DEPUTY CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER/DIRECTOR, LABOR RELATIONS (DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RELATIONS) [...]

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.

Location

Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, the position offers proximity to the city’s business and cultural centers.

Salary Range

$178,200 - $217,800 per year.

Benefits

• Top Tier Medical Benefits: Medical Plans, Prescription Drug Benefit, Dental Plans, Vision Plan and nine additional voluntary benefit plans
• Flexible Teleworking Options
• Generous, Flexible Paid Time Off (13 paid designated holidays; a 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.

Job Summary

Manages and directs the Department of Human Resources Labor/Employee Relations Division, participating as a primary member of the County's labor negotiation team representing the County’s interests 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 formulates 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 compliance with the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act of 1984.
• Works closely with elected officials, union/labor officials, labor attorneys, and others to organize, schedule, and facilitate ongoing negotiations, interest arbitrations, mediations, etc.
• Administers and executes the implementation of the terms and conditions of negotiated union contracts to ensure contract compliance.
• Gathers information, prepares, and attends arbitration cases with the Special Assistant to the President for Labor to represent the County adequately.
• Acts as a liaison interacting with union business representatives, employees, departmental supervisors, and Assistant State’s Attorneys on labor/employee relations issues and hearing decisions to resolve problems related to pending grievances and 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited School of Law with a Juris Doctorate.
• 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 prior 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 job classification per contract.
• 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 regarding 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

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.

For inquiries about this position, please contact [email protected].