Director, Employee and Labor Relations

Title: Director, Employee and Labor Relations

Department: Office of Talent

Reports To: Deputy, Employee and Labor Relations

For forward-thinking administrators and educators, opportunities abound in the School District of Philadelphia. The School District of Philadelphia is committed to transforming the education opportunities it offers the city’s more than 203,000 school-aged children. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools, principals and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us?

This is a full-time, non-represented role. The salary grade for this role is 4030.

Job Summary

Ensures that the School District of Philadelphia implements comprehensive and equitable employee/labor relations across all represented and non-represented employee groups. Implements policies, practices, and strategies for the management of a highly effective workforce while also ensuring adherence to collective bargaining agreements, policies and administrative guidelines.

Essential Functions

• Assists the Deputy, Employee and Labor Relations with the planning and implementation of plans and activities which address employee/labor relations for all represented and non-represented employee groups.
• Monitors progress of various employee/labor relations tasks and work streams.
• Develops and implements a timetable to achieve short and long-term employee/labor relations goals and updates the Deputy, Employee and Labor Relations on the status of all goals and assignments; collaborates with the Deputy, Employee and Labor Relations to develop strategies for complex employee and labor relations matters.
• Upon consultation with the Deputy, Employee and Labor Relations, renders final recommendations regarding suspension, demotion, or termination of personnel and composes appropriate correspondence and takes required steps to effect the development of strategies for complex recommendations.
• Obtains, reviews, and evaluates evidence in allegations of misconduct where suspension, demotion or termination are being recommended by supervisory/administrative personnel.
• Provides expert advice and assistance to supervisory/administrative personnel with reviewing all pertinent information and discussing possible solutions, alternatives or recommendations for consideration in complex or unique situations or on matters relating to conditions of employment as covered by collective bargaining agreements or School District policy.
• Serves as liaison to the Office of General Counsel (OGC) in preparing for grievance hearings and other litigation resulting from employment-related decisions, such as harassment, failure to hire, policy violations, etc.

Title: Director, Employee and Labor Relations

• Reviews and processes grievances at appropriate levels and represents management in the hearing, negotiation, and settlement of grievances under established grievance procedures; assists with the preparation of briefs for arbitrations.
• In consultation with OGC, renders decisions regarding employment eligibility of candidates based on the review of required clearances.
• Conducts staff development sessions for supervisory and administrative employees to educate them on policy changes and contract interpretation.
• Serves on committees, focus groups, and task forces to implement workplace policy and practices reforms.
• Collects data concerning alleged violations of School District policies and collective bargaining agreements, and provides background research for contract negotiations.
• Creates tools, templates and models for administrators to use to address common conflicts.
• Conducts staff development sessions to review provisions of negotiated contracts, address common areas of concern and provide tools for addressing conflicts.
• When necessary, collects data to support the Deputy of Employee and Labor Relations in handling claims filed against the School District and its employees for alleged violations of law or policy.

Other Functions

• Attends meetings and on-going travel as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in legal studies, human resource management, or related field.
• Eight years of full-time, paid, professional experience working in a position which has involved addressing legal compliance issues impacting K-12 public school entities or similar large and complex organizations, four of which have been in an administrative or supervisory capacity.

OR

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in legal studies, human resource management, or related field.
• Six years of full-time, paid, professional experience working in a position which has involved addressing legal compliance issues impacting K-12 public school entities or similar large and complex organizations, three of which have been in an administrative or supervisory capacity.

OR

• Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an accredited law school.
• Four years of full-time, paid, professional experience working in a position which has involved addressing legal compliance issues impacting K-12 public school entities or similar large and complex organizations, two of which have been in an administrative or supervisory capacity.

Title: Director, Employee and Labor Relations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of:
  • collective bargaining agreements and employment contracts.
  • the principles and practices of hearing and grievance procedures.
  • the principles, practices, methods and techniques of legal research.
  • the principles and practices of group dynamics, consensus building, and problem solving and conflict resolution.
  • supervisory methods and techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to:
• apply principles, practices, methods and techniques used in grievance procedures.
• analyze legal documents and interpret labor contract and agreement provisions.
• conduct staff development and training sessions.
• plan and direct the activities of staff.
• gather, analyze and evaluate data and to exercise sound judgment in making recommendations.
• present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Certificates/Licenses

For the Juris Doctor degree:

• Certificate of admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and membership in good standing and for litigator’s admission to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination

The School District of Philadelphia provides to all persons equal access to all categories of employment in this district, regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin or handicap/disability, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 104 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.