MEDIATOR 1

Code: 65376 State Unclassified Range: X98 (FY 2027)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction of the Secretary, Board of Mediation, Department of Labor, is responsible for promoting labor management peace, preventing and/or effecting prompt settlement of labor disputes in the private sector, including manufacturing, non- manufacturing, education, health care, and service industries; participates in all aspects of the collective bargaining process as a Mediator; initiates cooperative efforts and guides negotiations; sets hearings and holds elections, appraises parties of laws, regulations, and precedents; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Performs mediation and other services of an extremely complex and difficult nature; functions independently without supervision, guidance, or direction.
• Determines and directs when sessions should be arranged among the principals in all types of labor disputes and utilizes skills to mediate a resolution of the differences.
• Persuades parties as to reasonableness and equity of proposals and counter proposals as well as suggestions, alternate solutions, and recommendations for ultimate acceptance.
• Confers with disputants separately and jointly to assess information pertaining to the issues in dispute and provides requisite counsel, assistance, and pertinent data to remove barriers to settlement.
• Offers alternate approaches to cajolery, indecisiveness, toughness, rationalization, trends in industry data, personality tactics and rapport, leadership takeover, innovative techniques, and so forth, to obtain agreement.
• Revises and drafts contractual language in agreements and draws up memoranda of agreements, addenda, and letters of understanding.
• Performs special investigations and studies as required and prepares reports thereon.
• Pursuant to court orders and consent elections, conducts secret ballot proceedings; acts as instrument of the Court and State Board to ensure all proceedings are in compliance and conform to the requirements of the laws and orders of the Court.
• Where parties agree to expedited representation proceedings, conducts confidential card check to determine majority status; issues certification pursuant to comparison and crosscheck of signatures of eligible employees.
• Sets and conducts hearings to determine time and place of election, eligible voters of appropriate unit for the purpose of collective bargaining, and type of ballot to be utilized; guides attorneys as to statutes of Board of National Labor Relations Act; certifies the conduct, tabulations, and results of election; investigates and conducts hearings subject to challenge or objections that may arise which may determine final outcome of elections; results of such investigation is basis for written recommendation to Board of Mediation.
• Mediates grievances under contract as to interpretation and applicability of terms of agreement to preclude work stoppages and deteriorating labor relations between parties.
• Meets with Management, Labor Organizations, and interested public groups to explain, interpret, and teach various facets of negotiations, grievance handling, and costing contract language.
• Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative statistical and other reports pertaining to labor disputes and mediation matters setting forth findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Keeps abreast of current court, legislative, agency decisions, and laws.
• Maintains essential records and files
• May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree.

Experience

Six (6) years of comprehensive experience in the negotiating, implementing, and administration of a labor agreement in industrial, business, government, education, or labor organization. Experience accrued as an elected or appointed labor union official will be acceptable if such experience includes grievance handling, arbitration, and contract negotiation.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in NJ only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of modern labor relations principles and arbitration methods.
• Knowledge of the economic, sociological, employment, and related problems of management and labor in New Jersey after a period of training.
• Knowledge of the procedures used in formal and informal hearings and conferences after a period of training.
• Ability to apply the laws of New Jersey and the federal government and the regulations, policies, standards, and procedures of the State Board of Mediation established thereunder pertaining to labor disputes.
• Ability to utilize current wage and cost levels, cost of living data, and probable economic and related trends in the varied industries within New Jersey for mediation purposes.
• Ability to organize assigned mediation work, analyze mediation problems, and develop effective work methods in accordance with established procedures.
• Ability to deal effectively and impartially with disputants.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret basic law, regulations, policies, and standards.
• Ability to organize and interpret extensive data and draw reasonable and accurate conclusions therefrom.
• Ability to plan, schedules, and conduct joint meetings between contending parties in order to effect agreements and settlements of labor disputes.
• Ability to provide accurate and timely advice, assistance, and information concerning labor problems, existing wage and hour conditions and trends, and the cost of living disputants.
• Ability to make studies and investigations as may be required.
• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports of labor dispute matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain records and files.
• Ability to communicate impartially a complete and thorough analysis of the posture and flexibility of the respective parties to each other.
• Ability to effectively analyze and to cost out the economic impact of changes proposed or negotiated that might result in the expenditures of millions of dollars.
• Ability to deal effectively with privileged information communicated by the disputants; confidentiality and impartiality are paramount. Ability to gain rapport and the trust and confidence of the parties in order to induce a settlement.
• Ability to lecture to management, union, civic and public groups on a wide variety of related labor relations subject matters and at University and College Seminars.
• Ability to conduct round-the-clock mediation sessions under extremely volatile and stressful circumstances.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: 98/X98 - MCK 4/27/96

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Applicants who do not possess the required education, may substitute additional experience as indicated above on a year- for- year basis.