County of Riverside - Human Resources Department

Job Title:	DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Salary:	$4,336.30 - $6,816.27 Biweekly $9,395.31 - $14,768.59 Monthly $112,743.70 - $177,223.07 Annually
Job Type:	Full-Time
Location:	Riverside, California
Department:	Human Resources

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Description Benefits

The Human Resources Department has an exceptional opportunity available now for a Director of Employee Relations. The incumbent of this single-position class, working under the direction of the Assistant CEO/Human Resources Director, provides the highest level of labor and employee relations expertise. The Director of Employee Relations is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the negotiations process and the maintenance of agreements between recognized employee organizations and the County. Additionally, The Director of ER will function as the Chief Negotiator during collective bargaining with the largest and most challenging unions. The Director of ER must be a sophisticated strategist and savvy tactician who can maneuver through the complex landscape of public sector labor negotiations and Employee Relations. Competitive candidates will possess an acute awareness of the machinations involved in operating within a highly visible, challenging and sometimes contentious environment. The Director of ER must be well centered, thrive on complexity, and be an expert collaborator/team builder whose counsel is respected by all stakeholders. The County of Riverside has approximately 19,000 employees, most of whom are represented by one of six labor unions. These include SEIU, LIUNA, LEMU, and the Riverside Sheriff's Association. Labor contracts are staggered and the negotiation cycle is continuous. The Director of ER will oversee a staff of nine Employee Relations employees; one HR Services Manager, two Principal Analysts, two Senior Analysts, one Analyst, and three Technicians. The ER Division is tasked with a multitude of responsibilities and sustains a high level of activity. In addition to collective bargaining, the ER Division conducts investigations into the most complex disciplinary cases, including allegations of harassment and workplace violence. The ER Division also advises departments and other work groups with regards to disciplinary procedures, represents the County during disciplinary hearings and litigation, ensures the County is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and responds to associated complaints, and manages the employee grievance process. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer an outstanding benefits package and actively promote a healthy work/life balance. Benefits include: more than 5 weeks of paid annual leave, County paid CalPERS retirement contributions, medical flex benefit of $651 monthly, paid vision, long term disability, life insurance, 401a contributions, 12 paid holidays, and a compressed work-schedule. The County of Riverside, Human Resources Department strives to balance itself on the cutting edge of innovation and solution-focused HR management. Come be a part of this award winning team!
Examples Of Duties:
• Develop and recommend the County's negotiating positions; ensure that the County does adequate preparation and research prior to entering into negotiations. • Represent the County as Chief Negotiator of the Management team in negotiations; coordinate the County's position among the management negotiating team; ensure that negotiated settlements are reduced to cogent writing and incorporated into agreements. • Meet and confer with employee organization representatives to establish parameters and areas of negotiation, to resolve areas of disagreement, and to make secure those areas where agreement has been reached. • Obtain tentative agreements in the form of Memoranda of Understanding for signature by the negotiators and ratification by the Board; ensure agreements are articulated in clear and concise language; advise departments on the meaning and effect of agreements reached. • Plan, organize, supervise and manage the Employee Relations Division of the Human Resources Department, including the full scope of supervisory responsibility, from recruitment to termination, performance and project management, task assignment, monitoring and completion; set work priorities, determine methods and procedures to be used, resolving problems and selecting alternatives. • Research procedures, methods and legislation relative to public employer-employee negotiations; prepare preliminary recommendations regarding the appropriate management posture, procedure and emphasis for negotiations. • Interpret and explain human resource management provisions of laws, rules, policies and agreements to County officials, employees, employee organizations and the public. • Keep abreast of all local, State, Federal and other regulatory agency laws, rules, regulations and policies applicable to employee relations and ensure compliance. • Direct and assure the maintenance of records and preparation of reports necessary for effective employee relations; prepare reports and correspondence as required.
Typical Qualifications:
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, preferably with major study in public, business or human resources administration, industrial relations, psychology or a related field. Experience: Five years of experience in the labor relations field with responsibility for benefit, wage and salary negotiations in a collective bargaining setting, and which would provide familiarity with employer-employee relations law for public agencies in California. Candidates should have a minimum of three years experience in a managerial/director capacity. Public sector experience is highly desirable.(A Master's degree in public, business or human resources administration, industrial relations, psychology or a related field may substitute for one year of the required experience.) Knowledge of: The principles and practices of public administration and management, and the general Human Resources body of knowledge; employer-employee relations law for public agencies in California; successful and effective collective bargaining procedures and methods; current techniques and methods used in preparing for collective bargaining; the impact of collective bargaining upon staff and operating departments. Ability to: Present data and information in an effective and persuasive manner; effectively organize and interpret data and information; achieve reasonable and appropriate compromise solutions in negotiations; interpret and explain the effect and implications of employer-employee agreements; plan, organize and review the work of others; secure the cooperation of operating officials in accepting and effecting sound human resources management practices; interpret, apply and explain complex rules, regulations and guidelines; identify and analyze problems, generate and evaluate alternatives, reach practical conclusions, devise workable solutions, and adopt effective courses of action; communicate effectively in written and oral form and prepare complex reports; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Supplemental Information:
In Riverside County, the future is wide open with affordable housing, excellent higher education, and the hidden gem of the Temecula wine country,there are as many directions for your life as there are stars in our sky. RIVERSIDE COUNTY: PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST To apply for this position please email your resume and detailed cover letter to msimpson@rc-hr.com. Employment offers are contingent upon passing a pre-employment background check (LiveScan) and Physical. This class has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the provisions provided under Article 6, Section 601E (2) of the County Management Resolution and serves at the pleasure of the Assistant CEO/Human Resources Director. This class has been deemed eligible for the Executive Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311(B) of the County Management Resolution. New employees hired during the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year may be required to participate in the furlough program. **This recruitment will remain open until filled.

Read this posting for special application instructions. Unless otherwise stated, use our resume builder to submit your resume, or select "Apply" on this page. For specific questions regarding this position, contact Michael Simpson at 951/955-5277. All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and a criminal background investigation, including fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment).

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability.

Women, ethnic and racial minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other non-job-related factor.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS - Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: All positions are open to men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the Disability Access Office at (951) 955-0811.

Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling (951) 955-8688. The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.