Employee Relations Manager



Job Details

Employee Relations Manager
Employer

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Salary

$132,389.04 - $174,753.37 Annually

Location

CA 95134-1927, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

00805

Department

Business Services

Opening Date

01/17/2018

Job Description

Definition
 
Under general direction, the Employee Relations Manager plans, organizes, directs, and manages the administrative and operational activities and staff of the Labor Relations and Substance Abuse work units.
 
Distinguishing Characteristics

This single-position classification is characterized by its full managerial responsibility over VTA's Labor Relations and Substance Abuse programs. The incumbent serves as VTA's Lead Negotiator in collective bargaining. The Employee Relations Manager develops and recommends negotiation proposals; negotiates labor contracts; administers and interprets contracts; processes grievances; provides procedural guidance and advice on discipline matters; and prepares and presents, in conjunction with legal counsel, management positions at binding arbitration. In addition, the Employee Relations Manager directs all activities related to the Substance Abuse program. Subordinate supervisors are responsible for their respective functional units, whereas this position has overall managerial responsibility and accountability for all activities of the assigned program areas.


Classification Bargaining Unit: Non-represented; At-will.

Essential Job Functions

Typical Tasks
 
  • Selects, supervises, trains, motivates, assigns, evaluates, counsels, and disciplines staff;
  • Serves as the negotiating committee chair on complex or sensitive units/organizations;
  • Coordinates, assigns, and directs other negotiating chairs;
  • Develops, recommends, and implements objectives, policies, and procedures for assigned functional units;
  • Provides training and consultation to managers and supervisors on labor relations agreements, labor contract administration, grievance resolution, and disciplinary issues;
  • Directs and supervises the analysis and evaluation of issues related to assigned functional units;
  • Directs the preparation and analysis of reports and studies relating to labor relations and substance abuse subject matter and recommends policy improvements;
  • Provides appropriate cost analyses of various labor and management proposals;
  • Develops and administers the departmental budget; approves the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary;
  • Monitors legislative activity that impacts assigned functional units and formulates recommendations;
  • Provides advice and counsel to VTA's executive management staff, and in discussions with VTA officials, managers, and employee organizations;
  • Develops and interprets rules, policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements;
  • Provides technical support to the Office of the General Counsel on matters related to arbitration and other hearings;
  • Provides technical support to superintendents, managers, and supervisors regarding assigned program areas;
  • Ensures compliance with VTA policies and procedures regarding equal employment opportunity and discrimination and harassment prevention;
  • Provides guidance and advice on disciplinary matters; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues; ensures that negotiated settlements are documented and incorporated into collective bargaining agreements where appropriate;
  • Oversees the resolution of grievances;
  • Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Employment Standards
 
Sufficient education and increasingly responsible administrative and supervisory experience to demonstrate possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Development of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a four-year degree in public or business administration, human resources, labor relations, or a related field; and extensive, increasingly responsible labor relations experience in a public sector organization. Supervisory experience over professional-level employees is desirable.

 

Attainment of experience in a large public transportation organization is preferred.

 
 

Supplemental Information

Knowledge of:
  • Principles and practices of public sector collective bargaining;
  • Procedures for grievance/arbitration proceedings;
  • Principles and practices of public personnel administration, management analysis, organization, budget, supervision, and communication;
  • Current labor relations practices, trends, and major problems in the public sector;
  • Federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and court decisions applicable to VTA's labor relations program;
  • Public sector employee relations, typical provisions of collective bargaining agreements, and public employee labor laws;
  • FTA regulations and guidelines applicable to VTA's substance abuse program;
  • Principles and practices of administering a comprehensive substance abuse program within a public transportation agency;
  • Techniques for investigating, analyzing, and resolving employee grievances;
  • Principles of supervision, training, motivation, performance evaluation, and discipline;
  • Principles and practices of budget planning, preparation, administration, and control;
  • Principles, practices, techniques, and methods of planning, developing, and administering training programs;
  • Collaborative problem solving.

Ability to:

  • Organize, manage, and direct VTA's labor relations and substance abuse programs;
  • Effectively negotiate complex bargaining agreements;
  • Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines and legal constraints;
  • Select, supervise, train, motivate, assign, evaluate, counsel, and discipline staff;
  • Persuade, justify, and project the consequences of decisions and/or recommendations;
  • Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing;
  • Represent management in dealing with other employees, departments, boards, commissions, vendors, and outside agencies and groups;
  • Manage contracts and service agreements with vendors and contractors for services related to VTA's substance abuse program;
  • Take initiative, reason logically, and be creative in developing and introducing new ideas;
  • Define problem areas and evaluate, recommend, and implement alternative solutions to complex issues and problems;
  • Prepare and control a budget;
  • Work effectively under stressful situations involving confrontation and conflict;
  • Organize and analyze varied and complex data;
  • Develop and implement procedures and guidelines consistent with VTA policies and interpret policies and procedures to staff and other agencies;
  • Interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations;
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employee associations, community groups, and individuals at all levels in a large, complex organization.
General Instructions

Please read this entire job announcement before applying for the position. Print and keep a copy of this announcement so that you can refer to it. Questions not answered within this job announcement may be sent to personnel@vta.org.

