Deputy Director, Employee Relations

Job Description:

Deputy Director, Employee Relations

Description

General

The Deputy Director, Employee Relations is responsible for directly overseeing Employee Relations, Labor Relations, and providing support to leave management. The Deputy Director and their team support the San Mateo County Transit District (District) which covers Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Authority (Caltrain) and San Mateo County Transportation Authority.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday January 19, 2025 (1st cutoff Sunday December 29, 2024)

Essential Functions & Duties

• Responsible for employee relations strategies, programs, and policies to ensure a quality work environment for employees.
• Oversee union/management relations on collective bargaining agreements, personnel policies and procedures, and employment laws.
• Responsible for overseeing the administration of the grievance and arbitration program, the Drug-Free workplace program, DMV pull notice program, and the District's ADA/reasonable accommodation process.
• Severs as a close business partner to the District’s leave management services, including collectively bargained leave options, workers compensation and reasonable accommodation issues.
• Supervise staff, hire, mentor, and take appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary action. Ensure EEO policies and procedures are followed. Participate in selection of staff. Coordinate staff training and professional development. Establish performance objectives. Monitor and evaluate employee performance.

Examples of Essential Duties:

• Oversee the consistent administration of personnel policies and procedures and labor relations programs.
• Responsible for the development of complex labor costing scenarios and recommendations.
• Oversee the consistent and fair administration of employee corrective and disciplinary actions.
• Develop strategies, proposals and proposal costing, and ensure proper documentation of the negotiations and implementation of the agreements.
• Work closely with District and Union leadership regarding operational or organizational changes and to negotiate significant impacts related to wages, hours or terms and conditions of employment.
• Work closely with the administration of leave management, workers compensation, and reasonable accommodation including return to work procedures.
• Oversee arbitrations, lawsuits, and other administrative processes including overseeing the gathering of evidence, occasionally acting as District representative during arbitrations, and assure implementation of decisions and arbitration awards.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of training programs for managers, supervisors, employees, and employee representatives in employer?employee matters, and the possible inclusion of these programs in the performance management system for staff.
• Evaluate job performance of staff, which also includes the professional development of staff through the identification of on?the?job and other professional development opportunities.
• Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect oneself, fellow employees and the public from injury or harm. Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, full time work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, business administration, human resources management (emphasis on leave management, workers compensation and reasonable accommodations) or related field.
• At least six (6) years of full-time increasingly responsible employee relations, labor relations management, leave management, workers compensation, reasonable accommodation program management, or directly related experience.
• At least three (3) years full-time management experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• SPHR certification desired.
• Experience as an employer advocate in arbitration proceedings.
• Experience as a chair or co-chair in collective bargaining including development and presentation of complex cost proposals.
• Experience with diverse organization structure, ideally with exempt, non-exempt, union, and non-union employees.
• Experience with developing supervisor and leadership training programs.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

Below is a summary of the comprehensive benefits provided to District full-time employees:

Health and Welfare Benefits:

• Healthcare Benefits -District employees are offered a choice of healthcare providers under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program.The District will contribute ninety (90) percent towards monthly premiums for full-time employees. Fifty (50) percent for part-time employees.
  
• Free Dental and Vision Benefits provided - Employer Covers Premiums
  
• Free Employee Assistance Benefit - Employees are entitled to 5 face-to-face sessions or telephonic or web-video consultations for problem-solving support per incident, per calendar year.
  

• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified Health or Dependent Care expenses.
  

Retirement Medical Benefits:

• Long Term Disability Insurance - After 90 days of total disability, Administrative full-time employees are eligible for 60% of monthly income covered by the District.
  
• Health and Wellness - Gyms located at most work locations and discounted Weight Watcher Membership Option.
  

Holidays and Paid Time Off:

• Paid Time Off - Newly hired employees accrue 6.5 hours bi-weekly when hired (if Exempt 8.25 hours).As you move up in years of service credit, the rate of the amount of PTO accrued will also increase.
  
• Paid Holidays - The District provides seven paid holidays throughout the year - New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
  
• Floating Holidays - District employees can earn up to five (5) floating holidays.
  

Financial Planning Benefits:

• Pension Benefits through CalPERS -You must have a minimum of 5 years of service to be eligible for this pension.
  

• CalPERS PEPRA vs. Classic - All employees hired on, or after January 1, 2013, are considered PEPRA members and will contribute 8% of their salary up to the maximum IRS cut-off. All Classic members will contribute 6%
  
• Deferred Compensation Options - Select to contribute to one or both of our Tax Deferred Compensation Options
  
• Reliance Standard Life Insurance with 100% premium paid by the District - 1 times annual salary of employee - max $200,000
  
• Optional Life Insurance - Employees may purchase additional life insurance for themselves and their eligible family members.
  

Growth and Education Benefits:

• Professional Development - Access to LinkedIn Learning and San Mateo County’s professional training. District Tuition Reimbursement Program - A maximum of $5,250 per year for courses related to your job or career goals with the District.
  
• Computer Loan Program - Interest-free two-year loan with a maximum amount of $2,000.
  

Other Amazing Benefits:

• Credit Union - Employees and family members are eligible to join the San Mateo Credit Union and Patelco Credit Union.
  
• Employee Clean Commute (ECC) - Car/Van poolers and Public Transit riders receive a monthly reimbursement.
  
• Commuter Benefits - Free Employee Parking; Free Bus Pass for employee as well as children/spouse; Clipper Card/Go Pass Program for Central employees.
  

For union employees, all of the above benefits are subject to the employee’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Benefits listed are also subject to change with or without notice and are subject to contract/provider terms and conditions.

Closing Date/Time: 1/19/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$155,024.00 - $232,536.00 Annually