Labor Relations Negotiator

The King County Office of Labor Relations is seeking an experienced and collaborative professional to join our team as a Labor Negotiator. This is an excellent opportunity to join the Office of Labor Relations and play a role in Executive Constantine's goal to be "the best-run government" by supporting progressive labor and employee relations. This position will serve as the County's spokesperson in negotiating and administering complex labor contracts, including advising on the interpretation and application of the contract and conducting grievance hearings.

In addition, this position may provide support in administrative hearings involving unfair labor practices, bargaining unit clarification, union representation proceedings, classification appeals, grievance and interest arbitration hearings. This position also serves as a strategic advisor to management on labor and employment laws, personnel matters, contract administration and participates in briefing senior management and elected officials on labor policies and complex and/or county-wide labor relations issues.

This position will report directly to the Manager of Labor Relations and have extensive contact with all levels of County management, elected County Officials, interagency professionals, labor union representatives, and legal counsel.

ABOUT KING COUNTY

With 2.2 million residents in 39 cities and unincorporated areas, King County is the nation's 13th-largest county. It also has one of the most diverse populations in the United States. As the only county in the United States named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant community with residents who represent countries from around the world.

It is a region with increasing diversity that values the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. King County is changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

The County continues to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement. If you share King County Executive Dow Constantine's mission to cultivate and maintain collaborative working relationships with our labor partners, employing innovative and creative solutions to challenges, to achieving just and sustainable results for all this job is for you.

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS

The Office of Labor Relations (OLR), is an arm of the Executive Office with approximately 16 employees, the majority are Labor Negotiators who negotiate and help administer the County's 80 Labor Agreements covering approximately 12,500 of employees. To learn more about OLR, please check out our website at: http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Successful candidates for this position will, at a minimum, be able to clearly demonstrate skill and ability to:

• Provide strategic and tactical input on:
  • The development of proposed labor policies for recommendation to the King County Executive and/or King County Council. Includes preparation and presentation of briefing materials to the Executive, Executive Committees, County Council and Council Committees and staff.
• Serve as the spokesperson on complex labor contracts by:
  • Formulating strategy and coordinating resources to present the County's interest in labor negotiations, advising departments and Executive Leadership on contract interpretation and application.
  • Negotiating labor contracts and Memorandum of Agreement with unions that represent County employees.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to King County departments by:
  • Consulting with management and HR professionals on labor and employment law and contract administration concerning a wide range of personnel matters, including but not limited to, performance management issues and employee disciplines.
  • Formulating strategy and coordinating resources to present the County's interest in mediation, arbitration, grievances and grievance arbitration, unfair labor practices, and state and federal agency proceedings.
  • Demonstrated experience with labor contract administration and labor/management committees.
  • Familiarity with negotiation, mediation and other forms of pre-litigation conflict resolution.
  • Experience applying labor and employment law and consulting with clients and stakeholders on labor and employment issues.
  • Experience conducting research, assistance with preparing exhibits and preparing cases for arbitration.
  • A track record of successful collaboration with clients and an array of stakeholders.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Can adapt as necessary, while working in a multi-faceted and continuously changing environment.
  • An interest in and commitment to continually improving how they approach work.
  The most qualified applicants will be able to demonstrate experience as the lead spokesperson negotiating and administering complex labor agreements for…