Salary: See Position Description
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 23/07-0807-OELRC
Department: Human Resources Department (HRD)
Opening Date: 07/11/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Information
Salary
$48.66 – $59.14/hourly
$3,892.80 – $4,731.20/biweekly
$8,463.27 – $10,286.02/monthly
$101,559.26 – $123,432.28/annually
Expand your employee and labor relations career with the County of Sonoma Human Resources Department!
If you’re motivated by intellectual challenges, conflict resolution and negotiations, working in a fast-paced environment that changes daily, building strategic business partnerships, and being part of a supportive team, come join us!
If you are interested in applying at the other level of this opportunity, please apply to the separate, concurrent recruitment being conducted for
Additionally, if you have gained prior recruitment and classification experience, please consider applying to our
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- Hybrid Telework – A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
- Salary Advancement – A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Career Advancement – With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Employee and Labor Relations Analyst III
- Paid Time Off – Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County Paid Health Premium Contributions – 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Staff Development/Wellness Pay – Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement – County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement – A pension fully integrated with Social Security
- Paid Parental Leave – May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
Join Our Team
The Human Resources Department (County HR) is a team of 60+ employees who provide human resources and risk management services to the County’s 28 departments. These diverse services include benefits, classification plan management, recruitment and examination, countywide training, employee and labor relations, equal employment opportunity, HR information systems, safety, and risk management. Under the leadership of the Director, our mission is to be a trusted strategic partner, providing County departments with HR services that work to effectively recruit, develop, and retain an outstanding workforce committed to providing quality public service. We value customer service, collaboration, professionalism, consistency, proactive planning, flexibility, and innovative problem-solving.
Our Employee and Labor Relations (ELR) division is a team of 6 highly motivated and solution-driven professionals who strive to provide excellent customer service to the County departments and management we serve. We are supportive and collaborative, working together to successfully research, analyze, and address a number of difficult and complex employee and labor relations matters. As an ELR Analyst, you will be assigned and work with specific departments to address their employee relations needs by advising and collaborating with County managers regarding rules, regulations, and best practices. You will also:
- Represent the County and department clients as the chief negotiator in mid-contract meet and confers related to employee safety, policy changes, transferring of bargaining unit work, and work rules
- Perform in-depth research, gather information from a variety of sources, analyze findings, and provide recommendations for information requests, grievances, mediation, arbitration, and contract negotiations
- Support management with contract interpretation, conducting discipline and performance management, and processing grievances
- Identify whether department issues can have widespread consequences across the organization and consult with the Principal ELR Analyst to determine the appropriate recommendation(s)
- Liaison with unions on employee relations issues and facilitate labor/management committees and other interest-based processes
What You Bring
While the minimum education and experience requirements vary at the ELR Analyst II and III levels, at either level, our ideal candidate will demonstrate that they can quickly assess problems with a solution-oriented, customer-focused approach, are skilled in negotiations and mediation and have a unique ability to identify solutions when there seems to be none. They are proficient in current regulations and employee and labor relation best practices and are highly knowledgeable of the principles and practices of public sector labor relations including the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA) and Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) rulings. The ideal candidate is also empathetic, tactful, detail-oriented, and:
- Has excellent communication skills, and can effectively interact with diverse groups of people including staff, departm,ent heads, County officials, and union representatives
- Possesses strong analytical skills, expert judgment, and well-developed critical thinking skills with the ability to see the bigger picture.
- Is skilled in researching, tracking, analyzing, and interpreting data
- Has superb organizational skills, including the ability to follow complex policies and procedures while meeting multiple competing deadlines
- Possesses high-functioning customer service skills and the ability to effectively handle inquiries, coordinate services for various internal and external stakeholders, and maintain collaborative working relationships
- Has a calm demeanor and does not get flustered in tense situations
Diverse lived experiences are valued and possession of a Senior Professional Human Resources (SHPR) certification and/or Certified Legal Risk Manager (CLRM) is welcomed. Additionally, a sense of humor is a must! These are serious positions, and while the employee and labor relations topics we work with are critical and confidential, we find opportunities and reasons to enjoy our time together.
While the position’s hours are typically Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and work is performed in an office environment, depending upon operational needs, ELR Analysts must be willing to work extra hours intermittently to complete specific tasks.
