Reporting to the Executive Vice President, the Manager, Labor and Employee Relations, manages and directs the employee and labor relations programs for the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). Responsibilities include negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, contract administration and interpretation, overseeing and ensuring organizational policy compliance and coordinating related management activities. The Manager, Labor and Employee Relations supervises a team of human resources professionals who provide direct service across the Authority, and serves as a key contributor to the development and maintenance of comprehensive Human Resources policies and strategies.
Essential Functions
- Administers and manages administration of labor contracts; provides interpretation of labor contracts to managers, employees and HR staff; oversees processes for review and resolution of employee grievances.
- Advises managers and employees on sensitive labor and employee relations matters, including grievance and arbitration procedures, performance issues and disciplinary actions; advises and assists managers in identifying employee relations issues and determining appropriate course of action.
- Serves a negotiator in contract negotiations with recognized employee organizations.
- Maintains current knowledge of employee and labor relations trends, legal decisions, and statutory changes; conducts research necessary to support contract negotiations and employee relations. Uses appropriate negotiation strategies to develop bargaining goals and negotiate contracts consistent with the organization’s mission, values and goals.
- Manages the labor and employee relations team to provide guidance to management staff by contract interpretation, investigation and advice on a full range of employee relations matters including informal and formal grievances, development of performance management plans and disciplinary issues
- Facilitates on-going communication and working relationships with employee representative organizations including coordination of joint labor-management committees.
- Acts as a member of the Human Resources department management team and participates in setting the direction of human resources support activities.
- Develops and facilitates labor, employee relations, policies and procedures training
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field; AND five (5) or more years labor/employee relations experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered; experience supervising, developing and coaching a professional staff is required.
Required Knowledge of:
- Federal, state and local legislation governing human resources activities including Workers’ Compensation, FMLA, ADA/504 laws and DOL regulations.
- Research and investigative methods and practices.
- Mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution methods and practices.
Required Skill in:
- Effective leadership and management of staff.
- Ensuring compliance with regulations and collective bargaining agreements governing human resources operations.
- Investigation, bargaining, labor relations and interview techniques.
- Identifying, diffusing and mediating differences, and developing consensus.
- Overseeing and coordinating human resources operations within a large organization.
- Interacting with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers, management, union representatives, employees and the general public.
- Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
- Effective verbal and written communication.
LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of a valid Driver's License is required
SPHR is preferred.
Labor relations certification is preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in a standard office environment.