The Coordinator of Employee Relations will play a pivotal role in supporting BOCES and participating school districts through a shared service model that provides expertise in labor relations, contract administration, and personnel management. This position offers a unique opportunity to assist multiple districts in fostering constructive labor-management relationships, resolving grievances, and ensuring compliance with education and civil service law. The successful candidate will be a trusted advisor, collaborator, and advocate for fairness, committed to strengthening organizational stability across districts. Reporting to the Deputy Superintendent and working closely with district leadership and legal counsel, the Coordinator of Employee Relations will deliver consistent, high-quality support that meets the diverse needs of component districts.

Salary: $90,000 - $110,000 based on education and experience

Benefits include generous paid time off, exceptional insurance benefits (including health, dental, vision, and disability), NYS retirement, and continuing education assistance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The following list is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required by the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Primary Responsibilities:

Assist BOCES and participating school districts in collective bargaining negotiations, contract administration, and interpretation.

Provide advisory services to district leadership on labor management practices, grievances, and arbitration.

Represent districts’ positions in mediation, fact-finding, legislative hearings, and unfair labor practice proceedings before the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB).

Coordinate with assigned attorneys to ensure rapid, accurate, and effective legal support.

Report to the Deputy Superintendent and Chief School Administrators on contract administration, personnel matters, and relevant court or agency rulings.

Conduct mediation and fact-finding sessions, preparing management positions for hearings.

Analyze precedents and employment practices to develop negotiation strategies and counter-proposals.

Promote constructive labor-management relationships across districts.

Assist districts in grievance and arbitration procedures, recommending constructive courses of action.

Consult with Boards of Education and Superintendents to determine changes, additions, or deletions to contractual agreements.

Draft and interpret contract language to ensure clarity and compliance.

Support districts in disciplinary proceedings under Civil Service Law Section 75 and Education Law Section 3020-a.

Provide training and workshops for administrators and Board members as needed.

Maintain reference files including contracts, rules, regulations, PERB decisions, and arbitration outcomes.

Assume other duties, projects, and responsibilities as assigned by the Deputy Superintendent and district leadership.

The Coordinator of Employee Relations will possess the following minimum qualities, qualifications, skills, and/or abilities:

Bachelor’s Degree in labor relations or related field and at least three years of experience in labor management relations, including negotiations, grievances, and arbitration; OR Master’s Degree in labor relations or related field and at least two years of experience in labor management relations, including negotiations, grievances, and arbitration;

Public sector HR/labor relations experience (education experience preferred but broader public sector experience acceptable).

Knowledge of education law, civil service law, and the Taylor Law.

Experience negotiating under the Taylor Law (preferred).

Supervisory or leadership experience in labor relations (preferred).

Bilingual ability (preferred).

Excellent organizational and analytical abilities.

A clear communicator in both oral and written language, including electronic communication.

Evidence of diplomacy, integrity, and an open, collaborative leadership style that fosters teamwork and common purpose.

Proven people skills and ability to build positive, respectful relationships.

Willingness to be an active, engaged, collaborative, and visible team member.

Ability to interpret and administer public employee contracts, conduct statistical analysis, and draft clear agreements.

Capacity to manage multiple urgent issues in a fast-paced environment.