DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE AND LABOR RELATIONS

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Plans, directs, and manages a major Employee and Labor Relations Department responsible for facilitating effective relationships with and between critical stakeholders to ensure their interests are met in a manner which supports safe and reliable transportation throughout Los Angeles County and the surrounding region.
This position directs a team that provides strategic guidance on labor issues, interprets and applies collective bargaining agreements, manages complex grievance processes, and supports contract negotiations. This position also serves as a key liaison with union representatives, develops labor policies and strategies, ensures compliance with labor laws and Metro standards, and oversees departmental performance, staffing, and budget.

Recruitment Timelines: I nterviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of September 22, 2025. These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

Examples of Duties

• Directs the activities of an Employee and Labor Relations team responsible for facilitating respectful relationships that move Metro's agenda forward

• Interprets and applies collective bargaining agreements

• Assists both the chief and co-chief negotiator during contract negotiations

• Prepares and presents written and oral reports to management, the Board of Directors, and outside agencies

• Develops strategies and goals for an Employee and Labor Relations team

• Acts as a management representative in meet and confer meetings with the unions over matters effecting wages, hours, and working conditions

• Responsible for the performance of an Employee and Labor Relations team providing first-level advice and training to management

• Responsible for the performance of an Employee and Labor Relations team handling union grievances at the second and third level of the grievance process

• Serves as a point of contact for union officials in the absence of the Deputy Executive Officer, Employee and Labor Relations

• Resolves employee and/or union grievances at the lowest level

• Negotiates sound and innovative solutions to agency problems

• Develops policies, practices, and systems to assist in the proper administration of the collective bargaining agreements and grievance avoidance

• Develops and recommends changes to the labor contracts, procedures, and practices

• Establishes and implements department goals and objectives

• Complies with Metro's efficient and effective bill paying standard to ensure project and cost center invoices are paid in a timely manner

• Oversees, monitors, and adheres to department/unit budget, goals, and schedules which comply with agency-wide fiscal responsibility; manages agency resources to meet business goals

• Develops and delivers quality projects from inception to close-out on time and within scope and budget

• Supervises, trains, mentors, and motivates assigned staff

• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees

• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

May be required to perform other related job duties

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Public or Business Administration, Law, or a related field; Master's or Law degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Five years of relevant management-level experience in employee and labor relations, including experience supporting a Chief Negotiator in contract negotiations; some positions in this class may require specialized experience in area of assignment

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience working with labor unions and collective bargaining including union contract negotiations, interpreting and applying complex labor agreements, and resolving high-level grievances with multiple unions in a large, unionized public sector or private environment
  
• Experience leading employee and labor relations teams including managing and mentoring staff and ensuring consistent, fair, and impartial grievance administration across multiple bargaining units
  
• Experience working with stakeholders including strategic problem solving, ability to build and maintain respectful, collaborative relationships with union representatives, executive leadership, and operational managers
  

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of employee and labor relations management
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing public sector labor/employee relations
• Federal, state, and local public transit regulations
• Current theories, principles, and practices of human resources management
• Financing and budget principles
• Public sector fiduciary and reporting standards/mandates
• EEO and affirmative action principles and goals
• Current and effective management theory and strategies

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Planning, organizing, and directing the work of a labor and employee relations department
• Maintaining effective and cooperative relationships with and between management and unions
• Determining strategies to achieve goals
• Establishing and implementing policies and procedures
• Conducting complex research and analysis
• Critical thinking
• Identifying and analyzing problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally and working effectively with various levels of Metro employees and outside representatives
• Preparing comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Mediating and negotiating
• Exercising self-awareness
• Supervising, training, mentoring, and motivating assigned staff

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data
• Accept and promote diversity of thought and approach
• Persuade and build a consensus
• Innovate and negotiate effectively
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Make financial decisions within a budget and plan financial and staffing needs
• Represent Metro before the public
• Develop talent
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required

(EC)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan- Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance- PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance- PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance- 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays- 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP)- Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year30 days
Beginning of 16th + years35 days

Pension Plan- PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro’s Pension & Benefits website at www.benefits.metro.net .

Closing Date/Time: 9/9/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro

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