Summary

This job is for a senior expert in employee and labor relations who advises county departments on handling tough workforce issues, builds strong ties with unions, and helps create better systems for managing employees from hiring to retirement.

It's perfect for someone experienced in public sector work who loves innovating, coaching leaders, and turning challenges into long-term improvements.

You'll play a key role in transforming how a large government organization supports its thousands of workers.

Key Requirements

Extensive experience in labor relations, including complex contract negotiations and administration
Proven ability to supervise professional and clerical staff in a labor relations program
Strong skills in strategic advising and consulting with department leaders on labor challenges
Expertise in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with unions
Knowledge of developing tools, processes, and frameworks to enhance employee experience and manager capabilities
Ability to use data-driven insights for anticipating risks and driving continuous improvement
Passion for innovating in the public sector and designing systems that shape organizational culture

Full Job Description

The Employee and Labor Relations (ELR) Department within the County of Santa Clara’s Employee Services Agency is embarking on a groundbreaking transformation to redefine what employee and labor relations can look like in the public sector.

For the first time, we are building a true strategic business partner model—one that elevates ELR from a reactive function into a proactive, insight-driven, and collaborative force shaping organizational strategy.

We are assembling an extraordinary team of innovators, builders, and strategic thinkers who want to do more than maintain systems—they want to reinvent them.

This is a rare opportunity to help design the future of employee and labor relations in a large, complex, and mission-driven organization. You will influence how leaders lead, how departments partner, how unions collaborate, and how employees experience the County for generations to come.

If you’re a high-performing ELR professional who is ready for a transformative career moment—this is the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

THE ROLE: PRINCIPAL LABOR PARTNER

The Principal Labor Partner is a senior, highly visible strategic advisor who will guide County departments through complex labor challenges and major organizational initiatives while strengthening collaboration with union partners.

This role is more than traditional labor relations—it's an opportunity to architect systems, shape culture, and design solutions that elevate the employee experience across an entire organization of thousands.

You will help operationalize the Employee Services Agency’s North Star—an excellent employee experience from recruitment to retirement—by building capability in managers, coaching leaders, anticipating risks, and developing the tools, templates, and frameworks that define how the County engages with its workforce.

WHY THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY

• Lead a first-of-its-kind transformation

• Influence systems that outlast you

• Innovate in the public sector

• Be a strategic influencer

• Strengthen labor collaboration

• Improve the employee experience

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Partnership & Consultation

• Union Relationship-Building

• Employee Experience & Manager Capability

• Systems, Tools & Process Modernization

• Data-Driven Insight & Continuous Improvement

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

You are someone who builds credibility quickly with both leaders and unions, communicates with clarity and empathy, anticipates challenges, enjoys process and systems design, and is passionate about transforming public-sector labor relations.

JOIN US

This is a pivotal moment for the County—and for ELR. If you are ready to lead, innovate, collaborate, and make a lasting impact, we invite you to apply.

Under direction, to plan, organize, coordinate and direct the day to day operations of the labor relations program, including the supervision of subordinate professional and clerical staff; and/or to be responsible on a continuing basis for the largest, most complex, sensitive, and difficult labor contract negotiations and administration.

Requirements

When assigned responsibility for supervision of the day to day activities of the labor relations program:

Serves as the chair of a County negotiating committee, typically for complex or sensitive units/organizations;
Coordinates, assigns and directs other negotiations chairs;
Plans, assigns, directs and reviews the work of Labor Relations staff in the day-to-day operations of the labor relations program;
Responsible for county-wide grievance handling, disciplinary appeals and arbitrations;
Represents the Deputy County Executive at meetings of the Board of Supervisors, Department/Agency Heads, committees, outside groups and labor organizations;
Effectively recommends selection/retention and discipline of subordinate staff;
Trains, develops and evaluates staff;
Provides technical resources to subordinate staff;
Assists with departmental budget control and planning;
May function as staff advocate in complex hearings or arbitrations;
Participates in resolution of complex grievances, disciplinary issues, contract negotiations or disputes;
Recommends improvement in delivery of labor relations services;

When assigned responsibility for the most complex, sensitive, and difficult labor contract negotiations and administration:

Performs the tasks performed by Labor Relations Representative but at the high level consistent with the higher level of responsibility of the Principal Labor Relations Representative;
May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker as required;
Performs other related work as required.

Qualifications

Sufficient, education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge, skills and abilities.

Training and Experience Note: The knowledge and abilities required to perform this function are acquired through training and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university,

AND

Five (5) years of professional level analytical experience of which three (3) years are in the field of labor relations as an agency-wide (e.g. city/county) representative.

Experience in the public sector is desirable.

Possession of a valid California Driver's License prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.

Knowledge of:

Laws relating to labor relations with an emphasis on the public sector;
Techniques of dispute resolution;
Grievance handling and administration;
Current labor relations practices, trends and major problems in the public sector;
Principles of supervision;
Principles of budgeting;
Principles of organization and management;
Modern office practices, methods, and computer applications related to the work.

Ability to:

Work under extreme pressure;
Represent the County in administrative hearings and arbitrations;
Plan, organize, direct and evaluate subordinate staff;
Effectively advise and train County managers on matters related to Labor Relations;
Delegate duties while retaining accountability;
Train and develop staff;
Reason logically and creatively;
Resolve complex disputes;
Negotiate complex labor contracts demonstrating proficiency and command of all aspects of the process;
Communicate effectively through clear and concise written correspondence and oral presentations.

⚠ Possibly Stale

Principal Labor Relations Representative

Job Description

Summary

Key Requirements

Full Job Description

Requirements

Qualifications

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