LABOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as a Labor Relations Specialist.  DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program.  The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and strong leadership and communication capabilities.  We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Labor Relations Specialist
• As assigned, serves as a hearing officer pursuant to the various relevant contractual provisions at the second and third levels of the grievance process
• Serves as a labor relations liaison, providing technical assistance on all negotiated collective bargaining contracts, state and federal statutes, executive orders, and DCFS policies relating to personnel practices
• In coordination with appropriate management staff, as directed, provides input into labor/management meetings and ongoing informal discussions with union representatives to communicate Department policies and listen to employee concerns
• Conducts formal training sessions for management staff regarding contract administration, collective bargaining agreement revisions, and labor relations policies
• Serves as an active member of the management team, providing members with information on various labor relations matters
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college.
• Requires two years of professional human resources experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years of professional experience in the field of labor relations in a public or business organization
• 3 years of professional experience working in the administration and application of collective bargaining contracts in a public or business organization
• 2 years of professional experience working in the administration and application of Federal Merit Standards, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, and/or the Civil Rights Act in a public or business organization
• 2 years of professional experience serving as a hearing officer regarding contractual provisions in a public or business organization
• 2 years of professional experience serving in a liaison capacity in a public or business organization
• 2 years of professional experience conducting formal training sessions in a public or business organization

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires ability to pass a background check.
2. Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
3. 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

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• A Pension Program
• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
• Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
• GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
• Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only) 

For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx