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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50689051 |
Description Activated On: 2/5/2026 1:52:15 PM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. Performs human resource work in the field of Employee Relations for the Department of Health. The work includes consultation, grievance processing, investigation of disciplinary actions, conducting Labor Management meetings, providing training and other employee relations issues. Serves as a point of contact and expert resource for managers and supervisors. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Provides guidance and consultation to all levels of management regarding contract interpretation and administration; disciplinary actions; subcontracting and preservation of bargaining unit work issues; meet and discuss obligations and local agreements; the Governor's Code of Conduct; and all other facets of the employee relations function. Assists management in the proper application and administration of the provisions of all contracts and memoranda of understanding that cover the agency's represented employees, as well as the associated side letters and any local agreements that may exist. Conducts investigations into complaints of alleged employee policy violations, work performance concerns, time and attendance issues, inappropriate work conduct, etc. Prepares written reports and makes verbal briefings in regard to findings and recommendations. Responds to program office disciplinary requests for approval of actions in accordance with prevailing departmental policy and providing guidance and direction as necessary to ensure that the tenets of just cause and due process are satisfied in carrying out a disciplinary program that is consistent with department and commonwealth policies and objectives. Analyzes proposed disciplinary actions; recommends approval/denial of discharge, certain suspensions or disciplinary demotion to supervisor; and critiques lesser disciplinary actions. Drafts Pre-Disciplinary Conference (PDC) Notices. Takes the lead in the conduct of PDCs. Prepares discipline letters for Human Resource Manager signature. Reviews, investigates, analyzes, and responds to all assigned grievances in both the Standard Grievance Procedure (SGP) and Accelerated Grievance Procedure (AGP). In the SGP, gathers, reviews, and analyzes relevant facts and information in order to determine the appropriate stance to be taken by the Department concerning the issues involved. Determines the method by which all required information is gathered, the necessity of hearings at the appropriate step of the applicable grievance process and conducts those hearings when required. Provides technical assistance regarding all aspects of standard grievance processing to local management. In the AGP, maintains familiarity with grievances that are to be, and have been, discussed at the Step 1 (local) meeting; provides technical assistance to local management to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities in the AGP; assists local management in the development and formulation of strategies to be utilized in presentation of the grievance at the various steps of the process; and reviews grievance packages and local outcomes to ensure adherence to sound and essential employee relations concepts and principles. In both the SGP and AGP, recognizes issues and developments that represent potential areas of difficulty for the worksite, the department, and/or the commonwealth; discusses grievances and associated issues with program offices and other representatives; negotiates settlements and generates all necessary correspondence related to the grievance process. Attends the Joint Area and/or Joint State Committee grievance hearings and serves as the advocate, co-advocate, or member of the hearing panels as assigned; and assists with, prepares, and/or presents the commonwealth's case at arbitration. Coordinates the efforts between the Bureau of Employee Relations, with those of the section, program offices, and local management. Provides guidance and assistance to managers in administering the contract provisions concerning contracting and/or the transfer of bargaining unit work, and serves, as necessary, as the agency representative on the appeal committees established by these contract provisions. As assigned, assists in the preparation/presentation of the Commonwealth's case at arbitration. Ensures any follow-up action resulting from the arbitration decision is implemented timely. Participates in special projects and investigations and carries out associated functions as assigned. As assigned, represents the Department in appeal forums, meetings with other agencies, and other contexts. Develops, coordinates, and participates in the presentation of the agency's employee relations training programs. Conducts training/briefing sessions for agency managers regarding the interpretation and application of new provisions when new collective bargaining agreements are negotiated. Chairs and/or participates in the various meet and discuss sessions involving the unions and program offices. Coordinates the issues to be discussed and the positions that will be taken by agency officials in those meetings. Negotiates with unions the extension of employee CBA probationary periods; prepares and signs said agreements. Drafts letters to employees informing them of CBA and Civil Service probationary period extensions. Coordinates completion of probationary period extension PARs. Reviews, analyzes, and critiques employee relations