Director, Faculty Relations

Director, Faculty Relations (position under review)

Director, Faculty Relations (position under review)

Apply locations Ottawa, ON Main Campus time type Full time posted on Posted Yesterday time left to apply End Date: May 12, 2025 (29 days left to apply) job requisition id JR22237

Job Type: Employee

Duration in Months: N/A

Job Family: Labour and Faculty Relations

# of Open Positions: 1

Faculty/Service - Department: Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations

Campus: Main Campus

Union Affiliation: N/A

Date Posted: April 11, 2025

Applications must be received BEFORE: May 12, 2025

Hours per week: 35

Salary Grade: Non-Union Grade NM3

Salary Range: $126,119.00 - $156,525.00

Position purpose:

Reporting to the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations, accountable for the development, implementation and evaluation of organizational frameworks, policies, plans and programs related to labour and academic staff relations at the University of Ottawa. As a change agent in the Faculty Relations team, brings best practices in Labour Relations, as well as an innovative, collaborative and strategic approach to all labour relations initiatives. Acts as the chief negotiator on the University’s most important labour relations files and as a strategic partner that provides advice and expertise to all faculties and services in order to ensure consistency and efficiency in the resolution of complex labour relations matters while ensuring adherence to collective agreements and all relevant legislation. Represent the University at the union-management consultation committee.

Leads partnership-building and liaison initiatives among Human Resources, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Human Rights Office, the Legal Counsel Office and the Privacy Office, with the objective of aligning strategic directions favouring a strong work climate, and ensuring that best practices are employed as it relates to compliance. Effectively leverages these partnerships for the purpose of resolving conflict at all levels.

Develops innovative strategies and continuous improvement initiatives towards attaining key strategic objectives and global university priorities, and ensures their execution.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• As Chief Negotiator provides leadership and expertise in liaison and negotiations with all academic groups governed by collective agreements.
• Plays a key role in establishing good communications and fostering a positive labour relations climate with academic unions.
• Acts as a strategic collaborator that provides services such as representation, support and advice for complex labour and employment related matters.
• Manages a team of labour relations experts whose mandate is to address files of strategic importance related to individual and collective disputes.

What you will bring:

• Master’s degree, preferably in Industrial Relations or an advanced degree in a related field or an acceptable equivalence of education and experience
• Graduate of Bachelor of common or civil law is an asset
• Ten (10) years of experience in a leadership capacity related to labour relations and employment law
• Ten (10) years of experience as chief negotiator in collective bargaining, plus extensive collective agreement interpretation and advising along with grievance/arbitration process management experience
• Familiarity with and respect for collegial organizational culture is critical, as is the demonstrated ability to lead in an inclusive, collaborative and consensus-building style
• Experience working with complex costing methodologies such as pension and benefits issues at the negotiating table
• Knowledge of strategic and tactical problem-solving approaches and an ability to convert strategic objectives into tangible action plans and results.
• Experience in strategic planning and project management
• Experience in mediation and facilitation
• Exceptional ability to influence others
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Strong communication, relationship building and listening skills
• Ability to work under pressure and stress and adhere to strict deadlines
• Demonstrated proactive client service focus
• Awareness of and sensitivity to diversity
• Bilingualism (written and oral expression) essential

Key Competencies at uOttawa:

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.

Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.

Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.

Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact hrtalentmanagement@uottawa.ca to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.