Director, Faculty Relations , Office of Faculty Support

Laurentian University/Université Laurentienne; Northeastern Ontario; On-site; CAD 114,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

Laurentian University is seeking a Director of Faculty Relations to lead the Office of Faculty Support. You will shape the labour relations strategy, serve as chief negotiator or team member, and guide data-driven decisions ahead of negotiations.

The role requires strong leadership, negotiation expertise, and the ability to advise senior leaders on complex employment matters. Contribute to policy compliance and effective dispute resolution within a university setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field with strong analytical ability.
• Experience in labour relations, collective bargaining or unionized environments.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced setting.
• Experience with privacy and data handling in a research or university context.

Responsibilities

• Leads and directs the faculty labour relations strategy to support the university’s future.
• Serves as chief negotiator or bargaining team member in collective bargaining.
• Prepares bargaining plans and oversees research and data analysis for negotiations.
• Advises university leaders on complex labour issues and ensures policy compliance.
• Oversees dispute resolution processes, including mediation and arbitration hearings.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Negotiation skills

Leadership and people management

Strategic labour relations

Knowledge of labour legislation

Bilingual: French and English

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Human Resources, Psychology, Labour Relations or related field

Master’s/Graduate degree in Labour Relations, Business Administration or L.L.B/J.D.

Job description

Director, Faculty Relations , Office of Faculty Support

Position No.: JOBPOST-2026-001329

Salary: $ 113,745 - $ 141,798 per year (pending budgetary approval)

Competition ends: Tuesday, August 25th at 4:00 pm

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President, Faculty Support, the Director, Faculty Relations leads and directs the faculty labour relations strategy to support the long-term future of the University. The incumbent provides strategic leadership for collective bargaining, serving as chief negotiator or a bargaining team member, while overseeing comprehensive research and planning in advance of negotiations. To foster constructive relationships and ensure compliance, the incumbent advises University leaders on complex labour issues, coaches and develops team members and manages dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation and arbitration hearings, while keeping University practices aligned with sector-wide trends.

Strategic Labour & Faculty Relations Management - 40%

• Develops and oversees the implementation of a labour and faculty relations and service strategy to support the institutional future.
• Serves as chief negotiator and/or bargaining team member in collective bargaining.
• Prepares strategic collective agreement bargaining plans, and oversees research and data analysis in advance of negotiations.
• Fosters an environment that supports proactive and constructive relationships with labour partners through the effective, consistent, and collaborative administration of relevant policies, past practice, arbitration decisions, legislation, and collective agreements.
• Utilizes a proactive problem-solving approach to manage conflict and resolve difficult employment situations, consistent with institutional policies, collective agreements, past practices, arbitration precedents, and applicable legislation.
• Develops recommendations and solutions to deal with complex labour relations issues and facilitates the issue resolution process.
• Ensures all legislated, collective agreement, and policy-driven obligations of the university are met.

Leadership, Advisory & Development

• Provides advice and guidance to team members and to leaders on the interpretation and application of collective agreements, relevant policies, arbitration decisions, and applicable legislation.
• Coaches and develops team members to provide excellent and reliable service.
• Leads and oversees the development and delivery of workshops and/or training for stakeholders on the administration of collective agreements, policies, and best practices in labour and employee relations.
• Provides guidance to staff and final review in the collection of data and information in preparation for grievance responses and mediation and arbitration hearings.

Labour Dispute Resolution, Compliance & Allignment

• Prepares for and attends mediation and arbitration hearings.
• Ensures compliance with institutional commitments and policies by monitoring critical deadlines, managing personnel data, and overseeing the preparation of documents, notices, and other administrative communications.
• Liaises with other academic and staff relations professionals in post-secondary education to understand trends and best practice within the sector.

Other Duties

• Performs other duties within the professional scope and skill level of the position, in full compliance with applicable legislation, university policies, and collective agreements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Human Resources, Psychology, Labour Relations or in a related field.
• Master’s/Graduate degree in Labour Relations, Business Administration or L.L.B/J.D. is an asset.
• Five (5) to eight (8) years of relevant experience.
• Three (3) to five(5) years of managerial experience.
• A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) or a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation is an asset.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated problem-solving, attention to detail, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in managing institutional records, adhering to retention policies, and ensuring data integrity.
• Proven ability to handle, secure, and analyze large research datasets in accordance with privacy and security protocols.
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision, take initiative, and collaborate effectively within a team environment.
• Proven discretion and sound judgment when managing highly confidential business, financial, or personnel data.
• Knowledge of the collective bargaining process and experience working with collective agreements / unionized environment.
• Experience with employment-related legislation (ESA, OHSA, Human Rights, AODA) and maintains up-to-date knowledge of changes to legislation.
• Specific experience in unionized environments, including contract negotiations, grievance handling, and interpreting collective agreements.
• Expertise in all aspects of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and professional development.
• Proven ability to lead and guide teams through organizational transitions, process improvements, or significant policy changes.
• Experience handling contentious matters with sensitivity, confidentiality, and balance.
• Exceptional facilitation and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organizational skills to prioritize workload in a fast-paced environment with changing deadlines and the need to respond quickly to meet departmental/employee needs and resolve problems.
• Third party facilitation / mediation training is an asset.
• Ability to work fluently (verbal and written) in both official languages, French and English, is required.

Applications are being accepted to fill an active vacancy within the University.

The official University hours of operation shall be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, during, and including, the months from September to April, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m Monday through Friday during and including May to August., amounting to thirty-three and three-quarter (33.75) hours per week.

At Laurentian University, we recognize that work-life balance is essential for both personal well-being and professional success. Our policy offers employees some flexibility to better balance personal needs while maintaining effective service delivery.

Laurentian University is an inclusive and welcoming community committed to employment equity. Applications are encouraged from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions. Laurentian University’s bilingualism policy provides a provision regarding the language requirement for persons self-identifying as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.

Laurentian University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources for more information ([e-mail]).