The State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management’s (OPM) Office of Labor Relations (OLR) seeks to hire a Leadership Associate with a target class of Agency Labor Relations Specialist. 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 labor relations matters such as union contract negotiations, contract grievances, arbitrations, hearings, and other labor and employment issues. This position is accountable for independently performing labor relations activities within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) first shift position.

We offer a competitive benefits package, excellent health care, generous leave policies, retirement plan, and more!  We also encourage a healthy work-life balance to all employees!

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.

In this position the incumbent will perform the full range of basic labor relations functions within an assigned agency:

• Conducts a variety of investigations and recommends appropriate action;
• Administers and interprets collective bargaining agreements; 
• Administers progressive discipline; 
• Advises executives, administrators, managers and supervisors on collective bargaining agreements, and other employee relations issues, including contract interpretation and employee discipline; 
• Conducts labor relations activities to assure consistency in the application of policies and procedures, and uniform interpretation and administration of agreements; 
• Triages crisis situations and recommends appropriate action in conjunction with appointing authority; 
• Conducts agency-level grievance conferences with agency and union officials, and responds on behalf of agency; 
• Facilitates dispute resolution through mediation; 
• Analyzes complex workplace situations and issues and leverages solutions; 
• Provides labor relations guidance, training and support to assigned agency(ies) in the administration of their performance management systems; 
• Prepares and maintains relevant documentation; 
• Serves as member of labor contract negotiating teams, as assigned; 
• Prepares information and testimony concerning negotiated contracts or other labor relations matters; 
• May be deployed for duty at the Office of Labor Relations, as needed; 
• May serve as a witness; 
• May administer agency employee assistance program and recommend counseling to employees; 
• 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.

The preferred candidate will have demonstrated:

• Experience in labor relations and/or human resources;
• Experience analyzing and interpreting Collective Bargaining agreements, laws, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Experience conducting employee investigations and making recommendations for corrective action;
• Experience with performance management and conflict resolution for employees; and
• Experience with the grievance and arbitration process.

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.