EMPLOYEE RELATIONS COORDINATOR, OFFICE OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Code: 65497 State Unclassified Range: M98 (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 the direction of the Director and Deputy Director in the Governor's Office of Employee Relations, in but not of the Department of the Treasury, negotiates labor contracts, administers, coordinates, interprets, and implements collective negotiations agreements and various employee relations policies related to the agreements; does related work.

Examples of work

• Coordinates employee relations activities to assure consistence in the interpretation and application of contract language, policies, practices.
• Is responsible for the preparation and presentation of information required for representing the Office of Employee Relations in negotiations, hearings and conferences with employee management groups.
• Provides consistent review and assessment of labor problem developments and proposals concerning employee relations within various departmental jurisdictions.
• Coordinates and assists in the development of rules and regulations concerning the administration of employee relations policies with operating Departments.
• Provides direction to operating departments concerning complex grievance or contract interpretation question, or matters of compliance with the State's Employer-Employee Relations Act, upon consultation with supervisor.
• Performs appraisals of the financial implication of existing and proposed employee relations policies.
• Acts as representative for Office of Employee Relations in appropriate situations involving employee organizations.
• Represents the Office of Employee Relations during contract negotiations and at meetings with employee organizations.
• Serves as member of the Negotiations Team and advises the Director, Office of Employee Relations of developments at negotiation sessions.
• Develops policy, procedures, or practices in consultation with the Director, Office of Employee Relations and makes analyses or evaluations through management caucuses and other meetings on the effect that a policy, procedure or practice determination might have on operating departments.
• Participates in the negotiations UMDNJ and NJIT. Coordinates labor negotiation activities with other State independent organizations and agencies such as Rutgers, NJ Parkway Authority and NJ Turnpike Authority.
• Participates in litigation involving contract interpretation issues at arbitration.
• Coordinates the preparation and administration of labor contracts or agreements, and provides interpretation and clarification of same to various operating departments.
• Reviews all present and proposed changes or adjustments to policies and procedures, as a result of contract negotiations, to determine employee relations policies, practices and procedures.
• Provides proposed changes in employee relations policies and participates in the planning and implementation of same for more effective administration, training and policing of contract, grievance and disciplinary procedures.
• Participates in litigation involving labor issues at the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC).
• Prepares specialized and routine memoranda, reports and correspondence as required in the course of official duties.
• Reviews legislation for consistence with commitments made in negotiated agreements and in conformity with the socia-economic environment objectives of the State government.
• In conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, develops and maintains the State's legal strategies as they relate to labor relations issues.
• In conjunction with the Governor's Counsels Office, provides advice as to proposed legislation involving public sector labor law.
• Performs specialized administrative and advisory assignments in the execution of labor relations activites and other related work as the situation demands.
• Does independent research on possible new procedures and develops solutions for special problems as they become known or anticipated.
• Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate and informative reports of employee relations matters containing findings, conclusions and recommendation.
• Maintains records, reports and files.
• Will 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 or university with a Bachelor's degree in Labor Relations.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience involving legal or legislative research, drafting rules, regulation, legislation, amendments, the interpretation of statues, labor contract negotiations or administration, and/or the field of employer/employee relations.

License

Appointee will be required to possess a drive's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather that employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

KNOWLEDGES AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act, Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) Rules and Regulations, New Jersey Department of Personnel Law, Rules and Regulation, National Labor Relations Act, and a multitude of other New Jersey statues relating to labor relations, public administration, education, higher education, administrative procedure, contracts and evidence.

Knowledge of the problems involved in providing information required for representing the Office of Employee Relations in conferences, hearings and negotiations.

Knowledge of the problems which arise in the interpretation of contracts to management and employee organizations, the implementation of changes and adjustment s to practices, and policing of grievance machinery.

Knowledge of the organization and activity of all departments of the State including agencies such as welfare boards, New Jersey Transit, and including Rutgers, NJIT and UMDNJ; with particular emphasis on personnel and fiscal policy.

Knowledge of the rules, regulations and procedures concerning arbitration, mediations and fact-finding and knowledge of all precedent setting decisions from PERC and/or courts having some bearing on those forums.

Knowledge of the proper preparation and presentation of information required for negotiations, hearings, and conference with employee-management groups, including contract interpretation, the implementation of changes and adjustments, the policing of grievance machinery and the provision of assistance to management regarding grievance procedures.

Knowledge of acceptable personnel practices, training programs, etc., that are the current state of the art in the private and public sectors.

Knowledge of negotiations and strategy techniques.

Knowledge of the State's budget procedure.

Knowledge of the New Jersey legislative process.

Knowledge of the history of unionization, union structure, union constitution, by-laws, etc. as they related to labor relations and contracts negotiations.

Knowledge of economic and non-economic settlements resulting from collective negotiations in New Jersey and neighboring states in both the public and private sector.

Knowledge of CPI and other economic indicators, and cost analyses for pricing economic demands and proposals.

Knowledge of modern research sources, techniques, and methods and their effective utilization research sources, techniques, and methods and their effective utilization research studies.

Knowledge of statistical methods and procedures and their use in the presentation of factual data.

Ability to acquire knowledge of the polices, procedures and other matters pertaining to the Office of Employee Relations.

Ability to organize assigned work, analyze problems arising therin, and develop appropriate work methods for the technical preparation concerning employee relations matters.

Ability to analyze, interpret and apply basic law and regulations.

Ability to provide consistent interpretation and clarification of collective negotiated agreements and similar documents to insure effective administration of policies, procedures and practices in concerned agencies.

Ability to prepare information needed in negotiations, hearings and conferences with employee management groups in appropriate current forms.

Ability to propose needed changes in employee relations policies, and provide an constant review and assessment of proposals and developments.

Ability to help develop and to coordinate rules and regulations concerning the administration of employee relations policies within the operating departments.

Ability to organize and carry through research studies and projects concerned worth legislative developments and submit reports suitable for the use of the department administrative staff.

Ability to comprehend and analyze laws, regulations, and procedures.

Ability to locate court decisions, precedents, opinions, legal citations, and other legal material.

Ability to determine the compliance of existing department rules, regulations, and procedures with legislation.

Ability to prepare materials for hearings, reviews, and executive determinations.

Ability to establish and maintain liaison with department officers, employees, the representatives of state and local government units and with the office of the Attorney General.

Ability to collect, tabulate, arrange, and interpret data and to present information in an understandable manner.

Ability to work with department staff, the Office of the Attorney General, and with state officials and members of the legislature in order to clarify points which may be in dispute by reference to original source materials.

Ability to act as the representative of the Director before various boards and at hearings and other situations.

Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate and informative reports of employee relations matters containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Ability to maintain records, reports, and files.

Ability 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, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform 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 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/m98- DJ7 7/3/99

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.

A Bachelor's degree in Labor Relations is the minimum requirement.

A Master's degree in Labor Relations may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

A Juris Doctor (J.D.) or a Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B) degree may be substituted for the education and experience indicated above.