State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In the Office of Policy and Management, Office of Labor Relations this class is accountable for directing and providing leadership to labor relations staff deployed at state agencies.

Receives administrative direction from the Undersecretary of Labor Relations or other administrative official of higher grade.

Directs operations and activities of labor relations staff for assigned agencies.

• Provides leadership, direction, guidance and accountability in support of agencies’ employees, leadership, and missions;
• Develops policies across assigned agencies to insure consistent application of labor relations principles;
• Manages labor relations functions in agencies as assigned;
• Designs and implement performance review standards for bargaining unit employees;
• Manages, coordinates, and provides guidance over work activities;
• Mediates and resolves most complex labor issues;
• Administers collective bargaining agreements;
• Recommends economic guidelines for settlement;
• Assists in the formulation of staffing plans and identifies and allocates resources in order to manage initiatives;
• Meets and confers with agency officials and management, union representatives and other stakeholders and renders appropriate advice;
• Represents state at various hearings, adversary proceedings, negotiations and labor meetings;
• Collaborates and integrates activities with other divisions and agencies, as needed;
• Comments on proposed legislation, rules and regulations, and other proposals;
• Leads through significant change;
• Develops and implements labor relations training programs for assigned agencies, as needed;
• Represents state at various hearings, adversary proceedings, negotiations or labor meetings;
• Partners with and is accountable for successful relationships with Agency Human Resources Business Partners, as needed, to appropriately deliver solutions to agency labor relations needs;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May serve as a project team leader on complex projects involving labor relations initiatives and other projects with statewide impact;
• May lead contract negotiation teams;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices within a matrixed organization;
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, policies and procedures;
  • collective bargaining and labor relations;
  • program development and administration;
  • investigatory practices;
  • legal principles and practice, civil procedure and rules of evidence;
  • rules of practice and procedures before administrative and judicial bodies;
  • principles and practices of public sector employment, job classification, compensation and benefits;
• Interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, negotiation and conflict resolution skills;
• Ability to
  • deal tactfully and effectively with agency officials, management and union representatives;
  • analyze and balance partners need with laws, regulations, policies, procedures and collective bargaining agreements;
  • study and analyze emerging issues or problems and make sound evaluations, conclusions and recommendations;
  • identify statewide labor relations training needs and develop relevant curriculum and materials;
  • effectively serve as an advocate;
  • supervise;
  • strategically plan and apply innovative solutions to workforce problems.

Ten (10) years of professional experience in labor relations or human resources management.

Three (3) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity with substantial responsibility serving as co-chair over collective bargaining agreements.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Human Resources Business Partner 1, an Assistant Human Resources Business Partner or Agency Labor Relations Manager.

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in human resources management, labor relations, business administration, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• A law degree may be substituted for two (2) additional years of the General Experience.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

(27)-Personnel

(02)-Managerial

(1)-Officials and Administrators

MP 70

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Labor Relations Program Manager in Salary Group MP 70 approved effective October 25, 2019. (Revised to add Acknowledgement section and modify content) Final 22-007

04/01/2022