Employee and Labor Relations Director

About the Opportunity :

The Director of Employee and Labor Relations plays a critical role in ensuring a positive and productive work environment and plans, organizes, evaluates, and directs all aspects of employee and labor relations within the Academy.

This leadership position promotes harmonious relationships between employees, management, and the labor union while ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations.

This position reports to the Chief People & Culture Officer and indirectly reports to the General Counsel with respect to work encompassing the practice of law.

Organizational Culture :

Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are intrinsic to Academy culture and operations, from recruitment and retention to science and advocacy.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

About the People & Culture Team (PACT) :

The People & Culture team collaborates across the Academy to build a thriving culture in which all staff members feel cared for and respected, with opportunities for growth, and deeply connect employees to the Academy’s purpose of regenerating the natural world.

Key Responsibilities : Labor Relations :

• Act as the primary point of contact during labor disputes and contract negotiations.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with labor union representatives. Consult with exclusive bargaining representatives on contractual matters.
• Negotiate collective bargaining agreements, ensuring they align with the organization's goals and budgetary constraints.
• Ensure the proper and effective administration of collective bargaining contracts; provide guidance to leadership, supervisors, and others in the interpretation of collective bargaining agreements;

and develop and conduct in-service training as needed.

• Write formalized agreements reached with bargaining units.
• Advise Academy leadership on critical problems, achievements, improvement recommendations, and on requirements and restrictions of laws, rules, and policies affecting assigned areas.
• Develop education and conduct training on proactive employee and labor relations, identifying and addressing organizational vulnerabilities.
• Serve as an internal consultant / point person to address labor relations issues that arise.
• Support development and maintenance of Academy labor relations strategy, philosophy, and training.
• Ensure that employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities under collective bargaining agreements.
• Analyze state legislative and administrative decisions, laws, regulations, and policies to determine their impact on employer-employee relations functions and make recommendations on how to implement new requirements.

Employee Relations / Policies :

• Provide technical advice and guidance to supervisors on employee performance improvement plans, grievance and conflict resolution, mediation, and disciplinary processes.
• Counsel business partners on proactive measures to ensure the maintenance of a positive employee relations environment and compliance with applicable labor and employment regulations.
• Investigate and resolve complex employee complaints and disputes fairly and on time and recommend appropriate resolution strategies.
• Provide timely notification and work closely with union representatives to resolve employee relations issues in a fair and consistent manner.
• Collect, analyze, and report on data related to employee and labor relations.
• Prepare reports for senior management and other stakeholders on labor relations matters.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records related to labor relations and employee grievances.
• Develop, revise, and implement people policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws and regulations.
• Stay up-to-date with labor laws and regulations changes, and make necessary updates to the organization's policies and practices.
• Oversee the updates and revisions for the employee handbook for both union and non-union staff.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge base of labor law, National Labor Relations Board case law, and ongoing union activity.
• Travel to off-site meetings.

Qualifications : Experience and / or Education :

• Juris Doctor strongly preferred with an active license to practice law in the State of California or eligibility to obtain Registered In-House Counsel.
• Undergrad or an advanced degree required, preferably with a major in labor or industrial relations, human resource management, public administration, industrial or organizational psychology, or a related field.
• 7+ years of proven experience and track record in Employee Relations, Human Resources, or Labor Relations; strong expertise in CA labor law.
• Professional HR certification (e.g., SPHR, SHRM-SCP) is a plus.

Skills and Abilities :

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization (both verbally and in writing) and representatives of other agencies and organizations.
• Exercise sound judgment and maintain poise in stressful and / or sensitive situations.
• Anticipate conditions, plan ahead, establish priorities, and meet schedules.
• Maintain a fair and impartial attitude.
• Effectively present and argue management’s position in negotiations and arbitration.
• Develop and execute policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Interpret, apply, and explain principles and legal provisions pertinent to an employee and labor relations program.
• Develop and support a culture of collaboration that values employees and a commitment to the Academy’s mission.

Physical Environment :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

The Academy complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

Compensation and Benefits :

The salary range for this position is $170K-$190K. Actual compensation will be commensurate with experience, skills / knowledge set, and internal equity.

The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked.

Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

APPLICATION PROCESS :

Please upload your resume and complete the brief online application. We thank you for your interest in the Academy.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance(SF Police Code, Article 49).

We are committed to ensuring that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, placements, transfers, promotions, compensation, benefits, terminations, training, and social and recreational programs, will be on the basis of the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled.

The Academy does not discriminate against qualified applicants or employees with respect to any terms or conditions of employment on account of any characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.

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