The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the City’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harms and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
Why join the City of Oakland's Human Resources Management Department, Employee and Labor Relations Division?
Situated at the heart of the Bay Area, the City of Oakland is a vibrant, diverse, and exciting place to work. It is easily accessible, at the forefront of Race and Equity work, and a full-service organization with many innovative community services.
Are you searching for a fulfilling career that allows you to make a difference and have a positive impact on the local community? Look no further! The City of Oakland is seeking motivated and passionate individuals to join our dynamic Human Resources Management Department as an Employee and Labor Relations Technician. Come join the City of Oakland and become part of a diverse organization dedicated to the community and employees whom we serve! Oakland is a learning organization, committed to developing talent and growing our own. This is a great opportunity to grow your HR Career in an organization with a proven track record of internal promotions.
We are looking for someone who is:
A detail-oriented and dependable team player. You stay organized, follow through on commitments, and handle sensitive employee and labor relations matters with professionalism, discretion, and care in a fast-paced environment.
Organized and deadline-driven. You confidently manage multiple cases, assignments, meetings, and critical timelines while keeping track of details and ensuring notices, records, follow-up actions, and procedural requirements are completed accurately and on time.
Trusted with confidential information. You exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive matters involving employee investigations, disciplinary actions, grievances, labor negotiations, and personnel issues.
A strong communicator and relationship builder. You build productive relationships with employees, supervisors, managers, labor representatives, and City staff while communicating clearly and bringing diplomacy and professionalism to sensitive conversations.
A strong coordinator and record keeper. You keep moving parts on track by coordinating meetings, hearings, investigations, grievance activities, labor-management meetings, and bargaining sessions while maintaining accurate and organized records.
Adaptable and resourceful. You effectively navigate changing priorities, competing deadlines, and time-sensitive requests while finding practical solutions and following established procedures and instructions.
A thoughtful problem-solver. You use good judgment, ask thoughtful questions, take initiative, and identify practical next steps to help move sensitive employee and labor relations matters forward.
What you will typically be responsible for:
Supporting employee and labor relations activities by preparing, processing, organizing, and maintaining confidential case files, records, correspondence, and related documentation.
Tracking critical deadlines and case activities related to disciplinary actions, grievances, investigations, arbitrations, hearings, required notifications, and other employee and labor relations processes.
Coordinating meetings and proceedings by scheduling and supporting grievance meetings, investigatory interviews, labor-management meetings, meet-and-confer/discuss activities, hearings, and bargaining sessions.
Maintaining accurate labor relations records and information systems by updating logs, databases, case management systems, and electronic files and retrieving information to support Employee & Labor Relations operations.
Providing technical and administrative support for labor relations matters by assisting with information requests, preparing materials for hearings and negotiations, responding to routine inquiries, and coordinating follow-up activities with employees, managers, labor representatives, and professional staff.
Read the complete job description by clicking the link belowEmployee & Labor Relations Technician
*Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland! Working for the City of Oakland
A few reasons you might love this job:
You will be a part of a growing and dynamic Human Resources Management Department and help establish the City as an employer of choice.
You will be part of a specialized Employee & Labor Relations team supporting the City’s workforce and helping ensure employee and labor relations processes are handled effectively and professionally.
Your work will have a direct impact on the City’s workforce by supporting fair, timely, and well-organized processes related to employee relations, grievances, investigations, and labor-management activities.
You will work with employees, supervisors, managers, labor representatives, and professional staff, giving you the opportunity to build relationships and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
You will have excellent opportunities to learn and grow your knowledge of employee and labor relations practices, City policies and procedures, labor agreements, investigations, grievance processes, and related Human Resources functions.
A few challenges you might face in this job:
You will handle multiple tasks with competing and critical deadlines.
You will navigate complex rules, policies, and labor agreements that govern the unionized, Civil Service environment that is the City of Oakland.
You will need to quickly learn policies and processes to guide members of the community.
Competencies Required:
Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
Learning Agility: Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to one’s work
Self-Management: Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable.
Education:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. An Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in labor and employee relations, human resources management, industrial psychology, social sciences, public administration, business management, or a closely related field is desirable.
Experience:
Two (2) years of experience providing clerical, administrative, or technical support in a human resources environment. Experience must include preparing, processing, maintaining, and coordinating confidential personnel records, forms, reports, correspondence, or related information.
Desirable Qualifications:
Experience supporting employee relations, labor relations, personnel administration, or related functions is highly desirable.
Experience in a public-sector agency is highly desirable.
License or Certificate / Other Requirements
Incumbents may be required to travel to various locations to perform assigned duties and must be able to do so in a timely and reliable manner. A valid California Driver's License shall be required only if operating a motor vehicle is an essential function of the position.
Other Requirements
Must be willing to work irregular days and hours, as needed.
The Recruitment Process:
This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules, per Charter Section 902. All applications received will be forwarded to the Human Resources Management Department for further consideration. Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration; only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.
What is in it for you?
Work/Life Balance: 37.5-hour work weeks
15 paid holidays
Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k, and Employee Training.
*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland
Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.
Disaster Service Workers
All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
How to Apply
Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca.
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system.
For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Diego Almendariz at Dalmendariz@oaklandca.gov.
Listed under Human Resources & People jobs.