Leadership Associate (Confidential)

The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management’s (OPM) Office of Labor Relations (OLR) seeks to hire a Leadership Associate and promote to the target class of Labor Relations Associate after successful completion of a prescribed development program. OLR serves as the Governor’s designated representative, through the Secretary of OPM, on collective bargaining matters for the majority of executive branch State employees.

In this position you will provide consultative services to agencies and commissioners on a variety of issues that impact the mission of each organization. You will be expected to play an integral role in management of the relationships between the State Employee Bargaining Units and the Agencies to insure the delivery of services to Connecticut residents. Working in OLR will provide an opportunity to assist in union contract negotiations, contract grievances, arbitrations, hearings, and other labor and employment issues. 

For more information regarding the salary for this position, see the "Salary Calculation" section of the Leadership Associate job class.

Please ensure that your application is complete and have included a resume within the "Resume Tab" of your application.

Candidates who do not submit the required documents above will not be considered.

Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: Carolyn Kozak at (860) 418-6324 or opm.recruitment@ct.gov.

NOTE: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

In a state agency incumbents in this class participate in a formal development program designed to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to qualify for appointment to a designated managerial or professional confidential class assigned to the MP Pay Plan.

Participates in a formal development program designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed in order to qualify for appointment and advancement to a designated managerial or professional/ confidential class; performs/learns the duties of the designated function; acts as a negotiator; coordinates labor relations contract proposals; assists in recommending economic guidelines for settlement; conducts research into current labor relations issues; prepares information and testimony concerning negotiated contracts or other labor relations matters; advises agency officials in matters of contract interpretation or employee discipline; conducts grievance conferences with agency and union officials and responds on behalf of state employer; facilitates dispute resolution through mediation; prepares and presents state's case at grievance arbitrations and hearings before State Board of Labor Relations and other administrative bodies; assists in preparing and presenting interest arbitration cases; assists in coordinating labor relations activities of state agencies to assure consistency of policies and procedures and uniform interpretation and administration of agreements; may consult with and assist Office of the Attorney General in preparation of court action; may serve as a witness; performs related duties as required.

Considerable oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; considerable ability to understand and apply state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable ability to analyze and solve problems; considerable ability to effect and manage change; considerable ability to plan for and implement excellent customer service; considerable ability to learn a new knowledge base in functional area; considerable ability to learn and apply policy and procedure; managerial aptitude.

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated class at the completion of the development program.

Preferred Education:

• A law degree or a Master’s Degree in labor relations.

1. Prior to appointment to this class there must be an approved managerial or professional confidential designated class identified to which the incumbent will be appointed upon successful completion of an approved development program. Incumbents in this class must meet the experience and training requirements of the identified designated class at the end of the development program.
2. The work schedule for this classification is full-time. Incumbents must work a full-time forty (40) hours per week schedule.
3. Incumbents in this class will be eligible for reclassification to the designated class without competitive examination upon successful completion of the development program and satisfactory service. The length of the development program should be designed around the requirements of the designated class and the prior experience of the incumbent but in no case should be less than one (1) year or exceed three (3) calendar years in accordance with C.G.S. 5-234.
4. All appointments to this class shall be under terms of an approved development program and in accordance with a time schedule approved by the Department of Administrative Services.
5. No additional working test period shall be required upon successful completion of the development program.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. If you are requesting special accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) please contact Carolyn Kozak at 860-418-6324 or carolyn.kozak@ct.gov.