Senior Specialist, Labor Relations

Role Description:

The Senior Specialist, Labor Relations provides day-to-day contract administration and responds to labor inquiries from management and employees; establishes and maintains effective relationships with union leadership; negotiates and administers labor agreements; and confers with labor organizations on behalf of management.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

- Advises management on implementing policy changes, reviewing operational protocols, and engaging in impacts and effects bargaining as appropriate.

- Provides advice to managers and supervisors regarding personnel practices, policies, employee relations concerns, and employment laws.

- Serves as labor relations subject matter expert handling all labor relations issues arising within assigned business units, including conferring with management on developing strategy, conducting impacts and effects bargaining, responding to requests for information, and preparing grievance responses.

- Administers and interprets various labor agreements, including administering discipline and grievance procedures, and providing labor relations support during contract negotiations.

- Drafts employee corrective actions, performance improvement plans, and termination documentation for assigned employees consistent with DC Water policies, practices, and culture.

- Acts as a liaison between department managers and union representatives.

- Develops DC Water labor relations proposals and analyzes union proposals.

- Analyzes union proposals and consults with senior managers to determine ramifications and impact on DC Water operations.

- Represents DC Water during arbitration cases and at other third-party proceedings such as before Public Employee Relations Board and manage cases from inception to conclusion in consultation with Manager.

- Conducts investigations into complaints and other allegations of workplace infractions and provides written recommendations to mitigate risk and minimize legal action.

- Prepare regular and special reports.

- Performs other related duties and projects assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

: N/A

Key Working Relationships:

Interacts with employees and officials in the department and throughout the Authority, the General Counsel’s office; legal consultants; representatives from all levels of labor organizations.

Skills & Qualifications:

The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary for an individual to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable amounts of training are provided.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Required Experience:

- Minimum of five (5) years of experience of progressive experience in Labor Relations in a union setting.

- Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and court decisions affecting labor and employment matters.

- Demonstrated ability and experience conducting workplace investigations (i.e., disciplinary actions, EEO allegations, etc.).

Minimum Education Requirements:

- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Industrial Relations or Public Administration from an accredited college or university.

- Required Skills:

- Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills.

- Strong skills and tact to deal effectively with competing priorities

- Ability to analyze facts and reach logical conclusions.

- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with union officials and management team.

- Strong written and verbal communication skills

- Ability to utilize a computer and maintain a working knowledge of applicable software programs (i.e., Word, Excel, email, etc.).

- Team Player

Required Licenses & Certifications:

- None

Required Languages:

- English

Physical Requirements:

- General office conditions

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

Preferred Experience:

- Experience in negotiation, arbitration, resolving employee grievances, and complaints, and participating in legal proceedings in matters of labor relations.

Preferred Education Requirements:

- Juris Doctor (JD)