Labor and Employment Specialist

California School Employees Association•San Jose, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Labor and Employment Specialist is a confidential management role within the Human Resources Department. This position has delegated management responsibility for labor and employment issues and supervisory authority within Human Resources as assigned. It handles investigations and oversight, enforces contracts, manages employee relations, ensures compliance, and supports related managerial functions. The role also provides continuity and acts as a backup in the absence of the Director of Human Resources. Additionally, the position assists the Director of Human Resources and the Executive Director in managing sensitive employment, labor relations, and organizational matters. This is a management-confidential, non-bargaining unit position created to centralize and professionalize management-side labor and employment functions within the Human Resources Department. The position aims to strengthen HR’s internal management capacity, provide managerial support and continuity, improve consistency in handling sensitive employment issues, and help build the documentation and procedural infrastructure necessary to support effective Human Resources administration. It is ideal for an attorney who thrives in a dynamic environment, has a strong foundation in employment law, employment practices, and values public service and workplace integrity.

Requirements

Ability to exercise delegated management judgment in sensitive labor and employment matters, maintain confidentiality, direct workflow and investigations as assigned, and provide sound managerial support in the absence of the Director of Human Resources.
Strong knowledge of California and federal employment laws, including FEHA, FLSA, CFRA/FMLA, and wage and hour compliance.
Excellent legal research, analytical and writing skills.
Strong understanding of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and labor-management relations in a unionized workforce; knowledge of and ability to continue learning private-sector labor law (NLRA).
Exercise good judgment.
Remain calm and think clearly under pressure.
Exercise considerable independence, initiative, and judgment in researching and proceeding with issues and cases.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employment matters with professionalism.
Foster collaborative relationships with diverse cultural groups, as well as with professional, technical, administrative and service employees.
Supervisory experience or ability to provide HR leadership support, including directing staff, workflow, and investigations as needed.
Candidate must be a member of the bar of some state; those if not admitted to the California Bar, must gain admission within one year of hire.

Nice To Haves

JD
Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in labor and employment law, employee relations, workplace investigations, or related Human Resources and labor-relations work.
Experience in a unionized employer environment or an in-house labor and employment practice is strongly preferred.
Relevant pre-Bar labor relations or human resources experience will also be considered.
Clear and concise communications skills, in speech and in writing.
Knowledge of collective bargaining.
Commitment to supporting CSEA’s missions and values.
Experience in advising on workplace investigations, wage and hour issues, or public sector employment preferred.

Responsibilities

Exercises delegated management responsibility in assigned labor and employment matters, including directing workflow, overseeing investigations, supervising outside investigators when appropriate, contract enforcement, grievance administration and review, and contract interpretation.
Provides supervisory and operational continuity within the Human Resources Department in the absence of the Director of Human Resources, including directing staff workflow, overseeing active matters, and maintaining investigations and related employment processes.
Acts as a key Human Resources hub for intake, triage, documentation, coordination, escalation, and follow-up of management-side labor and employment issues until resolution.
Creates and maintains documentation and procedures for labor and employment issues, including templates, organized files, issue histories, interpretations, searchable records, and related materials to ensure consistency, continuity, and retention of institutional knowledge.
Prepares investigative reports, findings, recommendations, decision-support materials, and other management work products subject to review. Ensures such work is documented and managed in accordance with organizational standards.
Supports HR leadership on employment law matters, including discipline, performance management, leave administration, disability accommodation, and workplace investigations.
Advise on compliance with state and federal employment laws, including FEHA, ADA, FMLA/CFRA, FLSA, and wage and hour requirements.
Advise management and Human Resources on the application and interpretation of collective bargaining agreement provisions in employee relations matters.
Draft, review, and revise policies, procedures, employment agreements, handbooks, and related documents.
Research and provide guidance on employment litigation risk and assist in preparing responses to administrative charges, claims, or proceedings under relevant agencies and laws.
Collaborate with legal and HR leadership on training programs related to compliance, performance management, anti-harassment, and workplace conduct.
Monitor new legislation, regulations, and case law impacting employment-related issues and risk mitigation strategies.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Provide training for staff on legal procedures, labor law and other subjects.
Draft appropriate contract language.
Provide operational continuity in the absence of the Director of Human Resources, ensuring proper supervision of HR staff, workflow direction, and continuity of investigations.
Assist in assembling and analyzing records for review or appeal, and coordinate as needed on matters involving legal strategy, litigation, administrative claims, or other proceedings requiring formal attorney involvement.