Director Labour and Employee Relations - Full-time

About the role

VON is a non-profit organization that provides clinical, personal, and social support to people who want to live every day to the fullest while remaining in their own homes and communities. The Director Labour and Employee Relations ("Director") manages a team of Labour and Employee Relations professionals in the execution of VON’s national Labour and Employee Relations Strategy.

Responsibilities

• Labor and Employee Relations Leadership, Advisory and Risk Management
• Provides strategic labour and employee relations advice to Corporate Services and Operational leaders on collective agreement interpretation, labour legislation, workplace investigations, performance management, grievances, arbitration, complaints, organizational change and employee relations matters.
• Identifies emerging Labour and Employee Relations risks, develops mitigation and response strategies and escalates significant organizational, legal, financial, reputational or precedent-setting labour and employee relations matters to the Senior Director.
• Leads all labour and employee relations matters ranging from interpretation to arbitration management, providing coaching to leaders ensure accurate and relevant organizational reporting related to labour and employee relations.
• Serves as the chief spokesperson and lead negotiator for assigned collective bargaining initiatives in alignment with bargaining mandates and strategies established by the Senior Director.
• Manages bargaining preparation, including proposal development, financial analysis, background research and stakeholder engagement.
• Directs external resources engaged to lead negotiations or other services including compliant investigations.
• Manages grievances, arbitrations and complaint management, including investigations, legislative and human rights matters, and the development of resolution strategies.
• Liaises with external counsel during arbitration proceedings and provides required documentation and disclosure.
• Ensures timely resolution and investigation of all internal and external complaints.
• Reviews all legislative complaints in collaboration with stakeholders and external counsel as required.
• Oversees team workload allocation, service delivery standards, quality assurance processes, key performance indicators, performance outcomes and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure consistent, effective and high-quality Labour and Employee Relations services.
• Collective Agreement Administration
• Oversees the administration, interpretation, and implementation of collective agreements to ensure consistent compliance, resolution of grievances and labour relations practices across regions.
• Leads implementation of collective agreement changes, including system configuration, processes and communication (including information sessions and resource documents).
• Policy, Compliance and Legislative Affairs
• Maintains knowledge of current legislative requirements to ensure organizational compliance with employment legislation, human rights and labour standards through policy development, interpretation and guidance.
• Develops and maintains policies, standards and best practices related to Labour and Employee Relations.
• People Leadership and Talent Development
• Leads and coaches the Labour and Employee Relations team by establishing team-standard work, performance expectations and professional development plans.
• Builds team capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning and professional development.
• Operational Excellence, Performance and Service Delivery
• Establishes and monitors service standards, operational practices, quality measures and performance indicators to ensure consistent, high quality labour relations services.
• Makes sure team performance, service outcomes and emerging risks are monitored and continuous improvement initiatives are implemented.
• Collaborates with Human Resources Centres of Expertise to ensure alignment between labour relations strategies and broader HR initiatives.
• Financial Management and Reporting
• Participates in budget development, monitors expenditures and labour relations cost impacts.
• Develops and provides reports and analysis to senior leadership, board committees and operational stakeholders.
• Labor and Employee Relations Metrics and Analytics
• Develops and monitors labour and employee relations metrics (including scorecards and dashboards), and analyzes trends related to grievances, arbitration outcomes, workplace investigations, and labour costs.
• Presents quarterly labour and employee relations insights and recommendations to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• University Degree in Human Resources Management or related field, or equivalent.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive labour relations experience at a senior level plus 3 years’ experience at a management level.
• Knowledge of labour/management principles, provincial employment law, Human Rights, statutes and the Labour Relations Board processes and collective agreement administration is required.
• Experience leading collective bargaining, contract administration and interpretation.
• Familiarity with provincial labour regulations, collective agreements, provincial worker compensation legislation and practice, and various labour organizations.
• Thorough knowledge of HR principles and applicable laws and regulations.

Skills

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships and credibility across all levels of the organizations.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced multi-union environment by managing multiple priorities, adapting to changing demands, and working independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated business acumen, flexibility, and a commitment to high performance standards.

Benefits

This role requires a detail-oriented approach in a dynamic environment, with physical activity including lifting, carrying (using proper techniques), bending, reaching, kneeling, and other movements that emphasize good body mechanics. Individuals in the role are required to walk, sit, stand, and climb stairs throughout the day, with some tasks requiring fine hand movements.