This is highly responsible executive level work in planning and managing the daily activities of the Employee Relations Department.

An employee in this class, pursuant to the direction of the department director, is responsible for planning and managing a wide variety of countywide employee relations activities to ensure the appropriate interpretation and application of County personnel policies and procedures as well as state and federal employment law requirements. Additionally, the Deputy Director serves as the department's primary project manager who is responsible for ensuring that all departmental projects are planned, organized, and executed in an efficient and timely manner and for identifying opportunities to implement business process change. Project management duties include overseeing the development of the project plan timeline, ensuring adherence to project plan milestones, conducting a qualitative evaluation of project results, mediating disputes, identifying opportunities for change and efficiencies, facilitating participant communication and developing periodic reports for senior management. Other responsibilities providing oversight to: centralized payroll processing and administration; collective bargaining negotiation and administration; employee appeal activities; centralized personnel services including new hire processing, compensation, recruitment, internal placement, and testing and validation; and career development functions including employee development, American with Disabilities Act compliance and employee assistance programs. The incumbent exercises considerable independent judgment in the application of advanced principles of personnel administration to the management of diversified employee relations activities, project management and in the enforcement and interpretation of rules and regulations for the classified service. Supervision is exercised over executive, professional, technical and clerical subordinates with assigned responsibilities in various phases of operations. General direction is received from the Department Director who holds the incumbent responsible for providing effective management in the achievement of departmental goals and objectives.

ILLUSTRATIVE TASKS

Plans, directs, and manages diverse departmental projects encompassing comprehensive information technology enhancements which support improved operational activities and enhanced customer service delivery; functions as a change agent for the department and develops effective implementation and communication plans to ensure the smooth countywide transition to redesigned business processes.

Develops divisional and departmental objectives; develops and recommends plans, programs, policies, procedures and methods for efficient and effective departmental administration; prepares special studies and reports as required.

Manages and supervises the administration and processing of the County payroll, recording of leave and attendance, processing of payroll deduction and benefit transactions, and handling of personnel and medical records.

Manages and coordinates the administration of negotiated collective bargaining issues, finalization of completed agreements, management of collective bargaining grievances, administering of physical examination and drug/alcohol testing programs,

and monitoring of employee drug/alcohol disciplinary actions.

Manages and coordinates centralized personnel services activities including recruitment and internal placement functions, new hire processing, compensation administration, and a testing and validation program for positions in the classified service.

Manages and coordinates the employee assistance and employee suggestion programs, providing assistance to employees displaced as a result of layoff or reorganization decisions, administering employee development programs, and coordinating County compliance with personnel- related provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Manages Countywide mediation and appeals functions including classification and performance evaluation appeals, career service grievances, job abandonment and disciplinary appeals, and appeals of decisions regarding short-term disability leave and unemployment compensation.

Advises County executives, managers, supervisors and employees concerning employee relations policies, practices and procedures.

Develops divisional and departmental goals and objectives; plans and assists in implementing new employee relations programs.

Analyzes and evaluates business processes, personnel policies, procedures and programs and makes recommendations to the Department Director for improvements, enhancements and efficiencies.

Reviews complex personnel issues and problems and prepares recommendations for their resolution or for appropriate action.

Represents the Director or the Employee Relations Department, as required, at a variety of functions and assumes responsibility for all departmental activities in the absence of the Department Director.

Attends local, state and national professional meetings and conferences to keep abreast of current developments in the human resources management field.

Monitors countywide compliance with a variety of personnel-related local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Prepares resolutions, ordinances and reports for the Board of County Commissioners and the Office of the County Manager.

Analyzes budgetary information and prepares consolidated department budget request with recommended funding priorities; assists in formulation of overall budget request submission; directs departmental fiscal activities.

Makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline and promotion of subordinates; authorizes leave and overtime; reviews performance reports prepared by subordinates and rates employee performance.

Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGES, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

Extensive knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of modern personnel management.

Extensive knowledge of personnel rules, administrative orders and Miami-Dade County policies and procedures.

Thorough knowledge of effective project management techniques.

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of modern public merit system administration.

Thorough knowledge of the mission, goals and objectives of the Employee Relations Department.

Considerable knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.

Considerable knowledge of public relations principles and techniques.

Considerable knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to departmental activities.

Ability to use advanced professional knowledge of the principles of modern personnel management to provide effective assistance to the Director, Employee Relations Department.

Ability to supervise, coordinate and direct the work of subordinates in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.

Ability to effectively coordinate and operate all departmental functions in the absence of the Department Director.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, superiors and a variety of other public and private officials.

Ability to analyze personnel policies, procedures and issues and make effective recommendations for their improvement.

Ability to interpret and explain complex personnel policies and procedures, and provisions of collective bargaining agreements.

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.

REV 01/98