Labor Relations Manager

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This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)

• Language Incentive

• Referral Bonus

• Tuition Assistance Program

Description

The City of Richmond, Department of Human Resources is seeking highly qualified candidates to fulfill a Labor Relations Manager position. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert, advisor, strategist, and program execution leader on key labor imperatives. The incumbent will develop the short and long-term labor relations strategy and engage, influence and support management and HR in achieving labor relations results aligned with business goals. This position will serve as primary labor relations leader in labor contract negotiations and provide alternative dispute resolution expertise while managing the labor contract.

Labor Relations will work closely with the Human Resources Leadership Team, City leadership teams, and the newly formed collective bargaining units.

Duties include but are not limited to

• Oversee collective bargaining, contract administration, and alternative dispute resolution resulting in a coordinated and effective approach

• Proactively participate as a key representative in the employer-union relationship to ensure effective relations and achievement of business objectives and partner with the HR organization to ensure awareness of employee investigations/labor relations issues.

• Negotiate collective bargaining/employee agreements with assigned employee groups.

• Develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with bargaining unit and other group representatives.

• Develop bargaining strategies and prepare proposals.

• Analyze impact of proposals and develops alternative proposals that work for both parties.

• Achieve tentative agreements within established parameters and prepares agreements for leadership approval.

• Supervise labor relations staff.

• Create and implement organized system of case management and ensures all cases are completed in a timely manner.

• Perform ongoing assessment of City labor relations positions and agreements and prepares reports.

• Provide recommendations and support for management decision-making processes.

• Recommend improvements to labor relations and contract negotiations.

• Compliance with federal and state regulations, laws regarding labor relations and human resources.

• Recognize potential employee relations issues and take or recommend necessary corrective action.

• Work closely with Training and Development team in the design and presentation of training programs in the area of expertise and in areas critical to the execution of the labor relations strategy.

• Collaboratively integrate approaches, outcomes, deliverables, and solutions with partners in HR, Legal, and Finance

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Considerable knowledge of labor law

• Collective bargaining strategies and processes

• Labor relations issues in local governmental agencies with multiple unions

• Experience with collective bargaining agreements to include drafting, negotiating and interpreting agreements and leading efforts on compliance and enforcement

• Work effectively with individuals and groups regarding sensitive or controversial issues

• Strength in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and leadership, supervisory, conflict resolution, ethics, problem-solving, strategic thinking, leadership, and cultural competency.

• Thorough knowledge of labor relations practices and legal requirements

• Strong written and oral communication skills required

• Proven ability working with all levels of City leadership required

• Ability to manage staff in a hybrid work environment

• Collaborative team player

• Advanced Microsoft Office experience, including virtual team platforms for meetings, shared team documents, and instant messaging communications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business/Public Administration, or a related field

• 2 years of professional human resources or compliance experience

• One year of supervisory experience

• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

• One year to complete one of the following certifications:

• HRCI HR Certification (PHR/SPHR)

• SHRM HR Certification (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP)

• IPMACP or IPMA-SCP

• CLRA - Certified Labor Relations Association

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Eight (8) years of experience in labor and employee relations and/or employment law

• Four (4) years of management experience, including negotiations and mediation experience in a large, complex organization may substitute

• Public sector experience working with labor partners and/or experience as a lead negotiator or mediator preferred

• Bachelor's Degree with an emphasis in labor relations, compliance and alternative dispute resolution; or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly walk and work with one's fingers; frequently balance, lift, or grasp; and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, push, and pull. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects. The working conditions may contain environmental hazards.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Talent Acquisition Partner, Senior at (804) 646-4705 or by email at Jessica.McKenzie@RVA.GOV.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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