State of Maryland

21

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE           BARGAINING UNIT: Z

A Senior Labor Relations Specialist DBM is the full performance level of labor relations work at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).  Employees in this classification serve as negotiators in the collective bargaining process and are Statewide experts on the collective bargaining law, as well as the terms and conditions of the various memoranda of understanding (collectively “MOUs”).  Employees in this classification act as representatives on Statewide issues in collective bargaining, including, but not limited to representing the State at Statewide Labor Management Committee meetings.  Employees in this classification must possess strong skills in negotiating and conflict management and exceptional oral and written communications skills.  Employees in this classification may represent management in all types of labor relations matters.  Employees in this classification also may represent DBM in grievance and disciplinary appeal cases (including terminations) before an administrative law judge in hearings at the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).  Employees in this classification advocate management’s position by preparing and presenting grievance and disciplinary appeal cases at OAH, preparing and presenting cases in the dispute resolution process, conducting administrative conferences and rendering decisions related to employee grievance and disciplinary appeals or in the dispute resolution process, acting as adjudicators of employee grievance and disciplinary appeals and advising agency staff on employee and labor relations issues as subject matter experts.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from the Director of Employee and Labor Relations Division or other administrative official. The work may require travel throughout the State of Maryland to attend conferences, hearings, or meetings. Employees are required to obtain and maintain certification in State Personnel Management System (SPMS) policies and procedures and in the functionality of the Statewide Personnel System (SPS) to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skill in the administration of SPMS Human Resources programs.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Senior Labor Relations Specialist DBM is differentiated from the Labor Relations Specialist Expert DBM in that the Senior Labor Relations Specialist DBM performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under managerial supervision while the Labor Relations Specialist Expert DBM functions independently under managerial supervision and possesses the highest level of proficiency in the field of labor relations and may lead lower-lower level Employee and Labor Relations Representatives DBM and/or lower-level Management Advocates in the Employee and Labor Relations Division of the Office of Personnel Services and Benefits (OPSB).

Advises agency representatives in labor relations matters and all types of grievance and disciplinary appeals;

Prepares and presents cases on behalf of management at OAH in labor disputes, as well as grievances and disciplinary action appeals, including the preparation and filing of documents (e.g., briefs, motions, responses to motions, requests for and responses to requests for discovery, subpoenas), oral arguments regarding motions, evidentiary and procedural objections, preparation of witnesses, and direct and cross-examination of witnesses;

Schedules and conducts administrative conferences and renders decisions related to labor disputes and grievance and disciplinary appeals as designee of the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management;

Advises agency representatives in settling labor disputes and disciplinary and grievance appeals at settlement conferences held by the Department of Budget and Management;

Advises agency staff on State and federal laws, regulations and policies related to employee relations and labor relations issues;

Interprets contract language and State Collective Bargaining Law in consultation with the Assistant Attorney General for DBM and advises agency Human Resources, supervisors, and managers on related questions to ensure consistent application and preservation of management rights and discretion;

Designs and delivers training on employee and labor relations-related topics to State Personnel Management System agency personnel;

Represents the State of Maryland in negotiations with exclusive bargaining representatives;

Drafts language for bargaining proposals and memoranda of understanding;

Devises bargaining strategies by interpreting labor agreements, relevant case law, regulations, and policies;

Performs other related duties.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Three years of professional experience in employee or labor relations, one year experience must include representing management before an administrative law judge in hearings at the Office of Administrative Hearings, or similar adjudicatory setting, that involves all types of grievance and disciplinary appeal cases, or labor-management disputes, on a regular and recurring basis.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university for up to two years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Employees in this classification are required to obtain certification in State Personnel Management System policies and procedures and in the functionality of the Statewide Personnel System from the Office of Personnel Services and Benefits, Maryland Department of Budget and Management within six months from the time of appointment to the position. Employees are also required to obtain recertification every six months thereafter.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

November 15, 2021

April 1, 2022

Director, Division of Classification and Salary