Transit Employee and Labor Relations Representative

JOB
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.

EXAMPLE OF 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.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Who may apply: We are accepting applications from all qualified individuals including current King County employees and the general public.To ApplyThe following application materials are required: An online King County application updated with accurate contact information and relevant work history.ResumeCompleted supplemental questions.A cover letter (no longer than 2 pages). In your cover letter, please include: Why you're interested in this roleYour 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 InformationWork 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 REPRESENTATIVEForbes 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) EmployerNo 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.