Labor Negotiator

City of Bellevue•Bellevue, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Bellevue is seeking a Labor Negotiator to join its Labor Relations team as a lead negotiator. The role develops, implements, and coordinates citywide human resources programs and plans related to labor relations and contract negotiations. It also designs and supervises compensation studies, including determining research needs and study scope, conducting multifactor data and cost analyses, and presenting recommendations to City leadership. The position communicates and collaborates with City staff and management, union representatives, elected officials, the public, City attorneys, and representatives of other agencies and jurisdictions. It represents the City’s interests in negotiations and resolution of labor issues, often involving sensitive or emotional matters requiring tact, diplomacy, discretion, and skill in building trust. The role works independently under limited supervision and reports to an Assistant Director of Human Resources. This is a full-time, exempt, non-union position. Bargaining is conducted in person, mostly at City Hall or the Bellevue Service Center. Other work is hybrid, with work at home and in the office, and may require travel to meetings. A hybrid schedule is available after an initial office orientation period; full-time remote work is not available. Employees must reside in Washington State within reasonable commuting distance of Bellevue City Hall. The position may require non-standard hours, including early morning and evening meetings.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources, Psychology, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in labor relations, contract negotiation, employee relations, and compensation analysis.
First-chair negotiation experience.
Working knowledge and experience in labor law and collective bargaining processes and practices.
Ability to compile and analyze statistics and apply arithmetic, ratios, percentages, proportions, graphs, and charts to practical situations.
Knowledge of governmental budgeting and accounting principles and practices.
Ability to handle complex, sensitive, high-visibility issues and make sound administrative and procedural decisions and recommendations.
Ability to work effectively with diverse customers and conflicting points of view, perform under pressure, and demonstrate discretion, integrity, fairness, and tact.
Strategic thinking and ability to consider organizational and long-term impacts of policies and proposed changes.
Knowledge of human resources practices, arbitration, employee and labor relations, employment law, and related strategies and processes.
Thorough knowledge of public-sector labor relations practices, employment policies and procedures, and PERC regulations.
Thorough knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, including L&I guidance, PECBA, DOL guidance, and employee accommodation legislation.
Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills.
Skill in composing, proofreading, and editing contract language, correspondence, presentations, reports, policies, procedures, and other official documents.
Ability to use a personal computer and related software for word processing, analysis, information retrieval, and tracking.
Ability to take on responsibilities and challenges, prioritize sensitive deadlines, work independently under broad guidelines, make decisions, and contribute effectively as a team member.
Ability to establish employment authorization and identity at hire; the City cannot sponsor work visas.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Juris Doctor degree.
Experience in a variety of human resources disciplines.
Public-sector experience.

Responsibilities

Work with department and City management to formulate and recommend negotiation strategies aligned with City goals.
Negotiate collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding or agreement, and other agreements on behalf of the City; participate on labor-management committees.
Present sensitive proposals and recommendations to management, elected officials, union representatives, and others.
Monitor, analyze, and interpret collective bargaining agreements to support accurate application and compliance with laws, City policies, and management practices.
Recommend compliance actions in response to new and evolving legislation.
Develop communications and training for managers and departments following contract ratification to support consistent implementation of negotiated agreements.
Research and formulate responses to grievances and unfair labor practice charges.
Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with union representatives.
Compile, prepare, and analyze data for proposals in negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and other settings.
Analyze and cost union proposals, including compensation and benefits proposals.
Meet with management representatives to develop proposals for changes to collective bargaining agreements and provide periodic negotiation progress updates.
Advise management about potential impacts and legal implications of proposed actions.
Design and conduct compensation and market analysis studies, including research, scope definition, comparable market comparisons, multifactor data and cost analysis, and cost-benefit analysis; present recommendations to City leadership.
Provide technical guidance to department management and staff on HR procedures and policies, especially represented employees’ benefits, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
Collaborate with HR department members to develop policies and procedures and ensure consistent administration for represented employees.
Consult with and guide HR staff regarding employee actions and complex labor relations issues.
Maintain regular attendance.