Salary : $122,116.80 – $171,704.00 Annually
Location : Oakland, CA
Job Type: Full-time (40 hrs)
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 23-2E-23
Department: HUMAN RESOURCES
Opening Date: 09/13/2023
Closing Date: 10/4/2023 5:00 PM Pacific
The Position
ABOUT US:
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is a full-service governmental agency stewarding a metropolitan system of public open space parklands and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of the San Francisco Bay. EBRPD spans across 125,000 acres in 73 regional parks, including over 1,250 miles of trails that are enjoyed by over 25 million visitors and the community per year. The Park District acquires, manages, and preserves natural and cultural resources for everyone to enjoy now and forever to experience nature nearby.
OUR MISSION:
EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.
OUR VALUES:
• Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
• Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
• Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
• Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
• Transparency – We hold the public’s trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.
WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?
• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click herefordetails regarding additional benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.
• Free on-site parking.
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).
THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Park District is currently recruiting for an experienced Employee & Labor Relations Manager. This position is located at the Park District’s Administrative Office, 2950 Peralta Oaks Ct., Oakland. The hiring pools established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:
Reporting to the Assistant General Manager of Human Resources and/or the Chief of Workforce Development, this classification has responsibility for the administration of one or more personnel activities or operating unit. Under general direction in the Human Resources Division, plans, develops, directs, coordinates, supervises, and evaluates the staff and activities of a personnel division; administers the employee and labor relations program; trains, supervises, and evaluates assigned staff; ensures program compliance with relevant federal, state and local laws and Park District requirements; and performs other related duties as required.
This classification is distinguished from the higher-level classification of Chief of Workforce Development in that the latter has overall responsibility for the management and direction of the entire Division comprised of multidisciplinary programs and staff, whereas the former is concerned primarily with general administration and the operation and oversight of employee and labor relations. This position supervises professional, technical, and support staff, including interns or volunteers.
Essential Functions
- Plan, direct, supervise and coordinate activities of one or more personnel programs and units;
- Assign, direct and evaluate assigned staff;
- Plans, researches and coordinates union/management labor negotiations;
- Participates as a member and trainer for the management bargaining team;
- Meets with union representatives and employees to determine contract language interpretation;
- Publishes mutually accepted interpretations for use by department managers in future contract implementation;
- Oversees the Park District’s employee relations programs and policies to provide effective supervisory practices and to provide a strong employer-employee relations framework;
- Recommends new and revised policies and develops procedures and handbooks;
- Conducts District-wide training on labor and employee relations issues;
- Confers with Division representatives on employee grievances and disciplinary actions;
- Investigates and prepares findings for employee grievances which allege violations of the contracts;
- Works closely with Park District management to ascertain union/management issues which require resolution or contract clarification;
- Confers with and interprets contract language for Park District management and employees;
- Monitors developments in the employee and labor relations field, evaluates their impact on Park District activities and recommends policy and procedural improvements;
- Maintains accurate records and files;
- Conducts varied analytical studies including cost benefit analyses and proposal valuation;
- Prepares reports, correspondence and a variety of written material;
- Seeks legal opinions, as appropriate;
- Interprets state and federal laws relating to employee relations issues, such as Fair Labor Standards Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Meyers, Milias, Brown, and ensures the Park District’s compliance with applicable provisions;
- Assist in managing the Park District’s EEO complaints and reporting process, Consult and advise Divisions on disciplinary procedures;
- Oversee the analysis of workforce data, utilization, and comparison studies, including statistical analysis;
- Make recommendations to support contract negotiations and address deficiencies;
- Interpret policies, procedures, and regulations for Park District management, employees, and the public;
- Coordinate services of external consultants and trainers;
- Develop and monitor contracts;
- Conduct complex research;
- Prepare and present reports including recommendations;
- Oversee the management of records and files related to programs offered and employee participation;
- Negotiate and administer contracts with vendors for Human Resources;
- Prepare and review a variety of written reports and correspondence;
- Serve as a Park District representative to outside agencies, organizations, contractors and the public as assigned; Serve as a subject matter expert on a variety of internal committees, work groups, and task forces;
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education: A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in human resources,Industrial relations, instructional design, business, public or personnel administration or a closely related field;
AND
Experience: Three years of progressively responsible experience in public personnel administration and management and labor relations, including one year in a supervising or management capacity. Experience in a public agency is desirable.
License: A valid California Class C Driver’s License is a condition of initial and continued employment.
