaints by researching and providing relevant information
• Gathers information, reviews, and compiles complex files for grievance proceedings, arbitrations, and hearings, and
• Assists in fact-finding interviews and investigations in response to grievances or complaints.
• Provides administrative support for all union meetings, including scheduling, public notification, preparing agendas, and distributing meeting materials.
• Attend all union meetings and accurately take detailed notes and minutes.
• Ensure timely distribution of meeting minutes to relevant parties.
• Manage and process public records requests in compliance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes and other relevant laws.
• Collaborate with various departments to gather information necessary for fulfilling public records requests.
• Provide training and guidance to staff on public records policies and procedures.
• Review and redact confidential or exempt information from public records before release, as mandated by law.
• Ensure timely and accurate responses to public records requests, maintaining transparency and adherence to legal requirements.
• Provides support relative to confidential/sensitive issues.
• Facilitates completion of projects and events assigned to subordinate areas.
• Assists in the planning, design, development, and promotion of special events, goals, objectives, plans, and programs to promote effective and efficient departmental processes
• Drafts moderately complex to complex documentation on sensitive/confidential issues.
• Prepare written materials, including reports, memos, and correspondence; review material for accuracy and completeness; analyze data and conduct Internet research as needed
• Prepare Labor Relations reports by tracking, analyzing, and summarizing data and trends
• Attend Labor Relations meetings, take minutes, and write summaries
• Monitors Florida’s Reemployment Assistance Program, responds to claims for benefits, and prepares related correspondence
• Monitors FMLA usage and supports related return-to-work activities
• Oversee and manage the ADA compliance process, ensuring adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related regulations.
• Coordinates the interactive process to identify and implement reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities.
• Collaborate with department managers and supervisors to assess and provide appropriate accommodation.
• Composes a range of written documents, including original correspondence, memoranda in final form, reports, position statements, and related items, which are intended to present management’s official position on a given matter.
• Manages and maintains a comprehensive and organized repository for all policies and procedures within the organization's digital document management system and serves as a power user and administrator for the organization.
• Reviews and updates organizational policies and procedures.
• Communicate policy changes and updates to all employees.
• Performs routine data entry for case tracking and reporting purposes. Analyzes data to support employee and labor relations initiatives.
• Writes, edits, produces, and distributes informational, publicity, and promotional materials.
• Must meet performance standards, including attending work on a continuous, punctual, and regular basis.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in employee relations/labor relations, business, human resources, or a related field. Minimum two (2) years of working experience in employee relations/labor relations, policy and procedure, compliance, or human resources required. Prior experience in a union setting preferred.
• Or an Associate degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in employee relations/labor relations, human resources, business, or related field, and four (4) years of working experience in employee/labor relations, policy and procedure, compliance, or human resources. Prior experience in a union setting preferred.

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES

LICENSES

• If courier duties are required, a valid Florida Driver's license is required.

CERTIFICATIONS

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

Equal Opportunity

The City of Gainesville is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in hiring. Minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Individuals with a disability, who require special accommodations during the selection process, should notify the Human Resources Department at 352-334-5077 or TDD/TTY at 352-334-2292.

Veterans' Preference

Veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ Preference ensures that veterans and eligible persons are given consideration at each step of the selection process. However, preference does not guarantee that a veteran or other eligible person will be the candidate selected to fill the position. Section 295.07, Florida Statutes (F.S.) specifies who is eligible for Veterans’ Preference. State of Florida residency is not required for Veterans’ Preference.