Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

GRPS MISSION: Our mission is to ensure that all students are educated, self-directed and productive members of society.

Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations

Department: Human Resources

Unit: Professional and Administrative Exempt

Wage: Compensation range listed is based on an average 1-15 years of experience, as determine by Human Resources

Grade 113– Specific salary based on relevant years of experience

Direct Supervisor: Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

JOB SUMMARY

The person serving in this position provides supervision and coordination of the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources Department staff. Responsible for providing guidance and support in recruitment, staffing, retention; labor relations, including collective bargaining negotiations, contract administration, management and employment relations matters, and employee investigations and discipline. This position supervises the Human Resources Supervisor, Human Resources and Labor Relations Specialist, Benefits, Evaluation, and Talent and Recruitment Managers, and Support Staff. This position reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential functions under the Americans with Disabilities Act may include any of the following duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by employees in this position. Regular on time and in person attendance is an essential function of this job. Other essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

Recruitment, Selection and Staffing

• Consults with administrators and supervisors on personnel matters.
• Oversees the District’s talent recruitment, onboarding, and retention efforts.
• Coordinates with the Talent Acquisition team to identify, implement, and monitor alternative certification routes, leveraging various certification, approval, and permit options to address critical staffing needs.
• Oversees the development of job descriptions and makes wage and salary recommendations to the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and to the superintendent when appropriate.
• Provides oversight to ensure that all staff hired possess or can obtain the required certification, permits, or licenses from the Michigan Department of Education or the required licenses or certification of any other certifying entity for the position.
• Provides oversight to ensure that the teaching staff is qualified and properly endorsed and coordinates the review, decision-making, and communication of processes related to teacher certification to all applicable staff.
• Assists with the implementation and compliance of District policies and regulations related to personnel and employee benefits.
• Advises administrators of any issues with bargaining unit members and communicates with members regarding same.
• Oversees the selection and placement process in accordance with Board policy, District rules and regulations, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Oversees the creation, dissemination, and accuracy of reports provided to administrators.
• Oversees and ensures effective coordination of the district’s substitute teacher process.
• Oversees the collection, accuracy, and timely submission of the District’s Registry of Educational Personnel (REP) data to the State.
• Oversees the administration of the district’s benefits programs, including open enrollment, to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Oversees the administration of the district’s employee performance evaluation programs.

Labor Relations

• Serves as Chief Negotiator for all support staff contracts and as a member of the negotiating team for the teachers’ contract.
• Negotiates and creates employment calendars for all employee groups.
• Assists in the administration and management of all collective bargaining agreements.
• Consults with Principals/Supervisors and other applicable staff to implement voluntary transfers, involuntary transfers, and layoffs, when applicable, in accordance with Board policy, District rules and regulations, applicable labor contracts and local, state, and federal laws and rules.
• Provides guidance to district employees regarding Board policies, work rules, contract interpretation, and other human resource matters.
• Provides guidance to administrators regarding employee discipline issues and investigates complaints.
• Serves as the District liaison and communicates with union representatives to resolve issues at the lowest level.
• Provides guidance to the Chief Hearing Officer in the investigation and resolution of employee grievances.
• Testifies on behalf of the district regarding human resource matters during arbitration, Tenure Commission hearings, and other legal proceedings.
• Administers the District’s ADA procedures in compliance with federal and state laws.
• Attends scheduled communication meetings with union staff to promote consistent and collaborative communication.

General

• Maintains a high level of confidentiality.
• Supervises and evaluates designated Human Resources staff.
• Collaborates with the business office and payroll to streamline systems of implementation and management.
• Maintains a current working knowledge of applicable school and labor laws and issues and assists in the implementation of same, including attending training and providing staff training.
• Ensures that appropriate background checks are conducted for staff and placed in personnel files.
• Interacts with co-workers, administration, students, parents, and the community in positive, supportive, and cooperative ways.
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS and REQUIREMENTS

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Management, or Business Administration or related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of recent experience in human resources and labor relations role.
• Minimum of three (3) years of recent managerial experience in human resources.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
• Possess demonstrated knowledge of experience working with federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to personnel practices such as fair employment practices, ADA, and FMLA.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five (5) years of experience in human resources supervisory role.
• Five (5) years of experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
• Central office or executive level administrative experience.
• Master’s degree in human resources, Labor Relations, or Management.
• Experience working in a K-12 public school environment.
• SHRM or PSHRM Certification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Establish and maintain positive employee relations and enhance staff morale across the school district.
• Maintain complex filing and electronic systems containing confidential and sensitive information.
• Knowledge and understanding of employment and labor laws and regulations.
• Knowledge and understanding of public-school systems and the operations of a Human Resources office within a school setting.
• Proven experience working in a public education setting.
• Skill in problem solving, mediation, and decision-making.
• Skill working in a management role in a unionized environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships both internally and externally.
• Skilled in working with diverse populations representing a broad range of ages, ethnicities, national origins, and abilities."
• Demonstrates technological proficiency and the capacity to quickly adapt to multiple HR systems and processes essential to day-to-day operations.
• Demonstrates professional maturity, discretion, integrity, and strong organizational skills, with a clear understanding and acceptance of the workload and time commitment required beyond a standard workweek.
• Ability to prepare written reports and correspondences and presentations.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with diverse populations.
• Exhibits a strong dedication to continuous quality improvement efforts, both on a personal and organizational level.
• Ability to provide effective leadership in a collaborative and team-based environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
• Ability to work collaboratively and be a team player.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills and work as part of a management team.

ADA REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is medium work which requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.

Non-Discrimination

The Grand Rapids Public Schools will not discriminate against any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, height, weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran, or military status.

Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations: Assistance with the application process may be requested through the Human Resources Department at (616) 819-2022 or humanresources@grps.org.