Labor Relations Liaison (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)

Essential Functions

• Subject to Administrative Approval of the Labor Relations Administrator, serves as the Labor Relations Liaison and training specialist for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).
• Participates in the formulation of training strategies and initiatives in the development of the agency’s annual training plan.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with DEC managers and supervisory staff, as well as relevant state training units and Labor Relations trainers, to provide or receive input on labor relations training needs.
• Serves as full-line supervisor.
• Serves as back‑up to the Labor Relations Manager in their absence, designing, developing, delivering, evaluating, and conducting follow‑up on all aspects of labor relations, as well as supporting the daily operational needs of the agency.
• Serves as the primary labor relations liaison for the Department of Early Childhood.
• Serves as the third‑level representative for grievances.
• Conducts and/or staffs labor‑management meetings for the Department of Early Childhood.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires skill, knowledge and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years college with courses in business, public administration, human resources, labor relations, education or a related field.
• Requires three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or private organization, and experience in administration of a labor relations program and labor relations training program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience conducting labor‑management meetings, grievance investigations, or arbitration preparation within a public‑sector or unionized environment.
• Two (2) years of experience interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements, Personnel Rules, or state human resources policies in complex or sensitive situations.
• Two (2) years of experience designing, developing, and delivering training programs for supervisors or managers, particularly in labor relations or disciplinary processes.
• Two (2) years of experience building and maintaining effective working relationships with agency leadership, union representatives, legal counsel, and cross‑agency partners.
• Two (2) years of experience preparing analytical reports, written decisions, case summaries, or similar documents requiring accuracy, clarity, and attention to detail.
• Two (2) years of experience handling sensitive or confidential employee relations issues with sound judgment, professionalism, and consistency.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to successfully pass an agency criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.
• Requires ability to utilize state-issued equipment, such as a cell phone, laptop, etc.  
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

*The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency:

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) was signed into law in June of 2024 with the focus of making early childhood education and care services simpler, better and fairer for families with young children across the state. During fiscal years FY25 and FY26, IDEC will be working through transitioning data, programs and services from three state agencies – the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), – to IDEC in order to be fully operational by July 2026. Illinois strives to be the best state in the nation to raise a family with young children and IDEC is committed to continue putting children and families center while reducing complexities and finding efficiencies in the system and advancing equity.