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Job Title: Director, Employee Relationsand Requisition ID number: 87868

Close Date: No established closing date; open until filled

Organizational Unit: Human Resources (10001229)

Site: Davis Center (0001)

FTE: 1.0; this is based on full-time equivalency with 1.0 being full time

Union: MACA(02)

Functional Area: Administrative

Resume and Cover Letter are mandatory to apply for any position.

SUMMARY
Under general supervision, directs a variety of complex functions in labor relations including advising, counseling, supporting, and training District staff to assure proper administration and compliance of labor agreements and employee due process.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Directs the activities and staff of the Labor Relations Department; manages labor relations including mediation, dispute resolution, employee discipline, negotiations, contract administration and implementation; advises, counsels, supports, and trains District managers on collective bargaining issues; maintains collaborative working relationships with the union representatives.
• Collaborates with Cabinet and department heads to translate their organizational needs into Labor Relations and negotiations strategies.
• Serves as the chief negotiator on major contracts.
• Serves as Labor Relations lead in executive strategy sessions with the Board of Education.
• Exercises independent judgment within policy guidelines; analyzes issues and recommends solutions.
• Develops infrastructure to assure that effective systems are in place to address contract administration and due process issues; analyzes discipline, grievance and arbitration trends; develops comprehensive negotiations plan to assure cost containment and alignment with district goals.
• Reviews and analyzes disciplinary, arbitration, and grievance data to determine trends; develops recommendations for revised policies and procedures; coordinates development of the overall strategic approach to labor negotiations and the legislative agenda; serves as a lead negotiator on labor agreements; provides training and advice to staff on their roles on the negotiations team.
• Manages assigned staff, and assigns tasks, programmatic responsibilities, and projects; evaluates performance, resolves workload and technical issues, and assures that goals are defined and achieved; develops staff skills and training plans, and conducts performance evaluations.
• Directs administration of labor contracts, including facilitating labor/management meetings, interpreting and advising on the implementation of contract language, and preparing memorandums of agreement to amend terms and conditions of employment.
• Manages employee due process issues; advises and counsels staff, collects information, directs investigations, conducts meetings, and develops recommendations on employee performance and misconduct matters; prepares agreements, action plans, reports and resolutions as needed.
• Coordinates Labor Relations responsibilities with the Human Resources department to ensure high levels of service delivery to schools and departments.
• Evaluates and responds to grievances, and advises staff on appropriate response; coordinates grievance meetings, mediations, arbitrations, hearings, and settlement conferences; negotiates and drafts settlement agreements.
• Prepares and presents reports on Labor Relations issues.
• Demonstrates courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with students, clients, visitors, and MPS staff; acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace environment
• Enthusiastically promotes the Superintendent's goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, records and MPS information.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business or Public Administration

AND

4years of experience in Labor Relations, preferably in the public sector oran equivalent combination of education, training and experience as determined by Human Resources.

PREFERREDQUALIFICATION-Public School experience

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and strategies for labor negotiations and labor relations.
• Integration of equity framework in labor and employee relations.
• Navigate compliance but can innovate in talent strategy.
• Principles of contract negotiation, contract management, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Principles and practices of public sector administrative management, including cost accounting, budgeting, purchasing, contract management, customer service and employee supervision.
• State and Federal laws, statutes, rules, codes and regulations governing labor relations and collective bargaining agreements. Knowledge of Minneapolis Civil Service Rules
• Organizational and functional responsibilities of HR Department work groups.
• Principles of confidential records and file management.

Skill in:

• Resolving disputes and grievances, and bringing people together to solve problems.
• System-level experience
• Capacity building with a focus on building anddepartment leaders
• Defining issues and problems, collecting data, analyzing information, and making logical conclusions based on facts.
• Analyzing problems and recommending effective solutions.
• Interpreting a variety of technical instructions and managing abstract and concrete variables.
• Researching, collecting, analyzing, and preparing data and generating reports.
• Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands.
• Providing effective customer service.
• Reviewing documents and extracting relevant information.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers and clients.
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Operating a personal computer using standard and specialized software.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
A valid Minnesota State Driver's License may be required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a standard office environment which requires occasionally lifting such articles as file boxes or heavier materials with help from others and/or lifting and carrying light objects frequently. A job in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree or may involve sitting most of the time with long periods of computer work and heavy phone usage.

MACA 79 Exempt

Final candidates may be invited to interview with a committee. Final appointment to this position will be contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

Diversity is one of Minneapolis Public Schools core values and is essential to our goal of putting children first and making them college-ready. Diversity of our workforce provides us with a competitive advantage and allows us to better understand, communicate with and educate our diverse student body. Minneapolis Public Schools will not deny anyone the opportunity for training or employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status, or veteran status.

Minneapolis Public Schools strongly encourages diverse candidates to apply.