OCJ - Senior Employment and Labor Relations Counsel

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE
CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: SENIOR EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR RELATIONS COUNSEL
DEPARTMENT: HUMAN RESOURCES
GRADE: 22
SALARY: $140,594 OR COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE
LOCATION: 69 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Job Summary and Duties: The Senior Employment and Labor Relations Counsel is employed by the Office of the Chief Judge and reports to the Human Resources Administrator The position requires a high degree of integrity and discretion, the interpersonal skills to interact cordially and professionally with court staff, union representatives, justice partners, and the public, and the ability to contribute as a member of the Human Resources team.

The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Employment and Labor Relations Counsel include, but are not limited to:

• Advise management in all departments under the administrative authority of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County with respect to compliance with federal, state and local labor and employment laws and collective bargaining agreements with the unions representing employees in all departments under the administrative authority of the Chief Judge, including implementation of compliance protocols;
• Represent management as counsel in arbitration and administrative hearings for departments under the administrative authority of the Chief Judge;
• Participate in development, review and update of employment policies and procedures;
• Collaborate with outside counsel as required;
• Serve as hearing officer for grievances filed at the Chief Judge’s level by unions representing employees within the departments under the administrative authority of the Chief Judge;
• Investigate employee or other complaints alleging illegal discrimination and/or sexual harassment and other wrongdoing alleged to violate federal, state and local laws, and take appropriate action including issuing discipline or referring to other agencies for further action;
• Conduct training for employees on Office of the Chief Judge policies and other matters impacting employees;
• Represent management as directed in collective bargaining and labor-management meetings;
• In conjunction with other Human Resources staff, negotiate and draft documents such as settlement agreements, memoranda, position statements, grievance responses, and responses to agency complaints on behalf of management;
• Serve as the Court Disability Coordinator or otherwise collaborate with or advise the Court Disability Coordinator on accommodation requests made under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act within the court system;
• Such other duties as may be assigned.

The duties listed are not set forth for the purpose of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the duties to be performed under the job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree.
• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in Illinois.
• Minimum of 3 years of legal experience in litigation, arbitration, and other adversarial proceedings strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to work as a team player and integrate with legal and non-legal personnel.

• Experience applying federal statutes impacting employees, including FMLA, Americans with Disabilities Act Titles I and II, FLSA, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act strongly preferred.

Other Requirements:

Working conditions/physical requirements:

• • Ability to sit or stand at a desk in viewing a computer screen for long periods of time.
  • Ability move around the office suite, courthouse, and elsewhere, and ability to

travel to various court locations, as required.

• • Ability to intermittently twist to reach equipment and supplies.
  • Ability to perform simple grasping and fine manipulation.
  • Strength to lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
  • Ability to use a telephone and computer.

This position requires a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all required screening criteria.
Applicants are advised that as a Drug Free Workplace, use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment.

Information concerning the benefits for this position can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page .

Please apply by filling out the application at our Career Page .

THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.