Labor Relations Advisor

Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Massachusetts Department of Public Health is seeking a Labor Relations Advisor to serve as a hearing officer for grievances and participate in bargaining negotiations. You will analyze facts, interpret bargaining agreements, and draft decisions and settlement agreements.

The role involves coordinating grievance processes, liaising with agencies and unions, and developing reports on employment issues including AI, with emphasis on transparency and public trust. Hybrid work may be available.

Qualifications

• Three years of full-time or equivalent experience in business administration, management, or public administration with program management/analysis.
• Substitutions: BA/Graduate degree may substitute for part of the required experience.
• Education toward such a degree prorated per completed requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Hearing Officer by conducting conferences for grievances filed by labor unions; interpret collective bargaining agreements and write Step III decisions and settlements.
• Meet and confer with management and labor to resolve employee disputes.
• Develop reports/policies on projects including AI and emerging tech focusing on transparency, privacy, fairness, accountability, and public trust.
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations by gathering information, preparing reports, recommending strategies, drafting proposals, and attending sessions as a management bargaining committee member.
• Coordinate grievance intake, assignment, resolution, and maintain the grievance database.
• Liaise between agencies and unions to coordinate approval/denial of union leaves.

Skills

Communication skills

Regulations interpretation

Fact gathering

Multitasking

Office software

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/public administration

Graduate degree in business/public administration

Bachelor's in other field (subs for experience)

3+ years professional experience

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Database software

Job description

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Labor Relations Advisor (260006JP)

Job Description

Labor Relations Advisor - ( 260006JP )

Description

Agency Description

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department is one of the state's largest employers with over 46,000 employees that span 11 Secretariats and 70 plus agencies. From Accountants to X-ray technicians with hundreds of titles in between, we are one employer with many career opportunities. The Commonwealth is looking for leaders, thinkers, creators, and innovators. We are a diverse workforce that reflects the diverse population that we serve.

The Human Resources Division (HRD) is an agency within the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. HRD provides support to state agencies in all matters relating to the Commonwealth's classification, compensation, benefits, recruitment, training & employee development, civil rights, collective bargaining and workers compensation administration.

Duties

• Serve as Hearing Officer by conducting conferences for grievances filed by labor unions representing state employees; interpreting collective bargaining agreements and analyzing relevant facts to recommend disposition of grievances; writing Step III decisions and settlement agreements.
• Meeting and conferring with representatives of management and labor to resolve employee disputes.
• Performing research and developing reports/policies/proposals on special projects concerning a wide range of employment issues including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies with particular attention to transparency, employee privacy, fairness, accountability, and public trust.
• Participating in collective bargaining negotiations by gathering information, preparing reports, recommending bargaining strategies, drafting collective bargaining proposals, and attending negotiation sessions as a member of the management bargaining committee.
• Performing administrative functions to include coordinating grievance intake, assignment, and resolution and maintaining the grievance database..
• Acting as liaison between agencies and unions in coordinating approval/denial of union leave requests.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated excellence in communication skills, both written and oral; excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to comprehend and interpret written regulations and apply them to specific situations
• Ability to draw relevant facts from conflicting oral and written presentations
• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Facility with PC-based word-processing, spreadsheet and database software

Minimum Entrance Requirements

• MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative or managerial experience in business administration, business management or public administration the major duties of which involved program management, program administration, program coordination, program planning and/or program analysis, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
• Substitutions:
• I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the-required experience.*
• II. A Graduate degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for the required experience.*
• III. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major other than in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.*
• *Education towards such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

An Equal Opportunity / Affi...

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC)may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Job Details

Administrative Services

Agency

Human Resources Division

Schedule

Full-time

Shift

Day

Job Posting

Sep 24, 2026, 1:30:33 PM

Number of Openings

1

Salary: 73,615.88 - 106,401.62 Yearly

If you have Diversity,

Bargaining Unit : 06-NAGE - Professional Admin.

Confidential : No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : Yes