Labor Relations Specialist

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

This is advanced professional work providing high-level legal research, analysis, and drafting support for labor relations, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, administrative proceedings, and related litigation support functions. The Labor Relations Specialist performs complex work requiring strong legal writing ability and familiarity with labor relations practice, including the drafting of briefs, legal memoranda, pleadings, and contract language.

The individual in this class supports the Director of Labor Relations and Labor Relations attorneys by preparing legal research, developing draft language for proposals and settlements, organizing case files, preparing exhibits and witness materials, and assisting with litigation/arbitration preparation. Work is performed with substantial independence and requires discretion and confidentiality.

Position pending Aldermanic approval.

Conducts legal research related to public sector labor relations, collective bargaining, arbitration, administrative hearings, and employment-related matters.

Drafts legal memoranda, summaries of case law, statutory analysis, and administrative agency decisions impacting labor relations operations.

Drafts and assists in preparing written submissions for arbitration, administrative hearings, or court proceedings, including draft briefs, motions, proposed findings, and supporting documentation.

Tracks developments in labor law and related decisions and prepares advisories for the Director and legal staff.

Assists attorneys and the Director with preparation for grievance arbitration, interest arbitration, prohibited practice complaints, and administrative hearings by organizing files, preparing exhibits, and coordinating witness and document preparation.

Maintains and organizes the internal docketing system for grievances, arbitration matters, and prohibited practice complaints.

Coordinates the compilation and review of contract provisions, past practice documents, arbitration awards, and relevant records to support case strategy and presentations.

Prepares case binders and hearing materials for arbitrators, hearing officers, boards, or courts.

Drafts and revises contract language, side letters, settlement agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and negotiated proposal language for review by the Director and attorneys.

Assists with preparation for collective bargaining negotiations, including developing costing research packages, drafting comparative analyses, and drafting negotiation proposals or counter proposals.

Conducts research into comparable settlements, wage/benefit patterns, and contract structures and summarizes findings to support negotiation strategy.

Maintains contract libraries and ensures finalized agreements and revisions are properly recorded, archived, and available for use.

Receives and evaluates requests for labor relations information, conducts preliminary research, and prepares draft responses or routes requests as appropriate.

Assists in developing and maintaining internal procedures and templates for legal drafting, contract language, arbitration submissions, and recordkeeping.

Supports training and informational programs for department heads and managers, including preparing materials and legal summaries related to labor relations practices and contract interpretation.

Provides high-level administrative support to ensure timely completion of arbitration filings, negotiation documents, and legal submissions.

Works with sensitive personnel records, attorney work products, settlement discussions, negotiation strategy materials, and confidential communications; maintains strict confidentiality at all times.

Handles materials and communications subject to attorney-client privilege and/or litigation sensitivity, under supervision of counsel as required.

Performs other related work as required.

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with coursework or concentration in legal studies, political science, public administration, or a related field, and five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively…