Principal Employee & Labor Relations Analyst

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.


Why join the City of Oakland's Human Resources Management Department?

Situated at the heart of the Bay Area, the City of Oakland is a vibrant, diverse, and exciting place to work. It is easily accessible, on the forefront of Race and Equity work, and a full-service organization with many innovative community services.

This is the best time to join our team! The Human Resources Department is filling positions vacated due to internal promotions and newly added positions to support the growing need for services. We are under stable leadership and in the early stages of transforming our services and delivery model. Your unique experiences will be an important contribution to our success. Oakland is a learning organization, committed to developing talent and growing our own!

Oakland maintains a workforce of 4,500+ employees and works with six collective bargaining groups. This year, Oakland’s labor agreements with miscellaneous and safety groups opened for successor bargaining; this role will play a meaningful part in preparing proposals, costing, and management strategy to support the City’s negotiations and long-term organizational health.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Analytical, data-driven, and fiscally savvy. You’ll develop negotiation strategies, prepare cost estimates for proposals, and analyze complex organizational and personnel data to support sound decisions.
• A strategic negotiator and collaborator. You’ll represent management in complex labor negotiations and facilitate fair, productive outcomes across diverse stakeholders.
• A trusted advisor. You’ll consult with managers, executives, and the City Attorney’s Office on disciplinary actions, grievances, contract interpretation, and organizational effectiveness.
• An effective supervisor and coach. You’ll assign, review, and coordinate work; build team capacity; and develop staff through training, feedback, and accountability.
• A strong relationship builder and communicator. You’ll work across departments and with employee organizations to build trust, resolve conflict, and maintain high-quality labor-management relationships.
• Organized and results-driven. You balance multiple priorities, deliver timely and accurate work products, and uphold confidentiality and professional integrity.
• Adaptable and resilient. You can navigate complex policy, legal, and political environments, respond to urgent issues (including potential after-hours calls), and remain steady under pressure.
• Committed to equity. You model fairness, consistency, and accountability—and consider race and equity impacts in decision-making.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Labor negotiations: Represent management in difficult and complex collective bargaining to establish wages, benefits, and working conditions. Including coordinating the development and presentation of City positions and strategies and preparing comprehensive labor proposals.
• Consultation & conflict resolution: Advise managers and executives on disciplinary procedures, contract interpretation, grievances, personnel rules, labor law, and related issues. Resolving grievances through informal and formal processes.
• Executive partnership: Provide consultation to the City Attorney, City Administrator, and department leaders regarding employee relations processes, City policies, and procedures.
• Leadership & supervision: Assign, review, and coordinate the work of subordinate staff. Supervise and train professional, technical, and clerical staff; conduct performance evaluations; implement corrective or disciplinary actions as appropriate; participate in selection and onboarding.
• Policy & contract administration: Prepare MOUs, ordinances, resolutions, policy statements, and administrative instructions to implement negotiated terms. Interpret and apply regulations and City policies consistently.
• Data, analysis & reporting: Prepare, analyze, and maintain records, reports, studies, and statistical findings to inform strategies and decisions.
• Organizational development: Coach and develop staff; support initiatives that improve employee engagement, retention, and organizational health.

Read the complete job description by clicking here.* Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland! *Working for the City of Oakland
A few reasons you might love this job:

• Your work will directly shape positive labor-management relationships and support City departments in delivering high-impact services to Oakland’s communities.
• You’ll partner with thoughtful leaders and colleagues who value collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• You’ll have access to excellent learning opportunities in labor relations, leadership, and supervision.
• As a full-service City, Oakland will continually provide variety and complexity that keeps the work challenging and rewarding.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• Navigating complex rules, policies, and public-sector labor laws while balancing competing priorities and urgent matters.
• Guiding customers through nuanced policy and contract application in a unionized environment.
• Managing sensitive, high-stakes situations where confidentiality, sound judgment, and timely action are essential.
• Balancing strategic negotiations with day-to-day operational needs, including supervising and developing staff.

Competencies Required:

• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Managing Organizational Complexity: Maneuvering through complex political situations and functions within the organization
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Negotiating: Reaching mutually satisfying agreements and compromise
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Involving Others (Engaging Teams): Engaging others for input, contribution, and shared responsibility for outcomes
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new and better ways of doing things
• Coaching & Developing Others: Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
• Leadership: Guiding and encouraging others to accomplish a common goal
• Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue

The following qualifications are guidelines, as the appointing authority has broad discretion in filling positions in this classification.Experience:Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience, including at least three years performing professional labor and/or employee relations duties. Experience working in a public sector agency is highly desirable.

(Note: Professional Human Resources experience is defined as performing duties that require analysis, interpretation, independence of judgment, and application of principles, practices, and regulations.)
Education: Bachelor's degree, from an accredited college or university, in labor and employee relations, human resources management, industrial psychology, social sciences, public administration, business management, or a closely related field. A Master's degree is highly desirable.
Note: Successful incumbents in this job are expected to operate automotive vehicles in the performance of the assigned duties. Due to the nature of the assignment and the hours worked, public transportation may not be a cost-effective or efficient method for traveling to the various locations required.
Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver’s License throughout the tenure of employment.Special requirements:Special qualifications for individual positions may be established including specialized knowledge, abilities, education and experience.Additionally, this position may require the ability to serve on-call, 24 hours a day to in response to potentially threatening situations.
This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules. All applications received will be forwarded to the Employee Relations division for further consideration.

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration, only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

What’s in it for you?

• Work/Life Balance:37.5-hour work weeks.
• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation:2 weeks per year minimum, with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement:CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health:The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans.
• Dental:Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision:VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave:Employees accrue 12 days per year.
• Deferred Compensation:457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers
All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply
Apply prior to the closing time of this job announcement and allow at least 3 hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. Applications are accepted online only. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage.

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Nora Knapp, Employee Relations Manager,nknapp@oaklandca.gov.