Assistant Director of Employee Relations

Assistant Director of Employee Relations

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is looking for leaders, thinkers, creators, and innovators. We are a diverse workforce that reflects the diverse population that we serve. The mission of the Human Resources Division (HRD) is to attract, develop, and retain a high-performing workforce in order to ensure the delivery of constituent services across the Commonwealth. The Assistant Director of Employee Relations is responsible for all labor management activities with assigned employee unions. Primary duties include:

• Serving as lead negotiator representing the Commonwealth in collective bargaining negotiations
• Maintaining a positive, responsive, and productive working relationship with union and agency representatives
• Conferring with state agency management to determine agency priorities
• Developing bargaining strategies for obtaining designated objectives
• Writing and analyzing collective bargaining proposals and counter proposals
• Providing guidance to agency management on labor relations matters
• Serving as Management Chair/Trustee on designated Health and Welfare Trust Funds

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree in Public Administration, Industrial/Labor Relations or a Juris Doctor degree
• Demonstrated oral advocacy and written communication skills
• Demonstrated creative problem solving and analytical abilities
• A strong understanding of the principles of sound labor relations, including a strong foundation in interest-based negotiations
• Ability to analyze and respond to labor relations inquiries in a sound, well-reasoned manner within appropriate and frequently limited timeframes
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage competing priorities
• The selected candidate should possess at least five years of progressively responsible labor relations experience, including experience as lead negotiator and/or legal advocate
• A strong understanding of Massachusetts public sector collective bargaining, including familiarity with MGL Chapter 150E is strongly preferred

Minimum entrance requirements:

• Applicants must have at least six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration, or clinical management of which at least two (2) years must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity or any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
• Substitutions:
• I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.
• II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
• III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.
• IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required experience.

Comprehensive benefits are offered when you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, providing an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.