Labor Relations Specialist

City of New York • New York, NY

2d • $88,660 - $95,611 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Labor Relations Specialist will play a critical role in developing and implementing a newly developed conflict resolution component within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene by helping to create a mechanism to handle and resolve internal conflict. This role will be tasked with creating a mechanism where issues involving conflict can be addressed though means of conflict resolution to address employee relation issues. Reporting directly to the Director of Labor Relations, the Labor Relations Specialist will be responsible for coordinating agency grievance review and disciplinary appeals proceedings, assisting in case preparation for hearings, participating in Labor Management meetings, and serving as a liaison between the NYC Office of Labor Relations and the agency. The role also involves maintaining liaison with union representatives, preparing monthly labor relations reports, serving as a resource for employee training programs in labor relations, advising management on labor problems, evaluating options for resolving union-management differences, and assisting in the Employee Evaluation Appeal process. Additionally, the specialist will identify legal and contractual obligations, manage internal working relationships, coordinate conflict resolution sessions, serve as a liaison with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), provide training for supervisors and managers, handle workplace disputes, conduct conflict consultations, collect data on internal disputes, produce statistical reports, and develop education techniques to promote conflict management services agency-wide.

Requirements

• A master's degree from an accredited college in business or public administration, economics, labor or industrial relations, statistics, industrial psychology or a closely related social science field and one year of satisfactory full-time professional experience in labor research and analysis, employee benefit design and benefit program evaluation, compensation analysis, labor economics, economic planning, or a related area; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and three years of professional experience as described in "1" above; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate agency grievance review and disciplinary appeals proceedings and assist in the case preparation for Step 2 and Step 3 hearings, labor hearings and related issues.
• Participate in Labor Management meetings to discuss and attempt to resolve issues of mutual concern and serve as a liaison between NYC Office of Labor Relations and the agency with regards to all labor related activities.
• Maintain ongoing liaison with all union representatives and coordinate and participate in all labor management meetings as requested by union or management.
• Prepare and update the Monthly Labor Relations Report.
• Serve as a resource for employee training programs in labor relations.
• Advise all levels of management on the proper handling of general labor problems, existing or anticipated.
• Evaluate and recommend options available for resolution of union-management differences.
• Serve as a resource for employee training programs and provide trainings as needed on labor relation issues' and conducting effective feedback sessions on performance management.
• Assist in the Employee Evaluation Appeal process.
• Identify basic issues, legal and contractual obligations.
• Manage internal working relationships; coordinate and schedule conflict resolution sessions with employees; serve as the primary liaison with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) on external trainings and counsel; provide training for Supervisors and Managers and oversee the various aspects of conflict resolution within the Office of Labor Relations.
• Handle workplace disputes between supervisors and subordinates.
• Conduct conflict consultations to assist DOHMH employees in identifying and thinking through difficult conflicts in the workplace and helping them determine which are appropriate for handling through alternative means.
• Conduct data collection on internal disputes between Managers and/or Supervisors and employees, produce statistical reports as required.
• Develop and implement education techniques to promote the conflict management services agency-wide to all employees.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Benefits

• premium-free health insurance plan
• additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund
• a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement
• a tax-deferred savings program
• a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.

What This Job Offers

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