Career Opportunity

Employee and Labor Relations Director - Public Works (0932) (151182)

Recruitment: REF45178J

Published: September 27, 2024

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About:

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below.

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.  

Application Opening: Friday, September 27, 2024
Application Deadline: Continuous. The application filing period will be open at least through Friday, October 11, 2024, and will close any time after.
Compensation Range: $161,616 - $238,810
Please Note: Effective January 4, 2025, the annual salary range will increase to
$164,034 – $242,398.
Recruitment ID: PBT-0932-151182/REF45178J
Appointment Type: Permanent Civil Service 

San Francisco Public Works (Public Works) has a far-reaching portfolio with a $453 million annual operating budget, an active capital portfolio that exceeds $3 billion and a workforce of 1,700-plus employees. The department operates around the clock, touching every neighborhood in San Francisco. The staff designs and manages the construction of civic buildings and streets; cleans and greens the right of way; maintains civic buildings; manages multi-million-dollar bond programs; trains people for jobs; keeps the right of way free of hazards; paves the roads; repairs bridges and public stairways; expands accessibility; and works at the forefront addressing some of San Francisco’s biggest challenges. With a mission to enhance the quality of life in San Francisco for residents, visitors and business owners, Public Works is committed to providing outstanding public service through an equity lens.

Please visit the “About Us” section of our website at https://www.sfpublicworks.org about to learn more about the department’s core values, Racial Equity Initiative, leadership team, history, budget and more.

Our Human Resources (HR) Division is recruiting experienced and outstanding leaders to compete for the role of Employee and Labor Relations Director (0932 Manager IV). A leader who can guide wide-ranging labor relations, payroll, leaves, and EEO initiatives that enhance the working environment for all employees at all tiers, charged with the effective and efficient execution of the mission of Public Works and the City & County of San Francisco (CCSF).

Role description

We are a new and growing Human Resources division, and your job description may change as our vision, strategy, core values, impact and scope continue to develop. This is an exciting time, and we hope you’ll feel excited about the opportunity to contribute to the future of Public Works and the City of San Francisco.

With the general direction of and collaboration with the Human Resources Director, as the Employee and Labor Relations Director, you will direct the Employee and Labor relations programs of our organization which comprises close to 1,700 employees, one hundred and seventy-seven (177) unique job classifications represented by twenty-one (21) collective bargaining agreements (CBA).

As the Employee and Labor Relations Director, you’ll serve as the Acting HR Director during the HR Director's absence, providing direction and support to the entire Human Resources division.

Applying your expert knowledge and experience, you will cultivate and nurture positive relationships with our valued labor partners while leading a team that guides directors, managers, and supervisors in interpreting the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), disciplinary procedures, grievances, and current trends and issues in labor relations. 

In your leadership position, you are expected to engage proactively with multiple labor/management collaborative committees, and in negotiation and mediation processes. Guiding our Payroll Unit, you will ensure the team executes payroll processing timely and accurately within compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and directives.

Directing our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Employee Leave of Absence matters (Absence Management) for our workforce, ensuring our department complies with City policies and local, state, and federal laws.

Important and Essential Duties:
Your duties as the Employee and Labor Relations Director may include, but are not limited to the following:

Labor Relations:

• Managing negotiations, grievance processes, investigations of employee complaints and concerns, disciplinary hearings and procedures, and performance management.
• Provide training to managers on labor issues and trends, including administration and facilitation of disciplinary and grievance processes.
• Planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating employee and labor relations functions.
• Advising managers and supervisors on labor relations issues, union Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)/CBA interpretation, disciplinary actions, grievances, employee coaching, counseling, performance monitoring and evaluation, employment laws, and City and County of San Francisco (CCSF) and Public Works policies.
• Developing and facilitating department‐wide development of positive and constructive relationships with labor unions to advance the vision of the department.
• Directing and chairing multiple joint labor/management committees.
• Partnering with the Citywide Department of Human Resources (DHR) in labor negotiations and with the development and implementation of labor agreements that affect Public Works.