Additional Information
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or to be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of public personnel administration, including recruitment, selection, classification, compensation, training, education and curriculum development targeted at all levels of an organization, equal employment opportunity, and human resource information systems;
- Principles of organization and management;
- Local government organizational structure;
- Federal, state and local laws regulations, policies and procedures governing local personnel programs;
- Personnel policy development, implementation and evaluation.
- General knowledge of principles and practices of public human resources administration in a unionized environment;
- Principles and practices of management/union relations and negotiations;
- Principles and practices of benefits program administration, workers’ compensation, and occupational health and safety programs;
- Principles and practices of public human resources administration; including organization, structure and labor relations in a municipal setting;
- Applicable state and federal laws and regulations;
- Standard office practices and procedures, including automated data processing and desktop publishing systems.
- Thorough knowledge of supervisory principles and practices and techniques for transferring that knowledge to others.
Ability to:
- Develop innovative, practical approaches to unique problems in responding to the needs of the Park District;
- Communicate clearly and concisely to small and large groups, both orally and in writing;
- Interpret and apply federal, state, and local regulations, rules, and policies;
- Conduct sensitive and complex investigations of complaints;
- Collect, analyze and interpret personnel information and data;
- Prepare and present clear, concise and accurate reports;
- Represent the Park District effectively in meeting with its bargaining unit representatives and in labor negotiations;
- Prepare clear, concise and complete reports and other written materials;
- Make clear oral presentations;
- Coordinate multiple negotiations and meet critical deadlines;
- Collect, arrange, and evaluate varied information and data, either in statistical or narrative form;
- Plan, organize, assign, direct review, and evaluate the work of professional and office support staff;
- Analyze complex technical problems, evaluate alternatives and make sound independent judgments within established guidelines;
- Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
- Evaluate alternative solutions and recommend or adopt effective courses of action;
- Monitor activities for compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations;
- Provide counseling and training to supervisors, managers, and employees;
- Provide effective leadership;
- Work independently;
- Plan, organize and prioritize work;
- Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity;
- Establish and maintain positive and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal and external customers.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- All East Bay Park Regional District employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.
- Must be able to pass a Level 1 background check which includes: employment history verification, employee reference check, education or certificate verification, Department of Justice fingerprinting, and criminal history review.
- Required to attend public hearings and other meetings which may be scheduled outside of normal work hours.
- This position is designated as a Mandated Reporter under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). Mandated reporters are individuals who are obligated by law to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. As such, you will be required to sign an acknowledgment of having received the District’s policy and your responsibilities.
MANAGEMENT DESIGNATION:
This position is not affiliated with a union and is considered part of the Management group and is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (i.e. is not eligible for overtime); in addition to the regular work schedule, this position may require availability to work evenings and/or weekends. The probationary period for this position is one year. This position is designated as “at-will” and serves at the pleasure of the General Manager.
Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:
1. A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online, and
2. Completed supplemental questions
Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system. If you have previously applied to a position on GovernmentJobs.com, please allow time to update your existing profile. Applications are accepted online only. Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.
Notification: All applicants will be notified of the status of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.
Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or oral examination/interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.
Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154 at least five business days before the test.
Tentative Date of Onsite Examination:
October/November 2023
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.
For information regarding the District’s applicable benefits package, please visit
For temporary and/or on-call assignments, there are no benefits offered.
01
Be sure to answer the supplemental questions thoroughly and accurately. Answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the experience section of the application. Additionally, “See Resume” as a response will not be considered sufficient information to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. I have read and understand the statement above concerning submission of supplemental questionnaire responses.
- Yes
- No
02
Select the highest level of education you have completed.
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Some college
- Associate’s degree
- Bachelor’s degree
- Master’s degree or higher
03
If you have a Bachelor’s degree, please indicate the area of study. If you select “Another closely related field” or “Other”, please ensure the area of study is listed in the Education section of your application.
- Human Resources or Personnel Administration
- Industrial Relations
- Business Administration (concentration other than Human Resources)
- Public Administration
- Another closely related field
- Other
- I do not have a Bachelor’s degree
04
Select the years of experience you have in Employee & Labor Relations.
- Less than 1
- Between 1 and under 3 years
- 3 – 5 years
- 5 years or more
05
Describe your experience with contract negotiations. Be specific about your role and include processes or tools used.
06
Describe your experience in grievance handling, appeals and/or PERB charges. Be specific about your role and include processes or tools used.
07
Describe your experience conducting investigations. Be specific about your role and the process involved.
08
Describe your work experience in providing advice regarding employee misconduct and disciplinary action.
Required Question