Assistant Director of HR- Employee & Labor Relations

Assistant Director Employee and Labor Relations

The Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) is seeking an Assistant Director Employee and Labor Relations who will be responsible for handling labor relations across the College. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, this position will manage BCCC's labor relations programs, including contract administration, grievance resolution, and fostering positive relations with labor unions. The role involves strategic planning and ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations. The Assistant Director implements and evaluates the college's labor relations initiatives across divisions to ensure compliance with workplace agreements, rules, and policies. The Assistant Director will serve as an advisor to BCCC's executive leadership on complex labor relations matters and bring positive resolutions while maintaining productive working relations.

Responsibilities/Duties:

Labor Relations

• Responsible for the implementation of a comprehensive employee relations program for faculty and staff.
• Interprets and communicates collective bargaining agreements.
• Advises management on collective bargaining agreements during and outside of negotiation periods.
• Develops proposals and counterproposals for collective bargaining.
• Coordinates employee and union grievance procedures. Assists in the grievance process by interpreting collective bargaining agreements.
• Coordinates with human resources staff to align College policies, practices and collective bargaining agreement(s).
• In conjunction with legal counsel, serves as the College's representative at PERB hearings.
• Stays up to date on local, state and federal laws and regulations affecting collective bargaining.
• Serves as labor relations subject matter expert and provides advice and counsel across BCCC to address and resolve complex labor relations matters in a timely manner.
• Partners with AVP of HR regarding the administration and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements, ensuring compliance with their terms and conditions.
• Manages the grievance process, including conducting investigations, facilitating grievance hearings, supporting timely and appropriate resolution of labor issues, and working with management and union officials to resolve issues while mitigating risk to BCCC.
• Develops and implements labor relations training strategies/courses across BCCC to ensure managers and supervisors have guidance on labor relations issues, contract administration, and effectively managing relations with union representatives.
• Serves as a member of BCCC's collective bargaining team during negotiations, to develop negotiating strategy, prepare proposals, support negotiations in collaboration with Legal, HR and Operations, and ensure final CBA language aligns with BCCC goals.
• Analyzes labor relations data, trends, and metrics to provide insights and recommendations to senior management. Prepares reports and presentations as needed.

EEO and Compliance

• Ensures organizational compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including wageand hour laws, and employment, as well as leave management.
• Develops and implements HR policies and procedures that align with legal requirements.
• Has a strong understanding of all HR disciplines, including employment law (FMLA, EEO, ADA, FLSA) andimmigration regulations.
• Advises on employment matters, including employee discipline and termination.
• Oversees adherence to wage and hour laws, including overtime, minimum wage, and record-keepingrequirements.
• Monitors legislative and regulatory changes affecting HR compliance, ensuring the College remains compliant withall relevant laws.
• Partners with in-house and external counsel on pre-litigation employment matters, administrative claims, EEOC,wage claims and audits.
• Partners with internal audit and manages responses to external audits or investigations.
• Manages and handles HR records compliance functions, such as employment verifications, audit responses, datacollection mandates, legal requests, and open records requests.
• Regularly audits data systems and personnel files, reviews quality control dashboards to support data and recordsintegrity.
• Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, labor relations, business administration or related field.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of experience in labor relations, including significant experience in collective bargaining, contract administration, and counseling management.
• Comprehensive understanding of all HR disciplines, including employment law (FMLA, EEO, ADA, FLSA).

Required Skills

• Excellent verbal / written communication and presentation skills.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Able to influence outcomes with patience, follow-through, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ability to facilitate diverse groups and lead others in collaborative efforts.
• Able to work in a partnership environment and cooperatively with labor organizations.
• Experience in drafting and writing contractual language.
• Ability to influence change and compliance, in a highly matrixed and decentralized environment.
• Knowledge of employment/labor laws, regulations, case law and their application.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in human resources, labor relations, business administration or related field or Juris Doctor (JD).
• Previous experience in a higher education environment.
• Specialized experience in handling grievances, negotiations, employment- employee relations, and employment law.
• NPELRA certification.
• SHRM/PHR Certification or IPMA Certification.
• Experience in public sector collective bargaining.