LABOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST

State of California; California; Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

The State of California seeks a Labor Relations Specialist in Sacramento to support harmonious workplace relations within the Employment Development Department. The role focuses on building relationships with management and labor representatives, interpreting contracts and civil service rules, and guiding decisions under the Ralph C.

Dills Act. This permanent full-time position offers a hybrid work schedule and a monthly salary of $7,172.00–$8,910.00, with opportunities to impact bargaining and

Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in the State of California labor relations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with managers, supervisors, and labor organizations.
• Ability to research, interpret, and apply civil service laws, rules, regulations, and labor agreements.
• Strong communication, judgment, and initiative in a confidential environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain harmonious relationships with management and union counterparts.
• Research and apply bargaining unit contracts, government codes, and labor agreements.

Skills

Labor relations knowledge

Relationship building

Civil service rules understanding

Negotiation skills

Job description

Labor Relations Specialist
LABOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST

$7,172.00 - $8,910.00 per Month

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

THIS POSITION MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE. THE AMOUNT OF TELEWORK IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS BUSINESS NEEDS ARISE.

Are you someone who enjoys research? Solving problems? Are you looking for a position with flexibility and telework opportunities to provide work-life balance? If so, this may be the position for you.

The Employment Development Department (EDD) Labor Relations Section is a small but mighty section in need of a valuable teammate. The Labor Relations Specialist position is key to maintaining harmonious relationships within the EDD. As a Labor Relations professional, developing and maintaining relationships with management and union counterparts is essential. The building block to these relationships is the Ralph C. Dills Act, Excluded Employees Bill of Rights, bargaining unit contracts, government codes, and the California Code of Regulations.

We are located between 8th & 9th along O Street, right in the heart of downtown, next to light rail stations and other public transportation in the newly renovated Labor Agency Building.

If you are interested in being part of a Department whose mission is to serve workers, job seekers, and employers in the State of California, this is the place for you!

Position located at 1416 9th St. Sacramento, CA 95814. Downtown Sacramento, near light rail, Tower Bridge, and the State Capitol.

This position is headquartered at the New Labor Agency Building (NLAB), a newly remodeled high‑rise building. Located in the heart of Downtown Sacramento and in close proximity of the State Capitol and the Golden1 Center, this beautiful and modern building provides the following amenities: Break areas, wellness/lactation rooms, coffee points, a fitness center with private showers, a Career Center for EDD Employees, a micro market, building‑wide WiFi, an outdoor terrace, bike storage, nearby public transit options, and much more.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details,

Working Conditions

Visa Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

Some extended workday during contract bargaining and occasional travel.

Minimum Requirements

• LABOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST

# of Positions:

1

Work Location:

1416 9th St. Sacramento, CA 95814

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Work Shift:

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Work Week:

Monday - Friday

Department Information

The Employment Development Department (EDD) is one of the largest State departments with employees at hundreds of service locations. For more than 70 years, the EDD has connected millions of job seekers and employers in an effort to build the economy of the Golden State. In order to continue our mission, we are constantly looking for the best and the brightest to join our ranks. Working at EDD presents many opportunities. If you strive to make a difference, we invite you to seek a career with EDD.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in the State of California labor relations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with managers and supervisors, the California Department of Human Resources, other department's labor relations professionals, and labor organizations.
• Ability to research, understand, interpret, and apply civil service laws, rules, regulations, and labor agreements.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in making critical decisions.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of initiative, independence, and flexibility.

Statement of Qualifications Requirements

In addition to the Standard State Application (STD 678), all interested applicants are required to submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. The SOQ is not a resume or cover letter. Applications received without an SOQ or an SOQ submitted without following instructions may not receive further consideration and may be excluded from the hiring process.

The SOQ must address the desirable qualifications listed below. Within the response, include specific information and examples as to how your professional education, training, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities meet the desirable qualifications of this position. Cover letters and resumes do not take the place of SOQs.

The SOQ should be numbered in the same order as listed below, provide specific examples, be no more than 2 pages in length, and be no smaller than 12 point font. Failure to follow these instructions may eliminate you from this recruitment.

• This position requires handling confidential or sensitive assignments. Describe your experience managing confidential information and the steps you take to ensure security and discretion.
• Describe a time when you were responsible for managing multiple high‑priority tasks with tight deadlines. What strategies did you use to stay organized, ensure accuracy, and meet expectations?
• This position requires handling confidential or sensitive assignments. Describe your experience managing confidential information and the steps you take to ensure security and discretion.

The position(s) may require an applicant to pass a background investigation. However, applicants will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless they receive a conditional offer of employment.

The department will make an individualized assessment of whether the conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job and the work performed by the department. The department will consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency, nature and seriousness, and age at the time of the offense(s).

The investigation will consist of completion of a personal history statement and fingerprinting checks with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and/or local law enforcement agencies. Anyone failing to pass the background investigation will be provided information on how to appeal the process. A criminal conviction may not result in an automatic determination of 'NotQualified.'

ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

The Employment Development Department may require a new probation in accordance with applicable probationary period rules.

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]