Labor Relations Specialist

City of New Haven · New Haven, CT · 3 wk ago

Human ResourcesFull-time

About the Role

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 role requires strong legal writing ability and familiarity with labor relations practice, including drafting briefs, legal memoranda, pleadings, and contract language. The Labor Relations Specialist 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.

Responsibilities

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 counterproposals.
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.

Requirements

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 responsible experience in labor relations, legal research/writing, arbitration support, contract drafting, or related work; OR

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and completion of a paralegal certificate program or comparable legal writing training, and four (4) to six (6) years of experience supporting labor/employment legal work, arbitration preparation, or litigation support. In lieu of a degree, an additional four years of progressively responsible experience in labor relations, legal research/writing, arbitration support, contract drafting, litigation support, or a related discipline may be substituted.

Skills & Abilities

Considerable knowledge of public sector labor relations principles and practices, including collective bargaining agreements and grievance/arbitration processes.
Ability to research and prepare material independently and translate it clearly and concisely, including advanced legal writing and analytical drafting.
Ability to draft and revise technical contract provisions, settlement language, and related labor relations documentation.
Knowledge of or ability to rapidly learn Connecticut labor laws and relevant administrative practices and procedures (SBLR, SBMA, etc.).
Ability to prepare and organize materials for arbitrations, administrative hearings, and court-related litigation support.
Ability to review an issue and determine what information is necessary to address and resolve the matter.
Ability to prioritize and complete multiple assignments simultaneously and maintain a schedule of deadlines and hearing dates.
Ability to work independently on complex assignments with minimal preliminary instruction.
Ability to exercise good judgment, courtesy, tact, and discretion in dealing with union representatives, management, outside counsel, and agency officials.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and the ability to learn and use multiple web-based applications for creating documents, reports, correspondence, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Proficiency in using email clients (e.g., Outlook, Gmail) and calendar applications for scheduling and managing correspondence.
Considerable skill in the use of standard office and document management software, including document drafting, formatting, and recordkeeping systems.

Special Requirements

Must possess a valid CT driver’s license with a good driving history; may be required to travel.
May be required to occasionally attend public hearings and meetings during non-traditional hours.
Applicant must provide an appropriate writing sample with their application submission.

Physical Requirements

The role involves the following physical demands and working conditions:

Physical Requirement Amount of Time Working Environment Amount of Time Stand None Wet or humid conditions (non-weather) None Walk Under 1/3 Work near moving mechanical parts None Sit Over 2/3 Work in high, precarious places None Use hands to finger, handle, or feel Over 2/3 Fumes or airborne particles None Reach with hands and arms 1/3 to 2/3 Toxic or caustic chemicals None Climb or balance None Outdoor weather conditions None Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl Under 1/3 Extreme cold (non-weather) None Talk or hear Over 2/3 Risk of electrical shock None Taste or smell None Work with explosives None Risk of radiation None

Lifting or force to be exerted:

Up to 10 pounds: Under 1/3
Up to 25 pounds: None
Up to 50 pounds: None
Up to 75 pounds: None
Up to 100 pounds: None
More than 100 pounds: None

Other:

Utilizes standard office equipment: Over 2/3
Customer/employee interaction (face-to-face): 1/3 to 2/3

Pay

This is a General Fund, Civil Service tested position covered by the Executive Management & Confidential Employee Policy. Hires into this class shall not be covered by the City pension but shall continue to be covered by Social Security; additionally, the employer will contribute 7.5% of base pay into a defined contribution plan.