Labor and Employment Specialist

California School Employees Association
Labor and Employment Specialist
Human Resources Department
San Jose CA

The Labor and Employment Specialist is a confidential management role within the Human Resources Department. This position has delegated management responsibility for labor and employment issues and supervisory authority within Human Resources as assigned. It handles investigations and oversight enforces contracts manages employee relations ensures compliance and supports related managerial functions. The role also provides continuity and acts as a backup in the absence of the Director of Human Resources. Additionally the position assists the Director of Human Resources and the Executive Director in managing sensitive employment labor relations and organizational matters.

This is a management-confidential non-bargaining unit position created to centralize and professionalize management-side labor and employment functions within the Human Resources Department. The position aims to strengthen HRs internal management capacity provide managerial support and continuity improve consistency in handling sensitive employment issues and help build the documentation and procedural infrastructure necessary to support effective Human Resources administration. It is ideal for an attorney who thrives in a dynamic environment has a strong foundation in employment law employment practices and values public service and workplace integrity.

Examples of duties: Typical duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Exercises delegated management responsibility in assigned labor and employment matters including directing workflow overseeing investigations supervising outside investigators when appropriate contract enforcement grievance administration and review and contract interpretation.
• Provides supervisory and operational continuity within the Human Resources Department in the absence of the Director of Human Resources including directing staff workflow overseeing active matters and maintaining investigations and related employment processes.
• Acts as a key Human Resources hub for intake triage documentation coordination escalation and follow-up of management-side labor and employment issues until resolution.
• Creates and maintains documentation and procedures for labor and employment issues including templates organized files issue histories interpretations searchable records and related materials to ensure consistency continuity and retention of institutional knowledge.
• Prepares investigative reports findings recommendations decision-support materials and other management work products subject to review. Ensures such work is documented and managed in accordance with organizational standards.
• Supports HR leadership on employment law matters including discipline performance management leave administration disability accommodation and workplace investigations.
• Advise on compliance with state and federal employment laws including FEHA ADA FMLA/CFRA FLSA and wage and hour requirements.
• Advise management and Human Resources on the application and interpretation of collective bargaining agreement provisions in employee relations matters.
• Draft review and revise policies procedures employment agreements handbooks and related documents.
• Research and provide guidance on employment litigation risk and assist in preparing responses to administrative charges claims or proceedings under relevant agencies and laws.
• Collaborate with legal and HR leadership on training programs related to compliance performance management anti-harassment and workplace conduct.
• Monitor new legislation regulations and case law impacting employment-related issues and risk mitigation strategies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Provide training for staff on legal procedures labor law and other subjects.
• Draft appropriate contract language.
• Provide operational continuity in the absence of the Director of Human Resources ensuring proper supervision of HR staff workflow direction and continuity of investigations.
• Assist in assembling and analyzing records for review or appeal and coordinate as needed on matters involving legal strategy litigation administrative claims or other proceedings requiring formal attorney involvement.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities to:

• Ability to exercise delegated management judgment in sensitive labor and employment matters maintain confidentiality direct workflow and investigations as assigned and provide sound managerial support in the absence of the Director of Human Resources.
• Strong knowledge of California and federal employment laws including FEHA FLSA CFRA/FMLA and wage and hour compliance.
• Excellent legal research analytical and writing skills.
• Strong understanding of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and labor-management relations in a unionized workforce; knowledge of and ability to continue learning private-sector labor law (NLRA).
• Exercise good judgment.
• Remain calm and think clearly under pressure.
• Exercise considerable independence initiative and judgment in researching and proceeding with issues and cases.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employment matters with professionalism.
• Foster collaborative relationships with diverse cultural groups as well as with professional technical administrative and service employees.
• Supervisory experience or ability to provide HR leadership support including directing staff workflow and investigations as needed.
• Work occasional weekends or travel overnight.

The ideal candidate should have the following qualifications:

• JD
• Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in labor and employment law employee relations workplace investigations or related Human Resources and labor-relations work. Experience in a unionized employer environment or an in-house labor and employment practice is strongly preferred.
• Relevant pre-Bar labor relations or human resources experience will also be considered.
• Clear and concise communications skills in speech and in writing.
• Knowledge of collective bargaining.
• Commitment to supporting CSEAs missions and values.
• Experience in advising on workplace investigations wage and hour issues or public sector employment preferred.
• Candidate must be a member of the bar of some state; those if not admitted to the California Bar must gain admission within one year of hire.

This position works at our headquarters office in San Jose CA. CSEA has 12 offices in California with approximately 300 dedicated employees.

Benefits of working at CSEA:

We offer a dynamic career opportunity. We have an excellent salary and benefits package with:

• 19paid holidays
• 4 weeks vacation
• Medical dental and vision benefits for you and your family
• Pension
• 401k
• Life insurance
• Work/life flexibility. an opportunity to enjoy the work you do and find fulfillment through working with like-minded dedicated professionals committed to this significant social mission

To Apply:

Go to upload your resume and a cover letter that explains your qualifications interest and career goals.

Questions Contact HR at Please do not send resumes or other documents to this email.

CSEA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to building and supporting a diverse workforce.

This is an exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

EOE/AA