Labor Relations Program Manager

Who We Are
The Office of Policy and Management (OPM), Office of Labor Relations (OLR) serves as the Governor’s designated representative, through the Secretary of OPM, for collective bargaining matters for state employees in the executive branch, other than the constituent units of Higher Education, the State Board of Education and the Division of Criminal Justice.

The State of Connecticut is centralizing its Labor Relations functions with the following goals:

• Support State Agencies – So they may serve our citizens, businesses, and other branches of government by providing the highest quality services at the lowest possible cost.
  
• Establish consistent and timely responses to workforce issues to improve the efficiency of the state employee workforce.
  
• Assist Agency Heads with planning and executing strategic initiatives that impact the Agency budget, current and future state employee workforce.
  

The Role

Are you an experienced and innovative Labor Relations or Human Resources leader with a passion for executing comprehensive Labor Relations services?

Do you have what it takes to deliver collaborative and creative solutions to complex management challenges in a unionized environment?

We have an exciting anticipated opportunity for three (3) Labor Relations Program Manager positions in Hartford, CT to direct several agencies' Labor Relations programs as part of one unit. In this role, you will be responsible for leading existing agency based Labor Relations staff in the delivery of Labor Relations services to assist the agency in fulfilling its organizational mission. There will be an emphasis on the development of strong working relationships with both agency and union leadership to ensure consistent and timely implementation of Labor Relations solutions.

*If necessary, the incumbent’s salary will be adjusted to reflect their current MP pay plan.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has permanent state status* and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

*For employees in the classified service, permanent status is obtained after successful completion of a working test period. For employees in the unclassified service, permanent status is obtained after serving in a position for at least six months (full-time or full-time equivalent).

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 document above will not be considered.

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

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.  

In the Office of Policy and Management, Office of Labor Relations, this class is accountable for directing  and providing leadership to labor relations staff deployed at state agencies.

• Provides leadership, direction, guidance and accountability in support of agencies’ employees, leadership, and missions;
• Partners with and is accountable for successful relationships with Agency Human Resources Business Partners to appropriately deliver solutions to agency labor relations needs;
• Develops policies across assigned agencies to insure consistent application of labor relations principles;
• Manages labor relations functions in agencies as assigned;
• Designs and implement performance review standards for assigned agencies;
• Manages, coordinates, and provides guidance over work activities;
• Mediates and resolves most complex labor issues;
• Administers collective bargaining agreements;
• Recommends economic guidelines for settlement;
• Assists in the formulation of staffing plans and identifies and allocates resources in order to manage initiatives;
• Meets and confers with agency officials and management, union representatives and other stakeholders and renders appropriate advice;
• Represents state at various hearings, adversary proceedings, negotiations and labor meetings;
• Collaborates and integrates activities with other divisions and agencies, as needed;
• Comments on proposed legislation, rules and regulations, and other proposals;
• Leads through significant change;
• Develops and implements labor relations training programs for assigned agencies, as needed;
• Represents state at various hearings, adversary proceedings, negotiations or labor meetings;
• May serve as a project team leader on complex human resources projects involving labor relations initiatives, job classification issues and other projects with statewide impact;
• May lead contract negotiation teams;
• Performs related duties as required. 

• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques, within a matrixed organization;
• Considerable knowledge of: collective bargaining and labor relations, relevant state and federal laws, regulations, policies and procedures, program development and administration, investigatory practices, legal principles and practice, civil procedure and rules of evidence, rules of practice and procedures before administrative and judicial bodies, and principles and practices of public sector employment, job classification, compensation and benefits;
• Considerable: interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills and negotiation and conflict resolution skills;
• Considerable ability to: deal tactfully and effectively with agency officials, management and union representatives, analyze and balance partners need with laws, regulations, policies, procedures and collective bargaining agreements, study and analyze emerging issues or problems and make sound evaluations, conclusions and recommendations;
• Ability to identify statewide labor relations training needs and develop relevant curriculum and materials.

Ten (10) years of professional experience in labor relations or human resources management.

Three (3) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity, with substantial responsibility, serving as co-chair over collective bargaining agreements.

For state employees, this interpreted at the level of Human Resources Business Partner 1, Assistant Human Resources Business Partner or Agency Labor Relations Manager.

1.    College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

2.    A Master's degree in human resources management, labor relations, business administration, public administration or other closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

3.    A law degree may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience.

• An undergraduate degree or higher in business administration, human resources management, labor/employee relations, psychology, juris doctorate or related field.
  
• At least three (3) years of experience in administering and managing labor relations systems for an entire agency.
  
• Ability to evaluate labor relations systems and develop effective solutions to address Agency needs.
  
• Ability to facilitate large meetings and mediate contentious issues.
  
• Ability to utilize available statewide Human Resources system resources to design creative solutions to comprehensive agency issues.
  
• Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships within DAS’ Human Resources Business Partners assigned to each agency.
  

1.    Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

2.    Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management 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.