Deputy Director of Labor Relations

City of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

1d

About The Position

The Deputy Director of Labor Relations is a member of the Office of Employee and Labor Relations (OELR) executive leadership team and leads the Labor Relations Unit (LRU). The role involves expert application of labor laws, municipal union contracts, and federal employment law to guide City leadership in fostering positive labor-management relationships, ensuring operational efficiency, and promoting an effective and collaborative workplace culture. This position also includes direct involvement in contract negotiations, labor relations training, and developing initiatives to enhance labor relations practices citywide. An employee in this position provides strategic and technical consultation and guidance to City leaders on contract interpretation and implementation, as well as corrective action support. This role directs the work of LRU team members and has frequent communication with and advises senior level officials on labor management best practices. Work is performed under the direction of the Department of Labor’s First Deputy Director, who is also Director of OELR.

Requirements

• Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of Pennsylvania labor laws and federal employment law.
• Comprehensive understanding of collective bargaining processes, labor contracts, and relevant labor laws.
• Familiarity with, Microsoft Office and database management systems used in case management.
• Knowledge of data organization, storage, retrieval, security, and integrity protocols for electronic record-keeping.
• Proficient in conducting legal research and applying findings to labor relations strategies.
• Deep understanding of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations and compliance requirements.
• Expertise in arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution processes under labor laws.
• Strong understanding of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), ADA, FLSA, and other relevant federal statutes.
• Skills: Strong analytical skills for interpreting complex union agreements and historical labor data.
• Proficient in conflict resolution, negotiation, and managing labor-management interactions.
• Strong organizational leadership skills for motivating and managing staff, setting goals, and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication and writing skills for effectively expressing information to individuals or groups.
• Proficiency in developing and conducting labor relations training programs.
• Adept at developing and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) related to labor relations.
• Experienced in creating labor relations strategies that align with organizational goals and compliance requirements.
• Ability to identify systemic issues within labor relations and recommend sustainable solutions.
• Abilities: Demonstrates initiative and flexibility to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Maintains open communication with employees, union representatives, and management to facilitate positive labor relations and a cohesive department culture.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with diverse individuals, showing understanding, friendliness, tact, and empathy.
• Ensures compliance with organizational policies, collective bargaining agreements, and labor laws through detailed review and supervision.
• Demonstrates the ability to analyze labor market trends, historical negotiation outcomes, and workforce data to inform strategic decisions.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Labor Relations, Human Resources, or related field.
• At least six years of progressively-increasing responsibility, in labor relations, human resources, collective bargaining, contract negotiations or grievance resolutions, with at least two years of which was in a management-level position.

Responsibilities

• Directs and manages the grievance and arbitrations process for the LRU and provides expert testimony at arbitrations and interest arbitration hearings.
• Applies knowledge of the contracts, Pennsylvania public labor laws, and federal employment law in daily work providing counseling and guidance to City leadership.
• Conducts supervisory training and advanced labor management training and specialized or department-tailored labor relations training.
• The Deputy Director is responsible for fostering a positive labor-management relationship, ensuring effective onboarding processes for new employees, and maintaining operational efficiency.
• Provides strong initiative and a comprehensive understanding of various union contracts, their history, and the local labor environment to those internal and external to Department of Labor.
• Provides strategic and technical consultation and guidance to City leaders on contract interpretation and implementation, as well as corrective action support.
• Directs the work of LRU team members.
• Frequently communicates with and advises senior level officials, exerting influence on the labor management relationship City-wide and all other duties as assigned.
• Act as a key member of the City’s bargaining team during contract negotiations.
• Draft and evaluate contract language proposals and administrative documents.
• Collaborate with team members to analyze and interpret collective bargaining agreements, maintaining comprehensive knowledge of their history and implications.
• Counsel and guide City leadership on labor relations matters, ensuring adherence to Pennsylvania public labor laws, municipal union contracts, and federal employment law.
• Advise managers throughout the City government on labor management issues or employee relations matters.
• Advise Senior Administration Officials with respect to labor strategy and high-profile labor management or employee relation issues.
• Supervise staff members who conduct grievance hearings for municipal union members and review their subsequent reports.
• Conduct training sessions on Labor Relations and related training for supervisors and managers.
• Work with OELR’s Director to develop labor and employee relations policies, strategies, and initiatives; meet with Managers to identify problem areas and make recommendations to address those areas of concern.
• Provide testimony as needed at interest and grievance arbitrations and unfair labor practice hearings.
• Serve on City’s negotiation teams that bargain with the municipal unions for successor agreements.
• Meet frequently with Law Department and outside attorneys in preparation for legal proceedings against the City.
• Field requests from Union officials regarding various actions/policies taken by departments to determine compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
• Mediate disputes or concerns within departments.
• Monitor and analyze workload demands across the LRU, ensuring effective distribution of tasks and prioritizing essential projects to maintain productivity.
• Step in to manage or complete tasks in cases of short-staffing, high workload, or unforeseen absences, supporting the team in meeting deadlines and quality standards.
• Assume accountability for the LRU’s output, ensuring the quality, timeliness, and accuracy of all reports, agreements, and labor-related documentation.
• All other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Transportation : City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees