Employee and Labor Relations Specialist

Physician Affiliate Group of New York • New York, NY

3d • $100,000 - $120,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY), a tax-exempt organization affiliated with NYC Health + Hospitals, has an opportunity for an Employee and Labor Relations Specialist. PAGNY is one of the largest physician groups in New York State and directly employs nearly 4,000 physicians and allied health professionals who serve seven of New York City’s public hospitals, numerous public health community-based practices, and the city’s Correctional Health Service. The Mission of NYC Health + Hospitals is to extend equally to all New Yorkers, regardless of the ability to pay, comprehensive health services of the highest quality in an atmosphere of humane care, dignity, and respect. Their Values are built on a foundation of social and racial equity and has established the ICARE standards for all staff. NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation’s largest municipal health care delivery system in the United States. Dedicated to providing the highest quality health care services to all New Yorkers with compassion, dignity and respect, and regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. The position requires on be on site 5 days a week. The Employee and Labor Relations Specialist is PAGNY's labor and employee relations presence at assigned affiliate sites, reporting to the Director, Labor and Employee Relations. The Specialist administers the collective bargaining agreements covering PAGNY's clinical workforce, conducts and documents workplace investigations, responds to grievances, and advises site leadership on discipline and contract application. Assigned sites are set by the Director.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university; or A satisfactory equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Minimum 3 years of employee and labor relations experience in a unionized environment, with direct responsibility for administering collective bargaining agreements, conducting workplace investigations, and responding to grievances.
• Ability to read and apply contract language precisely and to locate the governing provision among multiple amending agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, well-supported written investigative findings, grievance responses, and correspondence.
• Ability to take and hold a position with senior leadership and with union representatives, including delivering unwelcome answers.
• Sound judgment about what falls within scope and when to escalate.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws pertaining to employment and labor relations matters.
• High attention to detail and the ability to maintain standards under deadline.
• Discretion and the ability to handle confidential matters.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

• Health care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply the collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of agreement, and side letters governing assigned sites, and identify which instrument controls a given question.
• Research contract questions in the source agreements and state findings with citation to the operative text.
• Advise site leadership and PAGNY Corporate Human Resources on contract application, including compensation provisions, differentials, leave, and seniority.
• Support the Director in preparing for contract negotiations and implementing newly executed agreements.
• Conduct workplace investigations into allegations of policy violations and misconduct, including interviewing complainants, witnesses, and respondents.
• Produce written investigative findings that identify the allegation, the policy at issue, the evidence relied on, and the basis for each finding, and that state where the evidence does not support a finding.
• Maintain complete investigative files, including interview records, documentary evidence, and correspondence.
• Determine, in consultation with the Director, whether a matter falls within PAGNY's scope and refer clinical, credentialing, and quality matters to the appropriate body.
• Receive, investigate, and respond to grievances at the contractual steps, and draft written responses and position statements.
• Represent PAGNY in labor management meetings and grievance conferences at assigned sites.
• Advise supervisors and department leadership on progressive discipline, prepare disciplinary documents, and ensure actions are supported by the record and consistent with the applicable agreement.
• Support the Director in arbitration preparation, including document assembly, witness preparation, and chronologies.
• Serve as the point of contact for labor and employee relations at assigned sites, working with Affiliate Operations Officers, site Human Resources, and NYC Health + Hospitals site leadership.
• Report case status, open matters, and emerging issues to the Director on a regular cycle.
• Deliver guidance and training to site supervisors on contract administration, documentation, and performance management.
• Maintain working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment and labor law sufficient to recognize legal issues as they arise.
• Maintain case records in PAGNY's case management system so that the status, next action, and responsible party for each matter are current.
• Escalate legal questions to the Director for routing to the General Counsel.

Benefits

• 401(k) Company Contribution (subject to IRS contribution limits): Employees are immediately vested in a 3% company contribution of base earnings. No employee match is required. After one year of service, employees receive an additional 7% company contribution of base earnings. No employee match is required.
• Generous Annual Paid Time Off (PTO): Vacation and Holiday.
• Medical, Prescription, and Dental Coverage: Top-tier plans with employee contributions significantly below market rates.
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Coverage: Equal to 3x your salary (up to a maximum of $250,000) provided at no cost to you. Additional employee-paid Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage is available for you and your family.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Pre-tax employee-paid contributions for commuting expenses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level