Remote Labor Relations Negotiator

County Officials; Snohomish (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Snohomish County is seeking a highly skilled labor relations professional to lead and negotiate collective bargaining agreements, review laws and precedents, and provide strategic guidance to managers and supervisors across the county. This role involves representing the County in mediation, arbitration, and hearings, while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree in business or public administration plus six years of negotiation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration or other discipline directly related to labor relations and/or human resources; AND, six (6) years of experience in negotiation, labor relations, and related fields; OR, any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
• Professional Human Resources certification, such as SHRM-CP, PHR, IPMA-CP, or specialty certification related to labor relations.
• Must sign a confidentiality agreement as a condition of employment.
• Knowledge of: Principles and practices of collective bargaining, grievance, and arbitration processes
• Ability to: Work professionally and respectfully with diverse groups of individuals, communicate effectively, establish relationships and maintain working relationships, analyze data and prepare reports, navigate conflicting priorities and deadlines
• Maintain a calm demeanor even under stressful situations, build consensus among individuals with varying opinions and agendas, stay current with trends and practices

Responsibilities

• 1. Negotiates collective bargaining agreements which includes representing the County during the mediation and arbitration processes in a manner that promotes equity and social justice.
• 2. Research state and federal laws and case precedents dealing with collective bargaining issues and processes to determine applicability and/or impact. Reviews and analyzes collective bargaining agreements, court decisions, and arbitration decisions.
• 3. Analyzes language in collective bargaining agreements for compliance with federal, state, and local laws, policy, and management practice; recommends updates as appropriate. Analyzes union proposals including compensation and benefit proposals and develops management proposals and strategies in collective bargaining.
• 4. Coordinates the development of management proposals with appropriate County resources and workgroups, including Human Resources staff, department management, and others.
• 5. Provides consultation and assistance to managers and supervisors regarding federal, state, and local labor laws, policies, and guidelines; current and emerging issues; collective bargaining and grievances. Interprets, explains, and applies pertinent laws, rules, regulations, policies, guidelines, and collective bargaining agreements.
• 6. Prepares records of collective bargaining sessions, letters, memoranda, reports, spreadsheets, and other administrative documents.
• 7. Presents information, testifies, and otherwise represents the County in arbitration hearings; in grievance hearings; during unfair labor practice, unit clarification, or other matters before the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). May present ordinances or other matters before the County Council or other legislative bodies.
• 8. May act as the designee for the County Executive at the appropriate step in the grievance procedure.
• 9. Consults with and provides guidance to county-wide staff and leaders to develop and maintain successful human resources strategy; provides oversight to ensure county-wide consistency within labor relations.
• 10. Proactively develops and implements strategies to advance equity and social justice as related to the labor relations function, to support the ultimate goal of building a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• 11. Builds strategic relationships and represents the Human Resources Department in interdepartmental, interagency and public meetings; serves on committees and task forces as assigned.
• 12. May plan, organize, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate employees or project teams, including participating in and making recommendations concerning the hiring, discipline, and potential termination of employees.
• 13. Maintains confidentiality of all records, reports, and/or information deemed to be sensitive in nature. Oversees the maintenance and control of records within assigned functions as needed.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Conflict resolution

Policy analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or public administration

Job description

Snohomish County is seeking a highly skilled labor relations professional to lead and negotiate collective bargaining agreements, review laws and precedents, and provide strategic guidance to managers and supervisors across the county. This role involves representing the County in mediation, arbitration, and hearings, while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree in business or public administration plus six years of negotiation