Labor Relations Specialist

Denton County is the 6th fastest-growing county in United States with nearly 950,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. DCTA is committed to improving mobility, air quality, economic development and livability in the areas we serve. Since inception, DCTA has accelerated innovative transportation solutions critical to reducing traffic congestion and enhancing air quality, while contributing to strategic growth and development, and improving the quality of life for Denton County residents.

DCTA drives a better future for Denton County by getting people where they need and want to go.

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Labor Relations Specialist

The Labor Relations Specialist serves as the agency’s subject matter expert for labor and employee relations within the Human Resources Department. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering labor relations strategies, practices, analytics, reporting, grievance handling, employee discipline processes, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. The Labor Relations Specialist provides high-level support to leadership, serving as a trusted advisor to ethe Vice President of Engagement & Administration and the Vice President of Operations to ensure consistent, fair, and legally compliant practices that foster positive employee relations while supporting operational excellence in public transit service delivery.

• Support the administration, interpretation, and enforcement of policies, procedures and working conditions documents; provide guidance to management on contract provisions and implications.
• Partner with agency leadership to prepare for and participate in policy, procedures and working conditions discussions; assist in developing strategies and policies.
• Review and analyze discipline and performance management processes to ensure fairness, consistency, and compliance.
• Support investigations into workplace concerns, employee complaints, and allegations of policy violations; prepare reports and recommend resolutions.
• Monitor compliance with federal, state, and local labor and employment laws, including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEOC, and NLRB regulations.
• Partner with HR leadership on employee engagement and retention initiatives with a focus on building trust and improving staff-management relations.
• Maintain accurate documentation, prepare reports, and ensure appropriate records retention for labor relations activities.
• Provide training to supervisors and managers on labor relations topics, effective communication, conflict resolution, and employee relations best practices.
• Collaborate with HR team members on workforce planning, policy updates, and strategies that support operational and organizational goals.
• Attend grievance hearings, arbitration sessions, and disciplinary meetings to take detailed notes and prepare accurate summaries for leadership review. Assist with recommendations and preparations of final documents on these matters.
• Provide logistical and scheduling support for labor relations hearings and meetings with union representatives.
• Draft, format, and maintain official records, hearing notes, and related documentation for union and employee relations matters.
• Support Vice Presidents in preparing talking points, briefing materials, and documentation for staff-management meetings and board reporting.
• Track timelines, deadlines, and deliverables related to grievances, arbitrations, and working conditions document administration to ensure compliance.
• Maintain a centralized filing system (digital and physical) for labor relations case files, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with records retention requirements.
• Assist VPs with research, benchmarking, and preparation of background material to support labor strategy development.
• Monitor correspondence, prepare follow-up responses, and coordinate communications on behalf of the VPs to ensure timely resolution of labor-related matters.
• Coordinate cross-departmental inputs to support VPs in developing reports, updates, and presentations related to labor and employee relations.
• Serve as a professional liaison for the VPs with internal departments,…