Title: Labor Relations Analyst Journey Level

Department: Employee Relations

Location:

Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899

Category: Human Resources

Minimum Pay Rate: $98,217.60

Maximum Pay Rate: $130,062.40

Civil Service Status: Civil Service

Posting Type: Open

NOTE: This position is posted until there is a sufficient number of qualified applications and may close anytime after July 22, 2024. For immeditate consideration, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

SMUD's People Services, & Strategies Department seeks an experienced Employee & Labor Relations Analyst to provide professional and analytical support as well as subject matter expertise on employee and labor relations matters. The Employee & Labor Relations Analyst is a journey-level, individual contributor role that performs a wide variety of duties related to employee and labor relations, such as providing professional guidance, advice, and training on employee and labor relations matters at all levels of the organization; assisting supervisors with employee coaching, performance management, and performance improvement; conducting and supporting fact-finding investigations of potential policy violations and EEO complaints; writing defensible investigatory reports; recommending discipline and drafting disciplinary documents; addressing sensitive employee matters; and, serving in a support role for labor relations with one or more collective bargaining units, including day-to-day contract management, grievance response and resolution, and labor negotiations.

The Employee & Labor Relations Analyst is expected to maintain a working knowledge and be adept at interpreting and applying SMUD policy, relevant Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), as well as applicable State and Federal laws, rules, regulations. The ideal candidate should be an articulate facilitator and conflict mediator, have excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to empower others to engage in discussions surrounding difficult and sensitive employee matters, and, be able to build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders throughout the organization as well as bargaining unit representatives.

Purpose

To perform professional analytical support and consulting services to business units in the development, implementation and ongoing evaluation of employee and labor relations programs to ensure that assigned HR program results support SMUD’s strategic objectives and comply with applicable SMUD, state and federal human resources laws, rules, regulations and MOU requirements.

Nature and Scope

This classification is comprised of two levels: Level "E" is the entry-level where incumbents are provided formal training and/or certification for progression to the journey-level of the classification. The incumbent is promoted/progressed to the journey level "J" upon successful completion of all training and/or certification requirements for the classification. Incumbents hired at the entry-level are required to successfully progress to the journey-level within 18 to 60 months, depending on the length of the training and/or certification program. If an employee is unsuccessful with progressing to the journey-level they will return to last class held or separate from SMUD.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists supervisors with employee coaching, performance management and performance improvement.

• Provides advice and assistance to management and employees by interpreting MOUs and personnel policies; communicating changes in agreements, grievance procedures, disciplinary actions and other personnel practices; investigating and recommending solutions to employee relations issues to ensure a positive employer-employee relations framework characterized by equitable and consistent actions in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and SMUD policies.

• Conducts fair, thorough, and timely internal fact-finding investigations of potential policy violations or misconduct. Analyzes evidence and writes defensible investigative reports based on neutral fact finding that ensure management has pertinent information to evaluate investigation findings and make appropriate determinations.

• Supports activities related to SMUD’s negotiated agreements by analyzing pay and other data; reviewing the impact on SMUD operations and work activities of proposed agreements on hours, wages, benefits and working conditions; reviewing the proposed language in negotiated agreements; representing SMUD at grievance, disciplinary and other related hearings; and providing other assistance as requested to provide for a cohesive, constructive and positive employee and labor relations environment.

• Assists in the planning, development, implementation and communication of employee and labor relations policies, programs and procedures (including Critical Infrastructure Protection Personnel Risk Assessment Administration, Threat Management, and Substance Abuse and DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing Program) by researching, reviewing and analyzing the impact on current SMUD programs of new fair labor, wage, discrimination and related federal and state laws, codes and regulations; recommending modifications to SMUD programs to ensure compliance; developing and communicating to management and employees revised policies and procedures; and monitoring the effectiveness of programs to ensure that SMUD’s employee and labor relations programs meet its strategic human resources objectives and are in compliance with all applicable laws and guidelines.

• Assists in the development and delivery of training programs to management and employees on employee and labor relations programs, policies and procedures, including grievance procedures, disciplinary procedures, position reclassifications, among others by soliciting input from management on relevant issues; designing training modules for the respective audiences; and delivering the information to ensure adequate understanding of and adherence to SMUD programs, policies and procedures.

• Assists in planning, reviewing and conducting work activities and researching required project information associated with department internal/external projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plan/contract. To support the overall achievement and completion of department projects.Provides analytical support to programs coordinated.

• Provides analytical support to programs coordinated.

• Performs related duties as required.

Required Education

• High School diploma or equivalent

Required Experience Qualifications

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in employee and labor relations.

Knowledge Of

English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards; Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations governing employment and labor relations; fundamentals of statistics and cost analysis; methods and techniques for training staff; policies and procedures related to supervisory practices and employee rights; modern office practices and procedures; SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs and other special agreements related to human resources; techniques for exercising leadership and authority; principals, practices, methods and techniques related to labor relations activities in the public sector; techniques of interest based bargaining; fundamentals and practices of personnel administration; Federal and State laws and regulations related to supervisory practices and employee rights; methods for conducting fact-finding investigations, including interview techniques, analyzing evidence, research and gathering information, and writing defensible reports; techniques and practices for negotiating; techniques and strategies for public speaking; techniques and practices for cost benefit analyses; techniques and practices for problem research and resolution; techniques and practices related to negotiations and compromise; concepts and methods of project development and administration. Safety policies, practices and procedures; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software.

Skills To

Utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally/externally; schedule and prioritize own work assignments to meet expected timeframes; serve as reference person for other employees; interact with others to influence, motivate and challenge; apply applicable laws, codes and regulations; express ideas/facts clearly and concisely to individuals or groups, taking into account the audience and nature of information; serve as a support person and consultant to management; interpret SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs and/or other special agreements; develop and implement new and revised policies and procedures to provide for the effective operation of the area of responsibility; oversee disciplinary actions and resolution of employee grievances; explain complex and/or controversial policies, regulations, procedures and/or activities internally/externally; reconcile significant and/or controversial differences to bring interested parties to consensus; write new and revised policies and procedures; analyze complex issues and develop/implement resolution alternatives; analyze situations, documents and data for conformance to established policy and procedures; gather data from appropriate sources and identify relevant factors; generate a number of viable alternatives to problems; prepare a business case to weigh the relative costs and benefits of a potential action; develop and administer employee relations programs; conduct extensive research; perform interviews; maintain confidentiality of sensitive information; assess codes, laws and regulations and identify relevant impact.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in public sector employee relations.

• Experience conducting fact-finding investigations and writing defensible investigatory reports.

• Excellent communication skills, including conflict management and resolution.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are

As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.

An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.

SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

Hybrid Work

This position will be required to work onsite two or three days a week on a regular basis; sometimes more or less, depending on the work and, at times, early mornings or evenings for onsite meetings. And, on a rare occasion, the position may require weekend work.

SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Req ID: 1568