Senior Labour Relations Specialist

Faculty/Department: Human Resources Department

Number of Positions: 1

Appointment Type: Full-Time Continuing 

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week 

Salary Range: Level 10 - Annual Hiring Salary, $80,231, with annual step progression in accordance with the Salary Grid.

Posting Date: March 2, 2022

Closing Date: Open until a suitable candidate is found

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work full-time at our North Campus or to participate in the university’s Flexible Workspace Program which provides for remote work arrangements up to four (4) days per week.

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Director, Employee and Labour Relations, you will serve in the capacity of trusted consultant and subject matter expert through the delivery of advisory services to senior leaders and front-line managers across the university. You will leverage a deep understanding and demonstrated years of experience in the field to provide reliable, responsive and professional advice on matters involving the university’s collective agreements, policies and procedures, and relevant jurisprudence related to the post-secondary sector.

You will direct, manage and lead complaints through the grievance process and continue to support files through the mediation and arbitration processes. As a member of the broader team within the HR Services unit, you will engage and collaborate regularly on labour and employee relations issues integrated with portfolios and accountabilities of other specialists within the team. You will also partner with academic and administrative leaders and specialists in other areas of the university, including but not limited to the Office of the Provost and the Office of the General Counsel, to provide expertise and guidance on the administration of applicable working groups, committees, taskforces, and projects emerging from HR Services. 

In this senior role, you will be expected to present the capabilities and professionalism to act as lead spokesperson for the university during collective bargaining negotiations and as direct support in a decision-making capacity to advance the interests of the university during negotiations. This position includes considerable autonomy and broad discretion on decision-making, and you will be expected to prepare and present to different audiences at the university on critical matters related to your portfolio.

Responsibilities/accountabilities: 

• You will manage a considerable portfolio and work in partnership with your colleagues in the same role to deliver client-focused advice involving matters flowing from collective agreements, active working groups and committees, and policies and procedures consistent with the practices, values and priorities of the university.
• You will demonstrate leadership and influence decision-makers on the basis of your approach to client engagement and your depth of knowledge in labour and employee relations, leaning on generally accepted HR practices to inform your approach to service delivery.
• You will lead and manage grievance files from start to finish, providing the university with exceptional judgement, acuity and expertise that will influence decisions on key matters. This scope of responsibility includes representing HR Services when partnering with important and relevant internal partners, including colleagues in legal services, planning and analysis, and operational/academic business units.
• You will lead and/or support the collective bargaining process by gathering background information, assisting with the development of collective agreement proposals, participating during negotiations as needed, and supporting the implementation of collective agreements by developing and delivering training to managers and senior leaders once collective bargaining is complete
• You will represent the university in settings that require engagement, consultation and negotiations with union representatives, ministry contacts and external partners secured to support certain matters.
• You will be relied upon for your experience and direction on the interpretation and drafting of contract language, and for your ability to conduct and complete research in a meaningful and diligent manner to best prepare and/or defend the university’s position in particular settings.
• Where necessary, you will support broader university activities and projects that require labour and employee relations expertise, including but not limited to policy development, training  initiatives, and compliance programming.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Completion of a university degree or college diploma with specialization in Labour/Industrial Relations, Business, Law, or Public Administration, with Master’s level degree preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ related experience in public or private sector with direct responsibilities for a labour and/or employee relations portfolio.
• Experience at a post-secondary institution and as lead spokesperson at central union-management tables is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience working with relevant legislation (i.e. Employment Standards Act, Ontario Labour Relations Act, Ontario Human Rights Code).
• A combination of direct work experience and training may substitute for academic requirements.

* Verification of Academic credentials may be required

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit in electronic format a covering letter and their resume. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. We appreciate all applications received; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Ontario Tech University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, while especially encouraging applications from women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous Peoples in Canada will be given priority.
Ontario Tech University respects people's different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants where appropriate. The University is also committed to ensuring that confidentiality is maintained throughout all aspects of the recruitment cycle.

The University has implemented a mandatory vaccine directive and this affects all employees, students and community members attending our University campus. As a result, all Ontario Tech employees attending campus are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Where operational needs require you to attend campus to perform the duties of your job, you will be required to comply with this request and with the mandatory vaccine directive which requires all employees to be fully vaccinated to attend campus as of October 17, 2021. To learn more about the University’s mandatory vaccination directive, please click here.

The university recognizes some faculty and staff may require accommodations. We are committed to an accommodation process in which individualized needs (e.g. for medical and religious/creed grounds) are appropriately addressed under the Ontario Human Rights Code. If you require accommodation, please contact Julie Day, Health and Disability Management Specialist. For more information about the universities policies for accommodating employees with disabilities please review the university’s Accessibility Policy.

The university acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.

Job Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada