Labor and Employee Relations Specialist – CHS

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals seeks a Labor and Employee Relations Specialist to administer labor relations programs within Correctional Health Services. You will interpret contracts, investigate grievances, and act as Hearing Officer at facility level, liaising with union representatives and city labor relations bodies.

Responsibilities include analyzing union demands, preparing rebuttals, coordinating investigations, and supporting supervisors with personnel matters, training, and performance reviews

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Personnel, Public or Business Administration, Economics, Management, Law or a related discipline; and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in area of labor relations, including negotiation and administration of agreements of labor relations matters; or
• A combination of training and experience, which is equivalent to “1” above. Higher-level of education may be substituted for one (1) year of experience, however only education above a Bachelor’s level can be counted towards substitution for experience. Therefore, all candidates must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the disciplines listed in “1” above, or a closely related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Prepares analysis of impact of union demands on prison operations and prepares rebuttals and strategies to deal with such, including recommendations for management's counter demands prior to and during negotiations.
• Interprets contracts and agreements related to wages, hours, working conditions and all other matters within the purview of the agreement affecting labor relations, employee relations and personnel management activities.
• Investigates and processes employees' grievances to be handled at the facility level, prepares reports and provides recommendations for their resolution.
• Serves as Hearing Officer for grievances handled at the facility level and represents CHS when appealed to City Office of Labor Relations and at arbitration hearings.
• Meets with Union representatives in Labor-Management meetings to discuss and seek resolution of local issues. Maintains on going liaison with Union and Union Representatives.
• Discusses local issues and their resolution with labor relations management staff.
• Reviews existing personnel procedures and makes recommendations for modifications.
• Performs studies regarding application for electronic data processing.
• Counsels supervisors and/or employees regarding personnel problems, job difficulties, and training and development opportunities.
• Coordinates in-house training activities including employee orientation programs and managerial training.
• Participates in implementation of employee performance review programs and recommends proper use and application to assure optimum results.
• Analyzes employee environment and morale to assess status. Makes recommendations for improvements to minimize sources of employee grievances.
• Studies existing and proposed titles in classification system. Performs classification studies, analyzing the nature and difficulty of work, the degree of supervision and responsibility involved, and the education and experience required for proper performance.
• Conducts out of title investigations, analyzes positions of complex and highly confidential nature, and makes recommendations on allocation to classes or recommendation for new class.
• Reviews requests and assists with administration of accommodations as related to religious observances.
• May represent Labor Relations Department on in-house committees such as risk management, fire and safety training, and may represent the Director at conferences, meetings and committees.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Advanced communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical/problem-solving skills

Prioritization & multitasking

Union/labor relations experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Personnel, Public or Business Administration, Economics, Management, Law or related discipline

Job description

Marketing Statement

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation. We are a network of 11 hospitals, trauma centers, neighborhood health centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, and correctional health services. We are a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlus. Our health system provides essential services to 1.4 million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the city's five boroughs. Our diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees are uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services is one of the nation’s leading correctional health care systems in quality of and innovations to care, and access from pre-arraignment through compassionate release. In-jail services include medical, nursing, mental health, substance use treatment, social work, dental and vision care, discharge planning, and reentry support. In addition to providing direct patient care in the jails, CHS leverages the resources of the nation’s largest municipal health care system to help discharged patients successfully return to their communities. CHS is also a pivotal partner in New York City’s criminal justice reform efforts.

Duties & Responsibilities

Under supervision of the Director of Employee and Labor Relations, with latitude for independent initiative and judgment, the Labor and Employee Relations Specialist participates in the administration of Labor Relations programs of Correctional Health Services, including contract interpretation, investigation and processing of employee grievances and discipline. Conducts hearings at the facility level, participates in appeals and maintains liaison with employee union representatives and personnel labor relations administrators of Correctional Health Services. Performs related work in public employee labor relations and union-management activities.

Responsibilities Include

• Prepares analysis of impact of union demands on prison operations and prepares rebuttals and strategies to deal with such, including recommendations for management's counter demands prior to and during negotiations.
• Interprets contracts and agreements related to wages, hours, working conditions and all other matters within the purview of the agreement affecting labor relations, employee relations and personnel management activities.
• Investigates and processes employees' grievances to be handled at the facility level, prepares reports and provides recommendations for their resolution.
• Serves as Hearing Officer for grievances handled at the facility level and represents CHS when appealed to City Office of Labor Relations and at arbitration hearings.
• Meets with Union representatives in Labor-Management meetings to discuss and seek resolution of local issues. Maintains on going liaison with Union and Union Representatives.
• Discusses local issues and their resolution with labor relations management staff.
• Reviews existing personnel procedures and makes recommendations for modifications.
• Performs studies regarding application for electronic data processing.
• Counsels supervisors and/or employees regarding personnel problems, job difficulties, and training and development opportunities.
• Coordinates in-house training activities including employee orientation programs and managerial training.
• Participates in implementation of employee performance review programs and recommends proper use and application to assure optimum results.
• Analyzes employee environment and morale to assess status. Makes recommendations for improvements to minimize sources of employee grievances.
• Studies existing and proposed titles in classification system. Performs classification studies, analyzing the nature and difficulty of work, the degree of supervision and responsibility involved, and the education and experience required for proper performance.
• Conducts out of title investigations, analyzes positions of complex and highly confidential nature, and makes recommendations on allocation to classes or recommendation for new class.
• Reviews requests and assists with administration of accommodations as related to religious observances.
• May represent Labor Relations Department on in-house committees such as risk management, fire and safety training, and may represent the Director at conferences, meetings and committees.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Personnel, Public or Business Administration, Economics, Management, Law or a related discipline; and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in area of labor relations, including negotiation and administration of agreements of labor relations matters; or
• A combination of training and experience, which is equivalent to “1” above. Higher-level of education may be substituted for one (1) year of experience, however only education above a Bachelor’s level can be counted towards substitution for experience. Therefore, all candidates must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the disciplines listed in “1” above, or a closely related discipline.

Department Preferences

• Advanced oral, listening, administrative and written communication skills required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain effective working relationships with employees, management and union officials.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to lead investigations from initial complaint to resolution.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask effectively.
• Passion for and commitment to the mission of Correctional Health Services.
• Experience working with a unionized workforce, preferably in a healthcare or correctional facility setting.