LABOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST jobs in Albany, OR

Job Description:

Join our Human Resources team in supporting our valuable and committed employees who make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve on a daily basis!

Recruitment #: 000-04-24

Closes: Open Until Filled

Location: Salem, OR

Salary: Starting at $5,939 per month with excellent benefits. (See below)

Agency Sponsored: Medical/Dental 100% paid for employee and 90-98% for dependents, generous Paid-time off, Public Employee Retirement (PERS), Employee Assistance Plan, Long Term Disability, great culture.

Employee paid: Deferred Compensation, Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, Colonial Life Supplemental Plans, Legal Shield.

Other: Employment qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

General Description

Works closely with the human resources manager and together with the human resource team to provide professional-level human resources services to the agency. Serves as primary contact for labor relations.

Essential Functions

1. Provide professional-level human resource services to agency managers and supervisors
2. Serve as primary contact for labor relations
3. Serve as HR resource to staff members
4. Provide technical and administrative support for HR
5. Maintain human resource information system
6. Help determine candidate/employee suitability
7. Support human resources manager
8. Protect customers and reduce agency risk
9. Provide excellent customer service in a professional manner

1. Provide professional-level human resource services to agency managers and supervisors

• Apply the required knowledge and skills to support managers, supervisors and their employees with human resource best practices, policies, and procedures
• Advise managers and supervisors in the interpretation and application of the Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions, employment laws, HR policies and procedures
• Collaborate on employee-relation issues including hiring needs, leave administration, training and development, etc.
• Investigate concerns with employee performance and conduct; advise on the appropriate corrective action
• Participate in disciplinary and employee due process meetings; assist with writing disciplinary notices
• Assist hiring managers during recruitment process
• Assist managers with organizational structure and changes
• Provide HR guidance, offer suggestions, and make recommendations

2. Serve as primary contact for labor relations

• Serve as primary contact and liaison for intake and assessment of employee relations issues
• Coordinate and collaborate with management, Human Resources staff and Union representatives on resolution of employee concerns, grievances, and workplace issues
• Participate in agency labor-management committee
• Collaborate with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies investigating compliance with employment laws and regulations.

3. Serve as HR resource to staff members

• Prepare and distribute HR information to staff members in a timely manner
• Understand and communicate HR policies and procedures to staff members
• Answer questions and assist employees

4. Provide technical and administrative support for HR 

• Administer federal, state, and agency leave programs and facilitate ADA accommodation process according to current employment laws and regulations
• Assist with personnel actions, such as employee job and compensation changes, benefits administration, etc.
• Coordinate with fiscal services staff regarding payroll changes
• Complete and file regular reports, such as annual OSHA logs, EEO-4, etc.
• Develop and maintain human resource electronic and paper forms and files, database, and spreadsheet applications as needed.
• Provide staff support for HR-related committees (insurance, safety, bargaining, workgroups, etc.) as well as take and prepare minutes, materials, copies, etc.

5. Maintain human resource information system 

• Administer employee HR information according to agency job and pay policies
• Develop and maintain automated workflows and forms
• Provide data entry and ensure accuracy of information
• Update screens and fields as needed to improve the database
• Troubleshoot system issues
• Generate standard and custom data reports

6. Help determine candidate/employee promotion suitability

• Assist with determining suitability for hire, promotions, and other job changes in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and agency policy
• Interview prospective employees
• Serve as an Authorized Designee to process criminal history background checks according to state law and agency policy

7. Support human resources manager

• Support HR Manager in collective bargaining process
• Serve as member of the agency’s collective bargaining team
• Be a partner within the HR team
• Conduct research to provide suggestions for policy, procedure, HR compliance, and general process improvement
• Recommend, research, develop, and administer HR-related training.

8. Protect consumers and reduce agency risk

• Follow policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements of the HR program and the agency
• Provide documentation as set forth by federal and state, funding regulations and agency policy
• Serve as a mandatory reporter of suspected abuse of vulnerable populations according as required by policy and regulation.
• Maintain and share information according to privacy regulations
• Exhibit good decision making and problem-solving skills

9. Provide excellent customer service in a professional manner

• Meet the needs of internal and external customers, follow through, and meet deadlines
• Exhibit a positive attitude toward customers, coworkers, and others
• Exhibit good work habits and meet quality standards in accuracy and timeliness of work

Secondary Outcomes

None.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Job-Specific Skills Needed to Meet Agency Expectations:

• Knowledge of human resources policies and practices, employment laws and regulations, including new statutory and regulatory requirements affecting human resource programs
• General knowledge of policies and practices involved in human resource functions such as job analysis, position classification, recruitment, selection, training, labor relations and negotiation strategies, and human resource information systems
• Learn and interpret bargaining agreements and agency policies 
• Develop, interpret, and implement policies and procedures
• Employ good research, analysis, and writing skills
• Knowledge of confidentiality as it relates to HR issues, ability to deal with confidential and sensitive information properly
• Skills to work closely and proactively with employees and managers, with excellent follow through
• Maintain excellent interpersonal skills including advanced communication and conflict facilitation skills
• Human behavior and motivational strategies that can be used to improve organizational performance
• Work effectively with a wide variety of individuals and small groups, present information, and exhibit good judgment
• Demonstrate administrative skills consistent with prior HR experience
• Employ strong computer skills and learn specific computer systems
• Learn specific computer systems and enter data accurately
• Apply database skills and knowledge to the work
• Automated human resource systems and associated software such as spreadsheets, word processing, and database management systems
• Exhibit technology skills related to the work to be done such as creating and managing media profiles, internet research, IM, desktop publishing, electronic scheduling, phones, filing, copying, maintaining contact/vendor information, etc. 
• Be aware of agency programs and services
• Learn mandatory reporting requirements
• Current Authorized Designee or ability to meet requirements

General Skills Needed to Meet Agency Expectations

• Interact with others in a respectful and culturally appropriate manner
• Embrace and exhibit the agency Mission and Core Values
• Work independently yet seek and offer assistance when needed
• Speak, read, write and understand English and follow verbal and written instruction
• Good research, writing and general communication skills. 
• Above average computer skills including ability to learn and utilize different software, database programs, format spreadsheets; and the ability to meet requirements of this outcome.