Employee and Labor Relations Representative Apply
Summary
Are you someone who is motivated and passionate about public service and making a difference? King County Metro's Human Resources team seeks an Employee & Labor Relations Representative to serve as a trusted advisor within the department on daily employee and labor relations activities.
With over 5,000 employees, 97% of whom are covered by collective bargaining agreements, you will be responsible for advising or collaborating on complex employee performance management, union contract interpretation, workplace investigations and disciplinary decisions, and employee workplace complaints. As a trusted and influential resource with a high level of responsibility and autonomy, you will be able to impact some of the highest levels of decision- making, policy making and bargaining in the Department.
Job Duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As the Employee and Labor Relations Representative, you will also:
- Routinely consult on and/or facilitate the resolution of employee and labor relations issues by working with managers, supervisors, employees, and union representatives.
- Work to resolve grievances/issues at the lowest possible level by working collaboratively within Transit Employee Services and other Metro Divisions, and externally with the Department of Human Resources (DHR) and Office of Labor Relations (OLR) to ensure overall program support and success.
- Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements through training and consultation with managers and unions.
- Consult with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office as necessary.
- Conduct workplace investigations to determine the validity of complaints and grievances.
- Draft investigative reports, present investigative findings and recommendations to decision-makers, and recommend appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.
- Prepare written responses to the EEOC and other similar state and local regulatory agencies regarding allegations of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation.
- Participate in grievance hearings, either as a hearing examiner or as a management representative in support of other Department staff.
- Provide support in arbitration and mediation proceedings by researching relevant cases, gathering supporting documents, and providing professional labor relations advice; may serve as a partisan member of arbitration panels.
- Provide training, guidance, advice, and coaching to supervisory staff on employee and labor relations matters including performance management, workplace policy application, investigative techniques, contract compliance, and appropriate corrective actions.
- Provide recommendations to Employee Services Management and/or King County Office of Labor Relations regarding labor strategies and management bargaining proposals.
- Draft memorandums of understanding to address labor relations issues.
- Work collaboratively with other human resource professionals and leaders in the department to deliver outcomes that further Metros organizational health commitments, and are equitable, defensible, and provide the best outcome for the agency.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
The work of this position is not transactional in nature; it requires strong critical thinking skills, including the ability to identify important considerations even when not explicitly presented. This position will require composure, and the ability to see the bigger picture while building consensus among groups that may have differing perspectives and goals.
We are looking for candidates who possess these qualifications:
- Three years or more of progressively responsible experience with employee and labor relations issues, including conducting employment workplace investigations and writing investigation reports, advising on performance management issues, and interpreting and applying federal, state, and local employment rules and regulations, as well as human resources policies and procedures.
- A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and professional-level employee and labor relations experience in a highly unionized environment or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and/or skills sufficient to perform the listed job duties.
- Advanced interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively at all levels in a collaborative team environment.
- Comprehensive understanding of labor law and labor relations and collective bargaining principles and practices.
- In-depth knowledge of grievance, arbitration, and mediation proceedings.
- Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations.
- Strong presentation, facilitation, and consensus-building skills.
- Strong conflict resolution skills.
- Proven ability to handle highly confidential, sensitive, and potentially litigious issues.
- Thorough understanding of the principles of labor contract interpretation and administration.
- Demonstrated analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
- Proven oral and demonstrated strong written communication skills.
- A strong and proven commitment to the principles of equity and social justice.
- Ability to work daily in a fast-paced environment, with multiple competing priorities and sensitive situations.
- Proficiency in commonly used MS Office applications.
- Public sector experience and experience with large, unionized organizations.
Supplemental Information
Selection Process:
King County Metro values diversity and is committed to upholding and promoting equal opportunity in employment. We encourage people of all backgrounds, cultures, and religions to apply, including veterans, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. King County Metro provides accommodations as needed as we believe that a diverse workforce is a strong workforce.
Applications will be reviewed as received, and they will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. All materials will be evaluated for spelling, grammar, and punctuation usage.
The recruitment for this position will remain open until February 15, 2024. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in an interview.
Application Process:
If you are interested in this position, follow the application instructions carefully. The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:
- An online employment application completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. The employment history should go back at least 10 years if you have 10 years of employment, or more to include all relevant experience. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. All relevant experience must be included in the application.
- A cover letter addressing in detail your experience advising supervisors and managers on employee performance management, including discipline. Your letter should effectively explain your interest in this position and why you believe you would be an excellent candidate.
- Responses to Supplemental Questions.
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact nmegevand@kingcounty.gov
Union Membership: This position is not represented by a union.
Class Code: 2308100 Employee and Labor Relations Representative (Job code 230301)
Work Schedule and Location
The work week is normally 40 hours, Monday through Friday. Alternative work schedules may be possible. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and therefore is not eligible for overtime pay. The primary location of this position is in the King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA).
Requirements when Teleworking
The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking and onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance of their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
About King County's Metro Transit Department
Metro Transit is a regional leader in helping people move quickly throughout the region, reducing commuter stress, greening the environment, and radically improving urban air quality, by providing comfortable, effective transit services for the thousands of commuters and other residents of King County, Washington. Working for Metro means working for a leader in the public transportation industry. This is an exciting time for Metro; we are expanding service and recently received the 2018 award for the best large transit agency in North America.
Metro is striving to build an enduring legacy of diversity and inclusion, equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovation, continuous improvement, safety, and environmental sustainability. King County government and Metro Transit have adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance this legacy. We are actively developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents and our employees.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our \\\"True North\\\", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply:
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
