Administrator, Employee Relations

Housing Authority of Baltimore City•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

The primary purpose of this position is to support the Senior Manager, Human Resources by maintaining positive employee relationships, resolving employee-management disputes, negotiating labor contracts, coordinating grievance procedures regarding worker complaints, and ensuring compliance with employment laws. They may offer input on issues such as wages and salaries, nonwage benefits, and union or management practices. Plans, develops, coordinates, and implements overall Employee Relations programs, processes, and procedures to address personnel issues. Expeditiously and efficiently mediates personnel issues for represented and non-represented staff and plans grievances for represented staff. Plans and executes employee relations activities; plans internal training and mentoring, ensures appropriate approval to resolve grievances, and coordinates activities related to labor relations, labor/management meetings, and union contract renewals. Ensures effective, operationally efficient, and equitable employee relations activities. Performance of the duties requires detailed data input, analytical thinking, and knowledge of Federal, State, and City laws and HABC personnel policies and procedures governing personnel policies, labor contracts, union negotiations, and grievance processes. All activities must support the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC” or “Authority”) mission, strategic goals, and objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, industrial relations, business administration, or other related field(s) and a minimum of five (5) years of experience in employee relations in a union represented environment, to include labor relations, contract administration, grievance hearings, and contract negotiations.
Three years of experience must be recent - within the last five (5) years.
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.
Possession of a valid Maryland driver's license.
Must be able to be covered under the Authority's vehicle insurance policy.
Must not engage in private real estate business.
Availability to work some evenings and weekends as needed.
Successful completion of a prescreening investigation, including verification of employment history and education credentials.
A 6-month probationary period applies to this full-time permanent position.

Nice To Haves

CEBS, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Administers the Agency’s overall Employee/Labor Relations Program. Ensures that HABC programs and policies are administered within Federal, State, and City guidelines and in accordance with the Agency's policies, procedures, and union contracts. Ensures a positive employee experience.
Supports interactions and negotiations between management and employee representatives and labor unions.
Develops, drafts, and implements policies, handbooks, and codes of conduct.
Ensures compliance with collective bargaining or other agreements and employment policies.
Investigates worker misconduct and advises management on appropriate response and disciplinary procedures.
Manages employee grievances and discipline processes. Receives and documents employee complaints, ensuring all relevant details are accurately captured for further investigation. Prioritizes complaints based on severity, potential impact, and urgency to ensure timely resolutions for critical issues.
Resolves internal workplace disputes, ensuring employees are able to voice their concerns, and addresses the concerns appropriately.
Guides employees on the terms and conditions of their employment.
Trains management on labor relations and other policies and procedures.
Works with employee representatives, management, and employees to draft agreements regarding disputes in organizational policies and procedures.
Reviews and approves all disciplinary actions. Ensures the disciplined employee is notified of the official disciplinary decision in a timely and professional manner.
Works to fulfill HABC’s commitment to diversity by collaborating with HR/Diversity staff to develop, implement, and evaluate employee/labor relations strategies to ensure equitable treatment of all employees.
Develops, builds, and maintains relationships with a variety of HABC staff, key organizations and institutions, and diverse labor/union contacts and resources. Provides superb, high-touch customer service to internal and external customers, using effective listening skills and ensuring timely research and follow-up through resolution. Responds to emails and phone calls in a clear, concise, and welcoming manner, and within 24 hours. Participates effectively in discussions, ensuring positive interactions with leadership, labor leaders, and employees at all levels of the organization. Advises management personnel on the status and interpretation of labor relations activities, contracts, policies, programs, and procedures.
Designs, proposes, edits, implements, and evaluates Human Resources services, especially as related to employee and labor relations, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of human resources operations and administration, management methods, and procedures. Recommendations may include new, revised, or rewritten forms, policies, processes, labor agreements, and/or procedures. Ensures all policies and procedures comply with Federal, State, and City laws and are current, competitive, and effective.
Assists supervisors, managers, and division leadership in following the prescribed processes for formal grievances, at all steps, and may act as HABC’s representative during the grievance. Reviews detailed information from formal grievances, researches additional information, and makes recommendations related to the resolution of the grievances.
Assists with administering the labor union agreements.
Researches, develops, advises, consults, and trains HABC supervisors, staff, managers, and other employees regarding the union contracts, Federal, State, and City employment laws, employment regulations, best labor practices, union negotiation strategy, and union contract adherence.
Collaborate with leadership regarding the forecast of current and future labor/management agreements.
Manages vendor/consultant relationships for employee and labor relations and analyzes vendor/consultant recommendations to determine the most cost-effective policy/contract changes that yield the largest returns.
Acts as advisor/consultant to senior leadership during internal or external employee relations activities. Runs reports, compiles and verifies data, presents information in a concise format, and creates presentations (PowerPoint, Word, Excel) to summarize data. Supports HR consultants by providing advice and guidance in the administration and maintenance of high-impact labor relations issues. May make oral or written presentations explaining the purpose and goal of employee relations’ policies and results, as well as the value and adherence to union collective bargaining agreements.
Attends and actively participates in meetings and provides recommendations, as requested.
Keeps abreast of the new legal issues in the Federal, State, and City HR arenas, and diligently enforces policies in a manner consistent with the laws.
Participates in special projects and assignments for data collection.
Performs other duties as assigned.