Bring Your Commitment to Public Service to the County of Sonoma
The County of Sonoma is the place to live, grow, and build your career legacy. When you join the County of Sonoma, you’ll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county – its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. For additional information about the beauty of our community and the valuable services and support that the County provides our communities, please visit and
We are currently recruiting to fill an ELR Analyst position at either the II and/or III levels. This ELR Analyst III employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title of this position is Human Resources Analyst III.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the and our
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Training and/or experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, at least two years of professional personnel experience, including at least one year at the level of Human Resources Analyst II would provide such opportunity.
Education: Academic course work which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, substantial course work in public administration, business administration, human resources, political science, psychology or closely related courses would provide such opportunity.
License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position is required for most assignments.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable working knowledge of: public human resources administration in one of the following areas of activity; test development and analysis, classification, equal employment opportunity reporting and complaint investigation, ADA guidelines, negotiations and contract administration, supervisory and management training, grievances and discipline; county regulations, ordinances, and procedures relating to public human resources management; PC-based software programs and use of the Internet.
Good working knowledge of: written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.
Working knowledge of: Merit System principles and practices relating to employee selection and advancement, classification and compensation, equal employment opportunity, and/or employee management relations; the fundamentals of data research compilation and report writing; test development methodology sufficient to develop and analyze selection devices; interview techniques sufficient to obtain information related to employment, complaint investigation, and compensation matters.
Ability to: understand, interpret and apply appropriate provisions of applicable laws, ordinances, regulations, memoranda of understanding and operating procedures; analyze complex classifications, task analysis and job restructuring, and compensation; technically examine problems and to make logical recommendations for their solution; synthesize information sufficient to produce complete, relevant, accurate and logical results; apply analytical skills (i.e., discover, clarify and explain interrelationships of parts; examine and evaluate data with reference to criteria, standards and requirements) sufficient to arrive at and explain logical conclusions; apply problem solving skills (i.e. define issues, identify alternative solutions and related consequences, and make a logical decision) sufficient to reach appropriate solutions, take action, document, and complete work in a timely manner; establish credibility and maintain cooperative work relationships with county management personnel, employees, employee organizations and the public in carrying out human resources activities; manage a variety of simultaneous work projects or a recruitment and examination caseload sufficient to meet established timetables and commitments; set aside personal values related to differences in sex, cultural and ethnic groups in order to impartially conduct recruitment and examinations, training, complaint investigations, grievances, classification studies, and act as a spokesperson in negotiations; perform data collection, interpretation and evaluation pertaining to human resources and employee relations; communicate effectively orally and in writing, and present rational conclusions before advisory and policy making bodies; provide direction to and obtain cooperation of subordinate personnel and technical personnel staff.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state “See Resume” or “See Application” may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant’s application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted online at Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: CG
HR Technician: RR
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County paid premium contribution.
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to or, contact the Human Resources’ Risk Management-Benefits Office at or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
- I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
- I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
- I am only interested in full-time positions
02
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
- Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
- CALPELRA
- CalJobs
- Careers in Government
- College or University
- Craigslist
- DiversityJobs
- Employee of Sonoma County
- Glassdoor
- Google Jobs
- GovernmentJobs.com
- Handshake
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
- Indeed
- Job Fair
- Labor and Employee Relations Association
- La Voz
- Latino Service Providers
- Los Cien
- Minority Organization or Group
- PASCO HR
- Press Democrat
- sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
- Sonoma County Human Resources Office
- Sonoma County Job Line
- Start Here!
- Veterans Services Office
- Women’s Organization or Group
- Workplace Diversity
- ZipRecruiter
- Other Internet Site
- Other Publication
03
For this question and all subsequent questions please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.
Please describe your training, education, and two or more years of professional human resources experience involving employee and labor relations. Highlight any experience you may have gained from working in the public sector. For each position you mention, include your job title(s), employer’s name, dates of employment (mm/yy – mm/yy), and a description of your primary responsibilities.
04
Please provide an example of when you had to solve an employee and/or labor relations issue that required you to conduct research and in-depth analysis before advising/providing a recommendation. Describe the issue, the stakeholders involved, the actions you took to become informed, how you presented your research, and the outcome of your efforts.
05
Please describe a situation that you were responsible for handling that required you to gain the agreement and cooperation of a stakeholder who disagreed with your approach/conclusion. Provide sufficient details on the situation, your approach/conclusion, how you gained the needed agreement and cooperation, and the outcome.
Required Question