Bay Area Air Quality Management District Employees’ Association Business Consultant

Business Consultant

 About the Employees’ Association

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District Employees’ Association (Association) is an agency shop that represents about 350 employees of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District).  The Association is the representative body of the employees in the Technical/General and Professional Employees’ representation units for all matters of employer-employee relations.  The Association is a California Domestic Non-profit Corporation. Association members including Association officers are employees of the Air District.  The Association does not have any direct employees. 

 The Position

The Business Consultant (Consultant) represents the interests of the members of the Association and other represented Air District employees. The Consultant primarily handles labor/contract negotiations and grievances but may perform other related duties.

The Consultant is the lead negotiator in labor/contract negotiations.  The Consultant works to protect rights guaranteed under the contract and all matters within the scope of labor relations.  During negotiations, the Consultant takes direction from the Association Meet and Confer Team with oversight from the Association Board of Directors. 

The Consultant is an independent consultant under contract to the Association.  The amount of work will not constitute full-time employment.  The Consultant does not recruit new Association members or collect membership dues.

Meetings are typically held at or near the Air District main office in San Francisco.

Examples of Duties (Primary duties are in BOLD)

• Acts as the lead negotiator.
• Acts as a grievance advisor.
• Represents unit members in grievance proceedings.
• Represents, the Association, to the Air District Board of Directors, management and representatives, the public, and arbitrators/mediators.
• Interprets contract language and labor law, in consultation with the Association retained legal advisor.
• Provides guidance and advises the Association Meet and Confer Team and Association Board of Directors on matters including, but not limited to, labor negotiation strategy.
• Conducts necessary background research and compiles necessary information relevant to the items under negotiation.
• Arranges consultation with Association retained legal advisor or other attorneys, when appropriate.
• Plans and arranges Association meetings, especially with the Association’s legal consultant.
• Arranges for outside speakers.
• Provides training to the Association.

Qualifications

Prospective candidates must have labor negotiation experience.  Experience negotiating in the public sector under the Myers-Milias-Brown Act is highly desirable. Experience advising a CA non-profit corporation or knowledge of CA Non-profit Corporation Code is desirable.

Working Conditions

Working hours for the Consultant vary.  Typically, hours are longer and more frequent during contract negotiations.  (The next contract negotiation will begin approximately in February 2019.)  The Consultant is not provided an office.

The Consultant shall be reasonably available for negotiating sessions, meetings and hearings associated with grievances, and occasionally other Association meetings including general membership meetings and Board meetings, if needed.  Communications between the Association and the Consultant will include face-to-face, phone calls, video conferencing, and email.  The Consultant must be reasonably available to attend meetings and return communication in a timely manner. 

Compensation

Hourly rate: Negotiable

Reasonable travel expenses will be compensated as will be outlined in the Business Consultant contract.  The Association encourages the use of public transit.  Routine office expenses and equipment-related expenses incurred by the Consultant shall not be paid by the Association unless otherwise negotiated.

How to Apply

Prospective candidates shall submit the following to the Association by e-mail:

1.      Cover Letter (Section I) – Must include the name, address, and telephone number, and must be signed by the person(s) authorized to represent the firm.

2.      Summary – State overall approach to position, including the objectives and scope of work.

3.      Provide education and training relevant to labor law, labor unions, and/or government organizations and agencies.

4.      Background and Experience – Provide examples of your background and related experience in providing similar services to labor unions and/or governmental organizations, if any. Describe technical capabilities and exposure with working with labor unions, if any. Provide at least three references of other, similar work done/ services provided, including contact name, title, and telephone number for all references listed.

5.      Conflict of Interest – Address possible conflicts of interest with other clients affected by contractors’ actions performed on behalf of the Association. The Association recognizes that prospective bidders may have contracts to perform similar services for other clients. Include a complete list of such clients for the past three (3) years with the type of work performed and the total number of years performing such tasks for each client. The Association reserves the right to consider the nature and extent of such work in evaluating the proposal.

6.      Additional Data – Provide other essential data that may assist in the evaluation of the application.

7.      Compensation – Provide a proposal that consists of the fully-burdened hourly rate.

First application review date: TBD

Association e-mail:  voice@employeesassociation.org

The position is open until filled. 

Hiring Process

After applications are screened, the top candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview.