Senior Labor Counsel at Cooks County Government in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

OVERVIEW

The Bureau of Human Resources seeks a Senior Labor Counsel to provide guidance

and counsel to department heads and supervisors on labor related maters including

discipline, work rules, and department organizaon. Works with outside counsel,

elected officials, and department heads in maters associated with arbitraons and

department work.

Cook County offers great benefits and the chance to parcipate in a strong tradion

of public service. Cook County is home to more than five million residents, roughly

45% of Illinois' populaon. Cook County Government provides a range of vital

services and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents across the

region. These services range from health care to urban planning. Cook County is

commited to empowering its employees to bring our constuents the best that

public service has to offer.

WHY PURSUE A CAREER WITH COOK COUNTY?

In addion to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for

career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in

the public sphere, including:

Top Tier Medical Benefits: Medical Plans, Prescripon Drug Benefit, Dental Plans, Vision Plan and 7 Addional voluntary benefit plans

Flexible Teleworking Opons Generous, Flexible Paid Time Off (13 paid designated holidays; Minimum of 10 vacaon days annually; Up to 4 personal days annually; and Paid sick

leave)

Pension Plan Financial Support Programs and Resources: Life Insurance, Flexible Spending

Accounts - Dependent Day Care, Commuter Benefits, Discounted Parking,

PSLF Eligibility, Deferred Compensaon and Educaon Tuion Spend

Health/Wellness Perks: Flexible Spending Accounts-Health Care, Employee Assistance Program and MyHealth Connecons wellness program.

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Please review carefully the Employee Benefits page. For benefits quesons contact Risk Management at 312-603-6385

or email risk.mgmt@cookcountyil.gov.

SNAPSHOT OF COOK COUNTY:

Serves 5.28 million residents of Chicago and its inner suburbs o 2nd largest county in America

o Larger than 27 states

Cook County employs over 22,000 employees who work in a variety of skilled jobs and trades. o Nearly 80% unionized workforce o 15 unions represented

o 63 separate collecve bargaining agreements

Highway - Cook County maintains almost 600 miles of roads and highways. Land - Cook County assesses the value of more than 1.5 million parcels of taxable land and collects and distributes tax funds as a service for local government taxing bodies.

Safety - Cook County provides vital services to local government, from conducng elecons in suburban areas to offering 911 services in unincorporated areas and municipalies.

LOCATION:

Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, one of the most formidable business districts in the world, the area

has an astounding number of cultural foundaons, stunning parks such as Millennial Park and Maggie Daley Park, steps

away from the Chicago Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants and plenty of shopping! In addion, Chicago is serviced

by mulple bus and train lines for public transportaon from the suburbs to the city, taxis are plenful, public parking

garages for motorist, and bicycle share rentals and local bike lanes for bicyclist.

ROLE SUMMARY

Acts as legal advisor and counsel to the County in all maters within the authority of the Bureau of Human Resources. Provides guidance and counsel to department heads and supervisors on labor related maters including discipline, work rules, and department organizaon. Works with outside counsel, elected officials, and department heads in maters associated with arbitraons and department work. Reviews hearing officers' decisions in third-step employee grievance and disciplinary maters. Consults with the Bureau Chief of Human Resources, Deputy Bureau Chief and Deputy Director in maters of highest confidenality.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Research pending legal issues and analyzes case law and facts. Reviews hearing officers' decisions in third-step employee grievance and disciplinary maters. Oversees maters related to the Employee Appeals Board and acts as Representave of the Employee Appeals Board. Counsels various Cook County departments and offices in labor relaons and employment maters such as discipline, layoffs, terminaons, transfers, and numerous other maters that may arise between Cook County management and employees/unions. Provides advice and counsel on employment related laws and maters such as the implementaon of policy and iniaves within the parameters of the CBA, grievances, arbitraons, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Affordable Care

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Act, and Equal Employment Opportunity laws. Interprets collecve bargaining agreements, County policies, and applicable laws and regulaons. Works with outside counsel and retained experts on a variety of employment related issues. Assists in the evaluaon, formaon and implementaon of policy direcves affecng employees of Cook County including but not limited to benefits, Workers Compensaon, disability, return to work maters, work rules and personnel rules. Represents Cook County before various forums. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Strong command of the rules of evidence, civil procedure, and trial advocacy, and the ability to effecvely ligate complex labor and employment issues with minimal direcon.

Skill in working directly and independently with elected officials, department heads, outside counsel, and labor groups to develop strategy pertaining to a wide range of maters, including discipline, contract interpretaon, salaries, benefits and working condions.

Knowledge of all applicable federal, state, county and local laws, rules and regulaons including those of the Illinois Labor Relaons Board and the ability to represent Cook County before various forums.

Skill in analyzing labor agreements and appropriately interpreng the terms, condions and intent represented therein.

Skill in the use of diplomacy and confidenality while communicang with arbitrators, atorneys, elected officials, department heads, management, employees, and union officials.

Ability to communicate effecvely with tact and courtesy and conduct oneself in a professional manner. Good communicaon skills; good negoaon skills; ability to convey informaon and explain or describe County policy and procedure to others.

At the direcon of the Deputy Bureau Chief, acts a liaison between the Offices Under the President and other Cook County offices and agencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduaon from an accredited School of Law with a Juris Doctorate.

Licensed to pracce law in the State of Illinois.

Five (5) years' of work experience in labor relaons, human resources, ligaon, or other related field.

Knowledge of the law pertaining to local and municipal government in Illinois, parcularly with respect to Cook County government and the Cook County Health and Hospital System.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Sedentary Work

Sedentary Work involves exerng up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to

li, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sing most of the me, but may involve

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walking or standing for brief periods of me.

The dues listed are not set forth for purposes of liming the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many dues normally to be performed under a job tle or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS

POST OFFER TESTING: This posion requires successful compleon of post-offer tests, which may include a background check, drug screen and medical examinaon.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Pursuant to the Shakman Consent Decree, Supplemental Relief Order and the Cook County Personnel Rules, this posion is exempt from the County's career service rules, is at-will and polical reasons or factors may be considered when taking any employment action. As an employee in a Shakman Exempt Posion, if you do not currently live in Cook County, you will have six (6) months from date of hire to establish actual residency within Cook County.