Only on-line applications will be accepted for this recruitment (paper applications or resumes will not be accepted). Position Interest Notification Cards, or copies of previous, partial, or un-submitted applications, are not an acceptable substitute to a completed application.

ALL APPLICATION AND TESTING NOTIFICATIONS WILL BE SENT BY E-MAIL. Applicants should select e-mail as the preferred method of notification. Candidates must maintain an up-to-date, valid and reliable e-mail address. Candidates are also responsible for maintaining up-to-date phone numbers and addresses on their on-line account. Due to the number of applications received, candidates must check their application status through their on-line account. Contact NeoGov for assistance if needed.
 
Information on how to apply for jobs at the VTA is available on the VTA Employment website and from the NEOGOV's Applicant Assistance Line (855) 524-5627. NeoGov Applicant support is available from 8:00AM to 5:00PM Pacific Standard Time Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
 
Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations
 
The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities.  If you wish to request an accommodation, please click here.
 
Application Processing Information

All related current and past work experience (including VTA experience) must be listed and fully described in the Work Experience section of the application ("See Resume" is not acceptable). Incomplete or improperly completed online applications may be rejected even if you are qualified for the position for which you are applying. It is your responsibility to ensure that the online application reflects the work experience and education needed to meet the requirements for the position you are applying for. Although your resume may have all your experience and education details, please make sure to complete each section of the online application to ensure that your information is accurately captured during our screening process.

Important: Proof of Education, either as a copy of a diploma or transcript, is required to verify all educational units listed on your application. Official transcripts are not necessary. Copies of diplomas, degrees, transcripts, or foreign transcript evaluations must be attached to the submitted application as a pdf.

Note: Failure to provide all of the required documents in the appropriate format (pdf ONLY), and properly labeled as shown in the example (for example: Smith_J BS Diploma), will result in the application being rejected as incomplete. No exceptions will be made.

Note: Applicants holding degrees or credentials from outside the United States who are using these qualifications exclusively to qualify for a position are required to provide a foreign transcript evaluation as a pdf and properly labeled as shown above. Failure to provide a foreign transcript evaluation will result in the application being rejected as incomplete. No exceptions will be made.

All applications are subject to review as to meeting minimum qualifications at any point in the recruitment process. Passing any step is no guarantee of continuation if it is determined that the applicant does not meet the minimum qualifications as stated in the class specification.

Candidates found to have exaggerated/falsified their qualifications, experience, training, and/or education may be disqualified at any point in the recruitment process and may be denied future employment with the VTA.

If selected for the position, candidates will be required to complete a criminal conviction disclosure form. Candidates who successfully become VTA employees, and fail to disclose any of the criminal background information as required may be subject to discipline up to and including discharge.

Eligible Lists typically remain in effect for six (6) months. However, Human Resources may abolish Eligible Lists at any time during the six (6) month period. Human Resources may extend eligible Lists for up to two (2) years. Eligible Lists may be used for more than one recruitment. If you have questions related to an Eligible List you might be on or were on, you should contact Human Resources.

If you have questions regarding your status as an applicant for this position, please call the Human Resources Department at (408) 321-5575.
 
 
 

VTA offers a generous benefit package including: vision care, a choice of health plans, dental coverage, an employee assistance program, life insurance, and liberal holiday, vacation, and sick leave. A credit union and deferred compensation are also available to employees at their option.

As defined by the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA):

  • Classic Members' retirement benefit formula is 2% @55.
  • New Members' retirement benefit formula is 2% @62.

All AFSCME, SEIU, TAEA, and Non-Rep employees hired on or after 01/09/12 pay 7% of salary toward the required employee contribution to PERS.

Social Security taxes will be deducted from each employee’s bi-weekly salary.

01
Describe your experience in leading negotiations and describe the outcome of these negotiations. Discuss your experience in developing and recommending negotiating proposals and strategy, negotiating labor contracts; administering and interpreting contracts.
02
Describe your role in grievance process management and conducting grievance hearings.
03
Describe your experience in providing procedural guidance and advice on discipline matters.
04
Describe your experience in preparing and presenting, in conjunction with legal counsel, management positions at binding arbitration.
05
Describe your experience in the mediation of disputes and alternative dispute resolution. Please provide several illustrative examples.
06
Please indicate the types of unions with whom you have experience (i.e. blue collar - ATU; white collar - SEIU; management - AFSCME; etc.).
07
Describe your experience managing a Substance Abuse Program. Include any experience you have in developing and implementing a Substance Abuse Policy. Discuss an Substance Abuse policy changes you made and indicate the reason for the changes.
08
Discuss your involvement in Substance Abuse Program related audits conducted by Federal and/or State oversight agencies. Specifically, what was your role? If there was a finding requiring corrective action, how did you resolve it?

* Required Question

Employer
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Address
3331 North First Street, Bldg. B-1

San Jose, California, 95134-1927
Phone
(408)321-5575
Website
http://www.vta.org

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