City of Tampa

This is responsible supervisory work in employee and labor relations.

The Employee Relations Specialist Supervisor is responsible for planning, conducting and directing a variety of employee relations activities citywide in accordance with state and federal guidelines, legislation, accepted practices, existing arrangements and union contracts.  Assignments are of significant difficulty and require considerable initiative and independent judgment in drafting, interpreting, and implementing rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Supervises or conducts investigations and advises others in resolving complex and sensitive employee relations issues, including violations of City policies, EEOC complaints, FMLA and ADA requests, and unemployment claims.  

Coordinates administration of discipline, grievance and related activities, including attendance at departmental hearings to ensure compliance with prevailing laws and city policies, as well as consistency across City departments.  

Prepares and assists in the presentation of the City’s position in hearings including, but not limited to arbitration, the Civil Service Board, EEOC, or other appeal processes.  

Develops, conducts, and supervises subordinate training designed for supervisor and managers regarding employee relations activities; and city wide training for employees regarding ethics and other HR related matters.  

Responsible for the supervision of all activities of the City of Tampa Ethics Office, including scheduling, meeting agendas, and minutes of Ethics Commission meeting; investigations of ethics complaints; notification and receipt of various disclosure documentation.  

Supervises and instructs departments and other appropriate personnel in determination and administration of various drug-testing programs, EAP referrals, and employee compliance.  

Participates in planning, organizing and conducting collective bargaining tasks including assisting with the negotiation of labor agreements; researching, surveying and analyzing data pertinent to wages, hours, and working conditions.  

Supervises subordinate employees and recommends employment, promotion, discipline, demotion, and dismissal of assigned personnel as necessary; completes employee performance evaluations.  

Performs other duties as assigned.

Considerable knowledge of: labor-management negotiations, labor law, federal and state guidelines; municipal organization programs and activities; Human Resources administration, organization, and management principles and practices.  

Working knowledge of:  City of Tampa’s personnel processing system, statistics, and accepted principles and practices of supervision.  

Ability to: direct and supervise the work of others; compile and analyze data; prepare and submit clear, concise, and timely oral and written reports; conduct and supervise independent research; conduct interviews and analyze and evaluate data collected; establish and maintain effective working relations with labor unions, employees, officials, and the general public.  

Skill in:  negotiations, training, and public speaking with exceptional oral communication skills that include the ability to effectively explain policies and materials to employees, higher level officials, and provide testimony and presentations before investigators or other hearing officers or appeal boards; Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree (preferably a master’s) in public or business administration, with an emphasis in a human resources related field; Five (5) years of professional human resources experience with accountability for employee relations programs, labor relations and/or human resources management; Six (6) months lead or supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Possession of valid Florida driver’s license.

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.