Employee Relations:

• Planning, monitoring, evaluating, directing, and supervising the operation of the Public Works department’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program.
• Providing technical advice and guidance to supervisors and managers on employee performance improvement plans, grievance and conflict resolution, mediation, and disciplinary processes.
• Directing Leave Administration, Performance Management and Reasonable Accommodation programs.
• Directing and providing general direction for managers and staff in the Payroll Unit.
• Assisting the Public Works Human Resources Director and working with the Training Director to develop, implement, facilitate, and support ongoing training related to employee relations, leadership, and coaching, as well as compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as citywide policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Serve as the acting HR Director for Public Works when essential, making necessary decisions and offering direction where appropriate.

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Possession of a Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in industrial/organizational psychology, Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, or a closely related field. 

Experience:
Seven (7) years of professional human resources experience in a complex organization, of which Three (3) years of your combined experience must include supervising professional staff.

Qualifying professional human resources work experience:
1. At least Four (4) years of the required seven (7) years of experience must be directly related to Labor relations.
2. Up to three (3) years of experience may be in one (1) or more of the following areas: EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity), Human Resources Operations, or Personnel Administration.  

Experience Substitution:
One (1) year of the required non-supervisory experience may be substituted with the possession of a master’s degree, Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or PhD from an accredited university or college in Labor Relations, Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Business Management, Industrial or Organizational Psychology, or a related field. 
*Note: This provision does not substitute for the required minimum of four (4) years of experience directly related to Labor Relations, all candidates must possess a minimum of four (4) years of experience in Labor Relations. 

Education Substitution:
Additional qualifying work experience may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required education on a year-for-year basis (30 semester/45 quarter units equals one year).

Desirable Qualifications: 

• Experience working with large public-sector, government, or private organizations.
• Extensive experience with contract negotiations.
• Extensive experience working with large and complex unions.
• Juris Doctorate (J.D.).
• Experience directing, supervising, and coordinating activities across multiple Human Resources functional areas.

What else should I know?

What else should I know?

Verification:
Please make sure your application is complete and demonstrates how you meet the minimum qualifications. Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. 

Note: Any misrepresentation or falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

SELECTION PROCEDURE/EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ)(Weight: Qualifying):
Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Management Test Battery (Weight 100%):
Candidates deemed qualified will be invited to participate in a computer-based examination designed to measure competencies in job-related areas which may include but not be limited to: Problem Solving; Leadership; Decision Making; Interpersonal skill; Human Resources Management; Team Building; Communication; Conflict Management and Process Improvement. For more information about this Management Test (and a suggested reading list), please click here. A passing score must be achieved on the Management Test Battery to continue in the selection process.

This is a standardized examination and, therefore, test questions and answers are not available for public inspection or review.

Scores attained on the Management Test Battery will be valid and 'banked' for three years, starting from the date of the examination. This means that, during this three-year time period, you will not be required to take the Management Test Battery. The Management Test Battery may be used for many other classes; therefore, your test score may be applied to one or more of these classes if you choose to apply to future recruitments. If the selection process for the future announcement is held within one year of the date of this examination and it includes the Management Test Battery, your score will be automatically applied to that announcement. However, after one year, you have the option to either (a) apply your test score to the other announcement or (b) re-take the Management Test Battery. Re-testing is permitted no sooner than one year from the date of the examination and only in association with your eligibility for another announcement for which the Management Test Battery is used. Please note that, should you re-test, your re-test score would become your official score since it is the most recent.

Note: Candidates must achieve a passing score on the Management Test Battery exam in order to be ranked on the eligible list.

Eligible List/Score Report:
Once you pass the exam, you will be placed on an eligible list and given a score and a rank. The duration of the eligible list will be six (6) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification:
The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this exam will be the “Rule of the List”.

Post-Eligible List:
Candidates will be invited to interview based on test scores and experience that most closely matches the responsibilities of the position determined from a review of the application materials.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional information

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact Tara Stevens by email at tara.stevens@sfdpw.org

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.