Transit Employee and Labor Relations Representative

Summary

Are you someone who is motivated and passionate about public service and making a difference? King County Metro's Employee Services 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.

Position Info: This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Service and one (2) Special Duty/Term Limited Temporary (SDA/TLT) Employee Labor Relations Representative classification vacancy. The SDA/TLT's are anticipated to last until 11/13/2026 and may be extended. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility list for future Career Service (CS), Special Duty Assignment (SDA), and Term Limited Temporary (TLT), vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. The eligibility list will be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and 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 this work. This position is comprised of the following duties:

• 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 Metro’s organizational health commitments, and are equitable, defensible, and provide the best outcome for the agency.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

We are looking for candidates who have:

• 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, 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.
• Experience providing recommendations to management on labor negotiations and strategy.
• 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.

Highly competitive candidates will have (desired, but not required):

• Knowledge of King County Metro’s operations, mission, and policies
• Familiarity with government or transit agency operations.
• Knowledge of and experience with Equal Opportunity Employment laws and the ability to analyze and evaluate employment discrimination cases.
• Advanced skills in developing strategic recommendations for collective bargaining and advising senior management on labor strategy and negotiation proposals.

Supplemental Information

Who may apply: We are accepting applications from all qualified individuals including current King County employees and the general public.

To Apply

The following application materials are required:

• An online King County application updated with accurate contact information and relevant work history.
• Resume
• Completed supplemental questions.
• A cover letter (no longer than 2 pages). In your cover letter, please include:

• Why you're interested in this role
• Your relevant background – Experience, skills, or education that prepare you for a role in employee and labor relations.
• An example describing a time you analyzed a complex workplace issue and shared recommendations with others.

Selection Process:

Applications that do not include all of the required materials listed above will not be considered. Only the materials explicitly requested will be reviewed—additional documents or information will not be evaluated. Application materials will be screened for completeness and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application/assessment process, or have questions, please contact: Sabrina Brazzle atsbrazzle@kingcounty.gov.

Other Position Information
Work Location: This is a hybrid position. The team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Work Schedule: The position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. The typical workweek is 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

Union Representation: The position is not represented by a union.

Class Code: 2308100, EMPLOYEE and LABOR RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE

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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.