Labor Relations Specialist II/III, Grade N23/N26

Labor Relations Specialist II/III, Grade N23/N26

Salary

$89,721.00 - $144,272.00 Annually

Location

101 Monroe St Rockville MD 20850 USA

Job Type

Permanent

Job Number

2026-00590

Department

Office of Labor Relations

Division

OLR 26 Labor Relations Division

Opening Date

10/06/2026

Closing Date

10/20/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About the Position

Please note: The salary range below represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be as follows, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

• Labor Relations Specialist II, Grade 23: $78,929 - $102,514
• Labor Relations Specialist III, Grade 26: $89,721 - $116,996

Positions underfilled as a Labor Relations Specialist II, Grade N23 - after an employee successfully completes the probationary period of the Labor Specialist II position and demonstrates they are full-performance and meet the minimum requirements of the Proficiency Advancement process, the employee will then be eligible for a non-competitive promotion to the Labor Relations Specialist III, Grade N26.

WHO WE ARE

The Office of Labor Relations (OLR) is committed to fostering effective, collaborative, and productive relationships between the County, its union partners, and its employees. OLR provides guidance and support on complex labor and employee relations matters while promoting fairness, consistency, accountability, and trust throughout the organization.

In our daily work, Labor and Employee Relations professionals:

• Negotiate and administer collective bargaining agreements and support effective labor-management relations.
• Manage joint labor-management programs, committees, initiatives, and activities.
• Administer processes for addressing workplace disputes, grievances, complaints, and appeals.
• Provide guidance regarding employee relations matters involving bargaining and non-bargaining unit employees.
• Advise managers and supervisors regarding disciplinary and adverse actions and applicable contractual and personnel requirements.
• Conduct research and analysis of collective bargaining agreements, personnel regulations, labor laws, policies, procedures, and past practices.
• Facilitate conflict resolution, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolution processes.
• Develop and deliver training and educational programs for supervisors, managers, and administrative professionals.
• Implements changes to personnel policy and personnel regulations.
• Utilize technology platforms to maintain accurate records, track assignments, and support labor relations activities.
• Collect and analyze workforce information to identify trends and support organizational decision-making.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Office of Labor Relations is currently recruiting mid-level and experienced Labor Relations Specialists who are interested in applying their professional expertise in a dynamic local government environment and contributing to an effective and collaborative labor relations program.

The ideal candidate must have a proactive approach to their work and have a willingness to effectuate solutions and improvements. This candidate will be able to draw on their analytical abilities, communication skills, and professional experience (ideally from prior collective bargaining and labor relations roles) to assist the Office of Labor Relations to build, improve, and maintain a model labor relations program. In their day-to-day engagements, this candidate takes an interest-based and collaborative approach to their interactions, work, and ideas.

Highly successful Labor Relations Specialists routinely:

• Conduct extensive research and analysis of collective bargaining agreements, personnel regulations, labor and employment laws, policies, procedures, and past practices.
• Develop well-reasoned positions, proposals, recommendations, and action plans based on sound judgment, risk assessment, and organizational objectives.
• Represent the County in collective bargaining and labor-management activities with our union partners*.
• Independently manage multiple assignments involving sensitive and complex employee and labor relations matters.
• Conduct high-quality grievance hearings, mediations, investigations, and other dispute-resolution processes.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, clients, union representatives, negotiating teams, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate complex labor and employee relations issues clearly, professionally, and persuasively.
• Exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive employee and labor relations matters.
• Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association (MCVFRA), and UFCW Local 1994 Municipal & County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO).

What Youll Be Doing

Labor Relations Specialists are assigned the following major categories of work:

Collective Bargaining

Participate in the development and implementation of the collective bargaining strategy in the negotiation of labor agreements, sometimes within highly stressful circumstances and timeframes.

Grievances

Administer the County's grievance processes, ensuring the County and collectively bargained procedures are met and documented.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Advise management on adverse actions and conduct meetings with union and legal representatives to negotiate resolutions.

Conflict Facilitation, Training, and other related/assigned duties

Facilitate Labor Management Relations Committee (LMRC) meetings, create and implement trainings, determine bargaining unit designations for positions.

Duties to support these functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Interpreting Collective Bargaining Agreements and Regulations: Conducting reviews of adverse actions proposed by departments to ensure compliance with union contracts, Personnel Regulations, Administrative Procedures, and departmental policies.
• Employee and Labor Relations: Meeting with employees, department representatives, and union representatives to address and resolve complaints and grievances.
• Grievance Administration and Mediation: Conducting grievance hearings and mediations and preparing final grievance decisions for review and signature by the Chief Labor Relations Officer.
• Collective Bargaining: Leading department-level bargaining and supporting collective bargaining activities, including research, negotiation documentation, drafting contract language, coordinating bargaining logistics, and facilitating post-negotiation review and implementation.
• Research and Training: Conducting research on labor and employee relations issues and developing and delivering labor relations training.
• Labor-Management Programs and Initiatives: Coordinating, administering, and supporting labor programs and activities, including coordinating and leading joint labor-management committees and initiatives.

Work is performed with considerable independence and latitude but is subject to administrative review and approval by the Chief Labor Relations Officer, Deputy Chief Labor Relations Officer, senior staff members, or designee(s). These positions require the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office, and sometimes for additional work hours that fall outside of our normal work schedules.

• During periods of term bargaining, Labor Relations Specialists are required to work outside of normal business hours. This may include working very late nights during the week, weekend hours, and additional hours in excess of 40 per week. The duration of this requirement is approximately 2 weeks per year.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

If filled at Labor Relations Specialist III: Three (3) years of professional experience related to labor/employee relations or a directly related field.

If filled at Labor Relations Specialist II: Two (2) years of professional experience related to labor/employee relations or a directly related field.

Both Levels:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelors Degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Medical Protocol: This position requires completion of a pre-employment Medical History Form to assess your ability to safely perform the essential duties of the role.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

• Experience in labor-management negotiations/collective bargaining activities, ideally with Police, Firefighter, and/or Public Employee unions.
• Union-side experience, including but not limited to representational and collective bargaining activities
• Experience administering conflict facilitation or alternative dispute resolution programs.
• Experience providing guidance and training to employees and/or managers on a full range of labor relations issues.
• Experience developing, interpreting, and implementing labor policies, labor contract provisions and personnel regulations.
• Experience in labor and employee relations within a local government agency.
• Experience writing labor contract provisions, grievance decisions, or similar types of documents.
• Experience in drafting documents necessary for disciplinary actions and in the administration of progressive discipline.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicants responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the Countys "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriffs office) are subject to the Countys ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits

01

What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Juris Doctor
• Doctorate

02

How many years of professional experience do you have in labor relations and/or employee relations or a directly related field?

• No Experience
• 1 Year Experience
• 2 Years Experience
• 3 Years Experience
• 4 Years Experience
• 5 Years Experience
• 6 Years Experience
• 7+ Years of Experience

03

This position requires working outside of normal business hours during periods of term bargaining, which may include late nights, weekends, and more than 40 hours per week for approximately two weeks each year. Are you able and willing to meet these scheduling requirements?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Montgomery County (MD)

Address 101 Monroe Street

7th Floor

Rockville, Maryland, 20850

Phone 240-777-5000

Website https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ohr