PRINCIPAL EMPLOYEE AND LABOR RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Performs highly complex technical and analytical employee and labor relations work in support of one or more employee and labor relations functions. May supervise, assign, review, and participate in the work of department staff responsible for Metro employee and labor relations activities

This position performs advanced, highly sensitive analytical and technical work related to labor negotiations, grievance resolution, disciplinary actions, and contract administration. This position serves as a strategic advisor and management advocate, providing guidance on complex employee relations matters, conducting grievance hearings, and participating in union meet and confer and contract negotiations.

Examples of Duties

• Performs highly complex and sensitive work related to employee and labor relations.
• Serves as a collaborative resource to coordinate, resolve and track union grievances within the organization
• Reviews first level grievance documents and facilitates communication between all involved parties
• Researches, analyses, and responds to complex non-represented and represented grievances
• Conducts second level hearings for grievances and disciplinary appeals, writes responses, and negotiates settlements
• Facilitates the second level grievance resolution process to address and resolve issues and disputes involving interpretation or application of collective bargaining agreements and of LACMTA policies, procedures, and rules and regulations
• Researches and analyzes cases for arbitration (expedited and formal) and mediation
• Prepares regular reports that track employee/union grievances and ensures accountability for responsiveness
• Provides guidance, coaching, training, and assistance to new, senior-level, or assigned staff
• Advises Metro management regarding contract interpretations and application of employee relations related policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Provides advice to Metro management regarding the investigation of alleged employee violations of collective bargaining agreements and administrative policies and procedures
• Provides Metro management recommendations on appropriate personnel actions to be taken, including disciplinary actions
• Confers with Union representatives and management to resolve employee and labor relations issues
• Develops and prepares contract proposals and contract language in support of collective bargaining
• Serves as a member of the negotiating team for major bargaining units
• Conducts cost analyses of management and union contract proposals
• Serves as Metro management advocate in hearings before arbitrators, including presenting arguments and evidence to support management actions being arbitrated and examining and cross-examining parties involved and witnesses
• Provides employee and labor relations training to Metro managers and supervisors
• Develops and implements training for Metro management on collective bargaining agreements and related policies and procedures
• Serves on LACMTA internal committees and on joint labor/management committees
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:
Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Relations, Business, Law, or a related field

• Five years of relevant experience performing employee relations work; some positions in this class may require specialized experience in area of assignment

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices related to public sector employee and labor relations, including labor negotiation, arbitration, meditation, problem solving and dispute resolution, administrative investigative techniques, and contract administration laws
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing employee and labor relations, arbitration, administrative investigations, and contract administration
• Collective bargaining agreements and the collective bargaining process, including interest based negotiations
• Research principles and investigation techniques and interrogation methods
• Hourly compensation and benefit design principles
• Rules governing administrative hearings and proceedings
• Training presentation techniques
• Applicable business software applications

• Performing highly-complex employee and labor relations work
• Mediating, negotiating, and resolving disputes
• Exercising superior judgment and demonstrating keen insight and logic in making conclusions
• Compiling and analyzing complex data
• Handling highly complex information
• Communicating effectively, clearly, and concisely orally and in writing
• Analyzing situations and complex data, identifying problems, and recommending solutions
• Preparing comprehensive, complex, and highly analytical reports and correspondence
• Training large groups of employees

• Establish and maintain strong and effective working relationships with colleagues, contractors, attorneys, and the general public
• Analyze collective bargaining agreements for relevance to complaint allegations, findings, and resolutions
• Effectively participate in mediation and conciliation to resolve outstanding labor issues and grievances
• Think and act independently
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Meet tight time constraints and deadlines
• Work collaboratively v\/ith diverse stakeholders
• Assess training needs, prepare lesson plans, and facilitate training programs
• Provide direction and guidance to staff members
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

• Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership