OVERVIEW
The Cook County Department of Labor Relations is seeking a Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer/Director, Labor Relations. This position manages and directs the Labor/Employee Relations Division within the Department of Human Resources and serves as a primary member of the County’s labor negotiation team. The role is responsible for negotiating all collective bargaining agreements covering more than 20,000 County employees and ensuring proper implementation of contract terms. Key duties include preparing documentation for arbitration, presiding over third-step grievances, and overseeing training for supervisors on contract administration. The position consults confidentially with the President of the County Board to advise on labor matters, formulate management’s position, and execute strategies during negotiations.
Cook County offers great benefits and the chance to participate in a strong tradition of public service. Cook County is home to more than five million residents, roughly 45% of Illinois’ population. Cook County Government provides a range of vital services and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. These services range from health care to urban planning. Cook County is committed to empowering its employees to bring our constituents the best that public service has to offer.
Attention Applicants: Please note that as part of ongoing job architecture initiatives, the County is reviewing job titles and corresponding grades, which may be subject to change.
WHY PURSUE A CAREER WITH COOK COUNTY?
In addition to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in the public sphere, including:
- Top Tier Medical Benefits: Medical Plans, Prescription Drug Benefit, Dental Plans, Vision Plan and 9 Additional voluntary benefit plans
- Flexible Teleworking Options
- Generous, Flexible Paid Time Off (13 paid designated holidays; Minimum of 15 vacation days annually; and Paid sick leave)
- Pension Plan
- Financial Support Programs and Resources: Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts – Dependent Day Care, Commuter Benefits, Discounted Parking, PSLF Eligibility, Deferred Compensation and Education Tuition Stipend
- Health/Wellness Perks: Flexible Spending Accounts-Health Care, Employee Assistance Program and MyHealth Connections wellness program.
SALARY RANGE: $178,200 - $217,800 / YEARLY
SNAPSHOT OF COOK COUNTY
- Serves 5.28 million residents of Chicago and its inner suburbs
- 2nd largest county in America
- Larger than 27 states
- Cook County employs over 22,000 employees who work in a variety of skilled jobs and trades.
- Nearly 80% unionized workforce
- 15 unions represented
- 63 separate collective bargaining agreements
- Highway – Cook County maintains almost 600 miles of roads and highways.
- Land – Cook County assesses the value of more than 1.5 million parcels of taxable land and collects and distributes tax funds as a service for local government taxing bodies.
- Safety – Cook County provides vital services to local government, from conducting elections in suburban areas to offering 911 services in unincorporated areas and municipalities.
LOCATION
Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, one of the most formidable business districts in the world, the area has an astounding number of cultural foundations, stunning parks such as Millennial Park and Maggie Daley Park, steps away from the Chicago Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants, and plenty of shopping! In addition, Chicago is serviced by multiple bus and train lines for public transportation from the suburbs to the city, taxis are plentiful, public parking garages for motorists, and bicycle share rentals and local bike lanes for bicyclists.
Job Summary
Manages and directs the Department of Human Resources Labor/Employee Relations Division participating as one
of the primary members of the County's labor negotiation team representing the County's interest during contract
negotiations. Responsible for the negotiation of all the collective bargaining agreements covering the County's
20,000 plus employees. Administers and executes the implementation of the terms and conditions of the
negotiated union contracts; prepares backup documents for and attends arbitration cases; presides over third-step
grievances; oversees the educational training of County supervisors as it pertains to contract administration.
Consults with the President of the County Board in a confidential capacity to advise, inform and receive directives;
and, to formulate management's position at the bargaining table.
Typical Job Duties
- Negotiates approximately all 80 of the County’s collective bargaining agreements for the majority of the County’s job classifications in order to comply with the Illinois Public labor Relations Act of 1984.
- Works closely with elected officials, union/labor officials, labor attorneys, and other to organize, schedule, and facilitate on-going negotiations, interest arbitrations, mediations, etc.
- Administers and executes the implementation of the terms and conditions of the negotiated union contracts in order to adhere to contract compliance.
- Gathers information needed, make the proper preparations and attends arbitration cases with the Special Assistant to the President for Labor so as to adequately represent the County during this process.
- Acts as a Liaison interacting with union business representatives, employees, departmental supervisors, Assistant State’s Attorneys concerning labor/employee relations issues and hearing decisions to resolve problems relating to pending grievances and issues currently in litigation or arbitration.
- Provides oversight to staff engaged in confidential third step grievance hearings for all County offices under the President of the County Board.
- Monitors the curriculum of the educational training of County department heads, managers and supervisors by the Training and Employee Development staff (Manager of Training and Development and Labor Relations Analyst III).
Required for all jobs
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Graduation from an accredited School of Law with a Juris Doctorate and
- Five (5) years of employment law, labor relations, industrial relations, or human resources experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Eight (8) years of employment law, labor relations, industrial relations, or human resources experience.
- Six (6) years of previous management experience.
- Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Thorough knowledge of Cook County Labor Relations functions, issues, policies and procedures.
- Thorough knowledge of the Illinois Labor Relations Act.
- Knowledge of conducting third step grievance hearings and arbitration cases.
- General knowledge of all existing County labor contracts and the unions representing each of those job classifications per contact.
- Skilled in negotiating with union business representatives, employees, departmental supervisors and Assistant State’s Attorneys.
- Skilled in providing direction and assistance to other County managerial and supervisory personnel relative to labor relation matters.
- Skilled in scrutinizing contract language of collective bargaining agreements.
- Good communication skills both verbally and in written form; able to interact with others in person or by telephone to explain County policies and procedures pertinent to labor relations.
Physical Requirements:
Sedentary Work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.
The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.
EMPLOYMENT TERMS
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Pursuant to the Shakman Consent Decree, Supplemental Relief Order and the Cook County Personnel Rules, this position is exempt from the County’s career service rules, is at-will and political reasons or factors may be considered when taking any employment action. As an employee in a Shakman Exempt Position, if you do not currently live in Cook County, you will have six (6) months from date of hire to establish actual residency within Cook County.
Please contact shakmanexemptapplications@cookcountyil.gov for inquiries about this position.
