CHIEF OF LABOR RELATIONS

DESCRIPTION

This recruitment is open to current City of Long Beach employees only. Chief of Labor Relations Flyer

THE COMMUNITY

Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and I've golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best-value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America's Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.

THE CITY GOVERNMENT

Long Beach, a charter city formed in 1897, is governed by nine City Council Members elected by district and a city-wide elected Mayor. Other elected officials include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The elected officials are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Water and Energy Resources Departments. In 2019, the City of Long Beach and Plenary Properties Long Beach unveiled the completion of the new four-building Long Beach Civic Center, which includes a new City Hall and Port Administration Building. The tree-lined pedestrian plaza is reflective of an innovative public-private partnership and the Civic Center is designed to revitalize the civic core of downtown to serve residents, attract visitors, and provide safe and efficient city operations. The City is supported by a FY 2024 total budget of approximately $3.3 billion with a General Fund budget of $719 million. More than 6,000 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the vast majority being represented by twelve employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov .

THE DEPARTMENT

The Human Resources Department provides the full range of human resources support services to 22 departments throughout the City. HR's services include labor relations, employee relations, benefits, training, salary and classification administration, HRIS administration, oversight of personnel investigations, EEO compliance, occupational health services, risk management, workers compensation, and safety compliance. The Department of Human Resources is responsible for labor relations with the City's eleven (11) recognized employee organizations, which cover 23 different bargaining units and represent over 6,000 City employees. The Department is committed to fostering positive alliances between labor and management, working together to improve internal collaboration, employee involvement, morale, and customer service in the City. Human Resources also manages the grievance procedures throughout the City as outlined in the City's Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with its labor unions. See the City's full list of unions here: https://www.longbeach.gov/hr/about-us/labor-relations/

Mission Statement:

The Human Resources Department strategically supports the City and its departments in attracting, developing, and retaining a highly skilled and diverse workforce.

Vision:

Make Long Beach an employer of choice through a commitment to service and excellence.

THE POSITION

The City of Long Beach seeks a Chief of Labor Relations (Chief) to lead labor relations with the City's eleven (11) recognized employee organizations, which cover 23 different bargaining units and represent over 6,000 City employees. The Chief will oversee five staff, a budget of roughly $1.24 million, and will have a strong understanding of the principles, practices, and techniques of public sector collective bargaining under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, in addition to personnel/HR administration, employee relations, recruitment, classification and compensation, labor relations, progressive discipline, Civil Service employment, ADA/interactive process, FMLA, FLSA, EEO compliance, and training and development. They will have a background in working with unions and, ideally, supporting or participation in negotiating labor contracts. The City is looking for a strong leader who can serve as an executive member of the Human Resources Department and provide counsel to the City's management team on a variety of labor issues. The next Chief will have exemplary relationship-building skills, as this role involves maintaining effective working relationships with labor union representatives, department management personnel, public officials, and employees. They will provide guidance and lead the City's labor negotiations and meet & confer processes. If you are a strategic thinker, have a strong grasp of labor relations, and want to work in an intellectually stimulating role, apply today!

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will have labor relations and contract negotiation experience. They will use a high degree of accuracy, independent judgment, and discretionary decision-making with respect to interpretation of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), the Employer-Employee Relations Resolution, and Public Employment Relations Board rulings, in addition to City of Long Beach policies and procedures. The successful candidate will enjoy the autonomy this position allows, along with the unique challenges of working with 11 labor unions. They will be results-oriented, flexible to change, and customer-service-focused. The next Chief will also have the ability to analyze complex HR issues and use strategic thinking to develop sound and creative solutions. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal skills and establish effective working relationships with department managers, public officials, employees, and their representatives, as well as City employees and the public. The ideal candidate will also… Demonstrate resourcefulness. Be a strong communicator, with exemplary verbal, writing, and listening skills. Possess a working knowledge of federal and state employment and labor law, Civil Service Rules, and human resources policies and procedures. Convey complex guidelines, labor contracts, codes, regulations, and policies and procedures in simple language. Serve as a spokesperson and represent City management in small and large group settings. Be comfortable working in situations that may be confrontational and adversarial. Have strong analytical abilities and administrative skills and be capable of strategic and independent decision-making. Upcoming Challenges and Opportunities Leading the City with several complex and high profile meet and confers Providing career development for the dedicated and eager labor team Creating effective relationships with highly engaged unions Negotiating the renewal and implementation of MOUs with the City's Miscellaneous bargaining uni ts

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE EDUCATION

Graduation from an accredited university or college with a bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a directly related field

EXPERIENCE

Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in human resources. Three (3) years o f full-time experience working in a management or supervisory capacity

DESIRABLES A

Professional in Human Resources (PHR), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR) Senior Certified Professional

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on July 15th, 2026 . To be considered, please submit an online application, including a resume, and proof of education in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. For questions regarding this recruitment, please call (562) 570-7008. The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We value diversity in our workforce and are committed to creating a workplace where every employee is respected and included. We strive to reflect the diversity of our community at all levels of the organization, advance equity, and inclusion through our work with staff and community partners, and promote transparency by publishing workforce demographic information, including diversity and pay data by race and gender. The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-7008. The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov).