Labor Mediator

[Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Employment Standards Division. Empowering Montanans Through Work and Opportunity. Sarah Swanson, Commissioner] *Note: Employees for the State of Montana must reside within Montana. All applications and required application documents must be submitted through the MT Careers site at:*https://mtstatejobs.taleo.net/careersection/200/jobdetail.ftl?job=26142114&tz=GMT-06:00&tzname=America/Denver Help Montana’s public employers and labor organizations turn difficult workplace conflicts into productive conversations and practical solutions. The Employment Standards Division is seeking a Labor Mediator to provide impartial mediation, training, and facilitation services that support stable labor-management relationships across the state. In this staff-level position, you will work directly with public-sector parties navigating collective bargaining, grievances, and employment-related disputes, helping them communicate effectively, understand one another’s interests, and identify mutually acceptable paths forward. Your work will make a meaningful difference for public employees, employers, and the Montana communities they serve. MISSION STATEMENT: Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity. It's about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open, team-based, supportive, and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLI here. POSITION OVERVIEW: As a Labor Mediator, you will serve as an impartial, neutral third party assisting public employers and labor organizations with resolving labor relations disputes and improving their ongoing working relationships. You will prepare for and facilitate mediations involving collective bargaining negotiations, grievances, and employment-related matters, using both traditional and interest-based dispute-resolution approaches. This position also delivers training and facilitation in Interest-Based Bargaining and Labor-Management Committee practices, helping parties build skills for collaborative problem-solving outside of formal disputes. Through careful preparation, active listening, clear communication, and sound judgment, you will support fair, respectful, and effective labor relations throughout Montana’s public sector. WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU: * *Meaningful statewide impact:*Help public employers, labor organizations, and employees work through conflict constructively, supporting stronger workplace relationships and more effective public services for Montanans. * *Purposeful conflict-resolution work:*Use mediation and facilitation skills to help parties move beyond positions, identify underlying interests, and develop solutions they can support. * *Specialized professional experience:*Build and apply expertise in public-sector labor relations, collective bargaining, grievance resolution, interest mediation, and collaborative problem-solving. * *Varied, people-centered work:*Balance mediation preparation and facilitation with training, relationship-building, research, documentation, travel, and statewide outreach. * *Professional growth:*Continue developing practical skills in impartiality, negotiation, active listening, communication, meeting facilitation, and labor-relations analysis. * *Collaborative public-service environment:*Join a team committed to fairness, accountability, customer service, continuous improvement, and respectful engagement with diverse stakeholders. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: * *Conduct labor mediations:*Provide neutral mediation services for public-sector collective bargaining negotiations, grievances, and employment-related disputes, helping parties explore options and pursue voluntary resolution. * *Prepare parties and processes:*Review relevant agreements, correspondence, issues, and background materials; clarify the purpose and structure of mediation; and prepare for joint or separate meetings with the parties. * *Facilitate productive dialogue:*Establish a respectful, structured setting that supports calm communication, active listening, and meaningful participation by all parties. * *Identify interests and concerns:*Confer with public employers and labor organizations to clarify disputed issues, identify underlying needs and interests, and assist parties in understanding areas of agreement and disagreement. * *Apply neutral resolution methods:*Use appropriate dispute-resolution techniques to help parties assess options, address barriers, and develop mutually acceptable solutions without advocating for either side. * *Deliver IBB training:*Provide training and facilitation in Interest-Based Bargaining and interest-based problem-solving methods that emphasize communication, shared information, interests, and consensus-based solutions. * *Facilitate labor-management committees:*Train and assist Labor-Management Committees in addressing workplace concerns outside the collective bargaining process and strengthening ongoing labor-management relationships. * *Support statewide education:*Assist with planning, coordination, and delivery of the annual Montana Arbitration and Labor Relations Conference, as well as other labor-relations education, outreach, and training activities. REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to: * *Labor dispute resolution:*Apply mediation principles, conflict-resolution strategies, and impartial facilitation techniques to collective bargaining, grievance, and employment disputes involving public employers and labor organizations. * *Neutrality and professional judgment:*Maintain neutrality, confidentiality, professionalism, and appropriate boundaries while working with parties who may hold strongly differing views or interests. * *Labor law interpretation:*Read, interpret, and apply Montana statutes, administrative rules, collective bargaining agreements, policies, and other requirements relevant to public-sector labor relations. * *Labor relations knowledge:*Understand core labor-relations concepts, collective bargaining processes, grievance procedures, labor-management dynamics, and the practical impact of workplace conflict on employees and employers. * *Interest-based facilitation:*Train and facilitate Interest-Based Bargaining and other collaborative problem-solving processes that help parties focus on interests, develop options, and work toward consensus. * *Labor-management collaboration:*Facilitate Labor-Management Committee discussions that address ongoing workplace issues, improve communication, and strengthen labor-management relationships outside formal bargaining. * *Communication and active listening:*Communicate clearly and respectfully in writing and verbally; use active listening to ensure people feel heard; and explain complex issues in accessible, balanced language. * *Relationship building:*Establish trust with diverse stakeholders, bridge differing perspectives, encourage respectful dialogue, and help parties sustain productive working relationships during and after conflict. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education and Experience) * Demonstrated experience mediating disputes, facilitating difficult conversations, negotiating agreements, resolving workplace conflicts, or helping groups address complex issues with differing interests. * Experience in labor relations, collective bargaining, grievance administration, employee relations, human resources, public-sector administration, employment law, dispute resolution, or a comparable field. * Experience interpreting and applying laws, administrative rules, collective bargaining agreements, policies, contracts, or technical standards to real-world situations. * Demonstrated experience facilitating meetings, delivering training, presenting information, or guiding groups through structured problem-solving or decision-making processes. * Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare materials, explain complex concepts, communicate with diverse audiences, and document work accurately. * Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, manage multiple priorities, prepare thoroughly, and work effectively both independently and collaboratively. * A degree in labor relations, human resources, public administration, business, communications, conflict resolution, law, political science, or a related field may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above. Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered. HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY: A complete state application is not required; however, you will need to initiate the application and attach the resume, cover letter or other required documents at time of application to be considered for this position. Resume will auto fill the application, but the application will not be scored or reviewed. Failure to attach the cover letter and resume will result in your application being considered incomplete and will not be considered further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process. *Tip:*When attaching your resume, cover letter or other required documents you must mark the attachments as “RELEVANT” or we will be unable to view your documents. Required application materials: * Cover Letter- Your Cover Letter should explain how your experience and education meet the identified required skills and competencies, with examples that demonstrate your qualifications. * Resume- include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position, including duties, dates of employment. Only online applications will be accepted. By applying online, you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application. All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. You will receive an application confirmation email with instructions on acceptable preference documents and how to submit such documents. If you need an accommodation with the application process, please contact the HR office. BENEFITS: Being able to enjoy the quality of life in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Our mountains, waterways and open spaces provide not only beautiful scenery but year-round recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling. Montana boasts a high-quality education system and a variety of entertainment including fairs, rodeos, and theaters. Read more about our great statehere. See our other incredible benefitshere. These are some of our benefits just to name a few: * Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana. * 38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays. * Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay. * Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises. * Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP - click hereto learn more. * Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - clickhereto learn more. * Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. – Clickhereto learn more. * Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- click hereto learn more! * Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth. * State employee discounts at various businesses across the state. *This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) E-Verify:This agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here,https://www.e-verify.gov/ Title: Labor Mediator Location: Helena Requisition ID: 26142114