Review Vacancy
AgencyPeople With Developmental Disabilities, Office for
Title Human Resources Specialist 3 Labor Relations
Occupational CategoryAdministrative or General Management
Bargaining UnitM/C - Managerial/Confidential (Unrepresented)
Salary RangeFrom $97659 to $122388 Annually
Duties Description Plans, develops, and directs the labor relations program or a portion of it for an agency or a group of facilities; directs the implementation of collective bargaining agreements; represents the agency in both statewide and agency level negotiations; and directs or participates in labor management committees; provides expert advice and assistance to program managers and supervisors in disciplinary matters; reviews and evaluates policies and procedures; and recommends and implements new and revised ones; reviews and evaluates changes in negotiated agreements; and advises management of their impact on the labor relations program; conducts the most difficult and sensitive hearings and investigations; assesses labor relations training needs; and develops training materials and curricula regarding employee relations, collective bargaining, contract administration, and employee discipline; assists the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations staff in presenting the State’s case at improper practice hearings before the Public Employment Relations Board; develops proposals for funding labor management projects from the various quality of work life committees and assists in their implementation.
The Bureau of Employee and Labor Relations represents the Agency in the administration of collective bargaining agreements with more than 20,000 state employees. The Labor Relations (LR) representatives administer the statewide Labor Relations processes for OPWDD employees, including acting as the point person for local labor management activities in one or more OPWDD Districts, evaluating evidence and writing Notices of Discipline, and representing OPWDD at hearings before arbitrators, PERB, and others.
The LR representative answers and resolves grievances, provides support to human resources professionals and other managers, and may provide relevant training on topics such as performance evaluation, administering grievances, counseling and discipline.
The bureau is responsible for the administration of bargaining unit contract agreements with multiple public employee unions representing the Agency's employees.
Under the supervision of the Regional Associate Director of Human Resources Region 4, the Human Resources Specialist 3, Labor Relations may be responsible for:
- Managing the Labor Relations operations for Bernard Fineson, Brooklyn, Long Island, Metro and Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Service Operations Offices (DDSOO).
- Acting as the Central Office Labor Relations liaison with officials from all bargaining units which serve Agency employees.
- Working with union representatives to resolve workplace issues, including policy and contract interpretation.
- Reviewing and analyzing investigative reports and resolving disciplinary cases through settlement or binding arbitration.
- Providing support and advice to supervisors and Human Resources professionals.
- Acting as liaison with the Office of Employee Relations on Grievance Arbitrations and PERB-related matters.
- Participating in District-level and labor management meetings and subcommittees.
- Conducting investigations into employee misconduct.
Position may be located at any of the below locations:
Bernard Fineson DDSO (Queens) – 80-45 Winchester Blvd. Queens Village, NY 11427
Brooklyn DDSO – 750 Vandalia Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11239
Long Island DDSO – 45 Mall Drive, Commack, NY 11725
Metro DDSO (Bronx) – 2400 Halsey Street, Bronx, NY 10461
Staten Island DDSO – 1150 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nys-office-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities/posts/?feedView=all
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Minimum Qualifications Promotion: one year of service as a Human Resources Specialist 2 (Labor Relations) and reachable for appointment on the current Civil Service Eligible List for this title.
OR
Transfer: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c status in the posted title and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1, 70.4, or 52.6 of Civil Service Law. The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades.
Additional Comments • Please note that starting salary for this title reflects the Downstate adjustment. Posted Hiring Salary includes the sum of the statutory hiring rate for M/C Grade 61 ($93,659) and Downstate Adjustment ($4,000). Downstate Adjustment is also added to the job rate ($118,388).
• If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee.
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume.
• All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.
• If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
• Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.
• Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.
• Life insurance and Disability insurance.
• The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.
• Paid Holidays and Leave:
° Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.
° Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.
° Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.
° Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.
° Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.
• Health Care Coverage:
Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.
• Paid Parental Leave:
Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.
• Retirement Program:
Participate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.
• Professional Development and Education and Training:
NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development.
• Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.
• OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Name Bernard Fineson DDSO Human Resources Office
Email Address Bernardfineson.Careers@opwdd.ny.gov
Address
Street 80-45 Winchester Boulevard Building 80
Hillside Complex
Notes on ApplyingAPPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Submit application and resume by 6/13/2025 to:
Bernard Fineson DDSO Human Resources Office
OR Email to: opwdd.sm.fineson.personnel@opwdd.ny.gov
OR Fax number: 718-264-3436
Please reference the above EOA# 2025-062 Posting Number, title on all correspondence.