policy proposals presented by program offices and recommends for appropriate action/disposition. Assists in the development and promulgation of agency employee relations' policies. Reviews proposed local agreements and recommends their approval/denial to supervisor. Provides advice and assistance to local managers during their negotiation of these agreements with union officials. Investigates Unfair Labor Practices (UFLP) and coordinates the efforts of the Office General Office, the section, and affected program offices to develop appropriate settlement proposals and/or assist in the preparation/presentation of the Commonwealth's case before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. The status of the UFLP is monitored to ensure that effective communications are maintained between, and among, the involved parties. Recommends actions aimed at preventing recurrences of the instant issue and the commission of UFLPs in general. Assists legal staff in the preparation of responses to UFLPs. Testifies at UFLP hearings as needed. Serves as an agency representative on the commonwealth's collective bargaining teams responsible for negotiating contracts/developing memoranda of understanding with various unions. Understands the department's position on all issues, communicating the same to the bargaining team, and apprising section/division/department officials of the status of talks and associated issues. Reviews, analyzes, and critiques commonwealth and union contract proposals and offers suggestions to the department. Conducts and participates in meetings with department officials and others, as necessary, on matters related to negotiations. Searches records and history pertaining to precedent setting contractual agreements, arbitration awards, court decisions, technological changes, accreditation/certification, and legal requirements, as appropriate. Analyzes and evaluates information; compares data for consistency with established standards; maintains appropriate documentation of information; prepares records of technical findings, conclusions, and recommendations; considers options and determines cost-effective alternatives; and writes and submits technical documents, plans, recommendations, and comprehensive reports supporting or advocating appropriate action plans for necessary approvals and implementation. Coordinates, monitors, and/or finalizes implementation procedures for approved actions, such as grievance settlements, briefings, agreements, policies, etc., with affected program offices, unions, and/or employees as appropriate. Assists legal staff with the preparation for State Civil Service Commission (SCSC) hearings. Testifies at SCSC hearings as necessary. Assists legal staff in the preparation of written response to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Attends fact-finding meetings, mediation sessions, etc. as needed. Consults with Equal Employment Opportunity staff on various employee issues including, but not limited to, allegations of discrimination, harassment and/or hostile work environment issues. Refers matters appropriately to, and coordinates with, the ADA Coordinator. Acts upon arrest notifications to comply with the Governor’s Code of Conduct by collecting information from law enforcement and judicial agencies and taking appropriate action as necessary including disciplinary action as appropriate. Coordinates and monitors assigned program area unemployment compensation (UC) claims. This requires frequent, clear and timely communication with other HR staff, Office of General Counsel, and staff of the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) for UC claims. Maintains records, data, case histories, correspondence, and statistics to provide input for changes in the UC contract to effect improvement and cost reduction. Completes TPA Complaint Form and process accordingly as the result of poor and/or unsatisfactory service by TPA and/or its agents. Prepare claim histories and recommendations for annual claim review. Prepares weekly UC separations report and provides to TPA. Tracks status of hearings and ensures that the hearing representative has all information required to adequately defend the Department's position when UC claims are challenged. Ensures that the agency representative at the hearing is properly prepared to defend the Department's position. Represents agency at hearings and testifies as necessary. Performs and coordinates various administrative functions and other related duties as assigned. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Incumbent in this position utilizes considerable initiative and independence to make recommendations and decisions for employee relations activities. This includes investigations, resolving grievances, representing the department in meetings with the union, advising managers in disciplinary matters, advocating on behalf of the department and acting as a decision-making panel member at various steps of the AGP, and advocating on behalf of the department at hearings. Keeps the manager informed of the status of work assignments and discusses with the supervisor significant decisions, issues and initiatives on an as needed basis. Work is reviewed by the supervisor through formal and informal individual conferences/meetings, reports, correspondence, and through results obtained. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. N/A 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. N/A 5. N/A 6. N/A |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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