Summary

Description

About Our Job

The Denver Public Library (DPL) isn't just a place to borrow books; it's a vibrant, essential hub for our diverse city. As a growing urban library system with 28 locations and over 4 million annual visitors, we're deeply woven into the fabric of Denver.

Join a team where your values align with your work. At the Denver Public Library, we're not just serving our community; we're building a culture guided by values that empower both our staff and the public. 

• Welcoming:  We make our resources, services, and expertise accessible for all, recognize the inherent dignity in each person, and provide safe places where everyone can be themselves.

• Curiosity: We foster a culture of exploration, innovation, and forward thinking by creating environments that support learning and growth.

• Connection: We are neighbors. We foster relationships, listen and act to build and strengthen our community. We bring people together to share information, ideas, and experiences.

• Equity: We work to change inequitable practices, structures and policies, and attitudes that drive them, to provide opportunities for every person in our community to thrive. As we do so, we actively examine our roles in perpetuating oppressive systems.

• Stewardship: We are accountable to our community, using our resources responsibly. We lead with honesty and integrity, protect privacy and preserve and share the full history of our Denver community.

If you're passionate about service, community engagement, and creating positive change, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us. Come join a team that believes in the power of knowledge, connection, and equity.

Unrivaled Benefits

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:  

• Four (4) Medical Plans, Dental, Vision Insurance  

• Pension Plan for Life (employee contributes 8.45%, employer matches at 17.95%) and 457 (b) Retirement Plan  

• PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year), 4 paid wellness days, and 12 paid holidays

• CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits  

• Enhanced Work/Life Balance: Employee Assistance Program (6 counseling sessions per year, legal assistance, financial counseling, discounted recreation center passes), Employee Volunteer Program

• Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources  

• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides) 

• For more information please visit our website.

About Our Position

We're looking for a detail-oriented and people-focused Senior Human Resource Business Partner  focused on compliance, employee relations and, serving as the HR team’s central liaison for DPL’s Labor Relations. Think of yourself as a strategic partner and primary subject matter expert who is crucial to ensuring our labor relations practices are consistent, equitable, and align with the DPL's core values.

• Act as the primary HR point of contact for labor relations that holds strategic partnerships with the City and County of Denver.

• Serve as the primary internal Subject Matter Expert (SME) and point of contact for CBA and union-related questions, ensuring consistent, accurate, and equitable application across the agency.

• Manage the full CBA lifecycle, including conducting objective complex workplace investigations, handling grievances, and preparing for negotiations and arbitrations.

• Consult with management on complex employee relations and policy issues to enhance organizational effectiveness, while ensuring the equitable application of employment law.

• Leverage HR analytics and industry research to recommend data-driven human capital initiatives with measurable returns on investment.

What You Would Bring

Our ideal candidate:

• Passion for people focused human resources, with a proven record of emphasis on inclusive, equitable, compassionate approaches to all core HR functions, including employee relations, talent management, and employee experience.

• Developed skills in coaching managers, facilitation, conflict resolution and relationship management

• Passion for resolving complex workplace issues, and bring a calm, thoughtful presence to sensitive situations

• Responsible for the equitable application of employment law and company policies within the workplace and will serve as a consultant to management on human resource-related issues, act as an employee champion, and drive initiatives to enhance employee engagement and organizational effectiveness

• Conducts assessments, gap analysis, and strategy development for individual learning and organizational development. Demonstrates continuous effort at agency/organizational level to improve business operations, decrease turnover, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to influence quality customer service. 

• Regarded as an exceptional communicator and able to influence a broad and diverse range of stakeholders through effective relationships, verbal, and written communication

• Skilled in objective investigations, grievance handling, and preparing for arbitration proceedings

• Demonstrated expertise in Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) lifecycle management, including a proven record of effectively managing a high volume of CBAs across multiple union partners, handling grievances, and preparing for negotiations, arbitrations, and disciplinary hearings

• Takes a data-driven approach to recommending impactful human capital initiatives that have measurable returns on investment, including regularly conducting industry research and applying findings to recommendations

• Act as the primary HR liaison to the Chief Equity and Strategy Officer (CESO), partnering closely on the strategic creation and implementation of CBAs to ensure alignment with the agency’s commitment to inclusive, equitable, and compassionate employment practices

• Design, develop, and deliver comprehensive CBA and labor relations training programs for organizational leaders to ensure consistent, accurate, and equitable application of agreements across the agency

• Serve as the primary internal subject matter expert and point of contact for all CBA and union-related questions, ensuring all agreements are current, documented, and clearly communicated

• HR program advocacy including but not limited to communicating the business value of HR initiatives and managing HR program rollout to minimize business disruption

• Advocates for employees by ensuring fair and consistent HR practices, addressing concerns, and maintaining a positive and welcoming work environment

• Analyzes employee relations data and trends to proactively identify potential issues and recommend preventative strategies

• Strong sense of professionalism and proven ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive and private information

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, human resources, or related field 

• 5 years of professional human resources experience

Substitutions:

• One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• SHRM-CP, PHR, or equivalent HR related certification 

• Direct experience with the full lifecycle of labor relations, including negotiating, implementing, and providing expert consultation on collective bargaining agreements CBAs

• Direct experience with complex workplace investigations and employee relations, especially in public sector  

• State, local, or municipal government human resources experience 

• Workday experience

Don't let a "checklist" hold you back! Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups often self-select out if they don't meet every qualification. If you're reading this and feel a true passion for making an impact, we wholeheartedly encourage you to apply, as an equal combination of education and experience will be considered for all applicants. Your excitement for this work matters just as much as your resume.

Work Environment & Location

The Denver Public Library's branches are the arms to the community—each a unique reflection of the dynamic, diverse communities we serve. At DPL, we pride ourselves on showing up and providing support whenever there is a need. While you may be hired for a specific location, please know that we are hiring with the expectation that at any time, you may be required to work at any one of our branches based on operational needs. This allows our staff to experience the full breadth of Denver's communities and ensures we consistently deliver the highest level of service across our branches.

DPL employees may be redeployed to work in other locations or capacities to support core functions of the library system during branch closures or other emergencies. 

Application & Additional Info 

Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Job postings will close at 12AM on the posted ending date. If interested in this opportunity, please apply as soon as possible.

Offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of criminal history and employment verification  

All Denver Public Library employees must apply through their internal profile.

Ready to learn more and see how you can contribute? Visit us at denverlibrary.org and connect with our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.