Employee Relations Manager

Cities, Inc.; Fort Lauderdale (FL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Fort Lauderdale is seeking a senior manager to lead labor and employee relations, partnering with unions, managers, and staff to advance the organization’s mission and values. This role shapes the long-term vision of Employee Relations and collaborates with executive leadership on strategic planning.

As a Management Category I position, the incumbent supervises the Employee Relations Division, negotiates contracts, handles investigations, and ensures compliance with laws and city

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field required.
• 5+ years of management labor relations experience, preferably in Florida government.
• Supervisory experience required.
• Veterans’ Preference documentation may be required.

Responsibilities

• Advises City Manager and officials on labor/employee relations and acts as contact with unions.
• Investigates disciplinary matters and interprets policies, contracts, and laws.
• May serve as chief spokesperson in negotiations.
• Assists department heads in administering labor contracts.
• Handles grievances and represents the City in arbitration.
• Directs and organizes the Employee Relations Division staff.
• Stays current on laws and decisions affecting labor relations.

Skills

Labor/employee relations

Negotiation strategies

Grievance handling

Contract interpretations

Supervisory experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Labor Relations, HR, Business or Public Administration

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The successful candidate for this role will be focused on collaboration with unions, managers, and employees, creating strong cross-functional partnerships across the City, and developing innovative and impactful solutions to support the organization. You will have opportunities to drive the long-term vision of the Employee Relations function and our priorities, and work closely with executive leadership to ensure our mission and values are represented in the ways we do our work. If you want to be part of a dynamic, growing City, with the opportunity to have voice in strategic planning, and touch all levels of the organization, keep reading!

This is a managerial position of considerable difficulty that requires the exercise of significant independent judgment in planning, organizing, and directing the labor and employee relations activities of the City. The employee is responsible for the employee union contract negotiations and administration. This position requires the exercise of sound judgment, diplomacy, and initiative when consulting and engaging with City management officials, employee or union organization representatives, agency representatives and employees.

This is a non-classifiedat-will position and not subject to Civil Service Rules or any collective bargaining agreement.

This is a Management Category I position which includes ten (10) additional Management Vacation Days and an Expense Allowance of $390/month.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification.The omission of a function does not preclude management from assigning essential duties not listed herein if such duties relate to the position.

• Advises the City Manager, Director of Human Resources and other City officials on labor/employee relations matters involving the City and is responsible for all contact with employee or union organizations regarding matters of labor relations
• Investigates disciplinary matters; interprets and advises management on City policies and procedures, union contracts and employment laws, fair employment practices and regulations
• May serve as chief spokesperson in negotiating contractual agreements with employees and labor organizations.
• Confers with and advises department heads or their designees in the administration and interpretation of a labor contract
• Assists in handling grievances in the various stages of a grievance procedure and represents the City in arbitration hearings
• Stays abreast of laws, State of Florida Public Employees Relations Commission (P.E.R.C.) rulings, court decisions, ordinances or statutes affecting labor/employee relations, arbitrator decisions, changing labor relations concepts, the latest data concerning wages and salaries, fringe benefits, and terms and conditions of employment for use in preparing recommendations and conducting discussions with employees or labor organizations
• Recommends appropriate labor/employee relations policies, doctrines and procedures in the best interest of the City, City administration and employees
• Undertakes special projects as assigned by superiors, including assignments of a sensitive nature.
• May conduct internal investigations at the request of the City Manager’s Office and make recommendations on a variety of management/employee issues
• Directs and organizes the work activities of the Employee Relations Division staff
• Performs related work as required

JOB REQUIREMENTS, PREFERENCES & WORK ENVIRONMENT

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. A Bachelor's Degree in Labor Relations, Human Resources, Business or Public Administration or a closely related field is required.
2. Candidate must demonstrate five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience representing management's interests, preferably in a Florida governmental environment, in one or more of the following areas:development of negotiating strategies and proposals, preferably as management's chief spokesperson; labor negotiations; contract interpretations and administration; grievance handling and arbitration proceedings.
3. Additional qualifying experience or completion of coursework at an accredited college or university in a job-related field, may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience or education.
4. Previous supervisory experience required.
5. To claim Veterans’ Preference, candidates must attach to the application a copy of military separation papers (DD214) and service-connected disability documentation (if applicable) to meet eligibility requirements as stipulated by Florida Statues. For additional information, please refer to the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) / Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) / Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) / Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) or other human resources-related professional certifications

As public servants, employees may be required to work immediately before, during, and/or after an emergency. All employees must be available and able to work assigned shifts as determined by their Department Heads.

PHYSICAL STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The position is generally sedentary. Employees sit most of the time, but may walk or stand for brief periods of time.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The City of Fort Lauderdale is an Equal Opportunity, Veteran’s Preference Employer and Drug Free Workplace.