Director, Labour Relations

Porter Airlines; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A Canadian airline is seeking a Director of Labour Relations to develop and execute a labour relations strategy. This strategic leadership role involves advising on union relationships, managing collective bargaining, and ensuring compliance with labour laws. Candidates must have extensive experience in labour relations, ideally within the aviation sector, and exceptional negotiation skills. The position supports operational excellence and team member engagement in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of progressive labour relations experience in a unionized environment.
• At least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Experience in the aviation or transportation industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a long-term labour relations strategy.
• Act as the lead negotiator in collective bargaining.
• Oversee the grievance process and represent the company at arbitration hearings.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Mediation skills

Conflict resolution

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Business acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field

Master’s degree or LLB/JD

CPHR or CHRL designation

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Labour relations data systems

Job description

Overview

Job Summary

The Director, Labour Relations is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing and executing Porter’s labour relations strategy. Reporting to the executive vice president and chief people officer, this role acts as a key advisor to senior leaders on all matters relating to union relationships, collective bargaining, grievance management, arbitration, and labour compliance under Canadian federal law (Canada Labour Code). The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of the aviation sector, exceptional negotiation skills, and a proven track record of fostering collaborative labour-management relationships that support operational excellence and team member engagement.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Labour Relations Planning: Develop and implement a long-term labour relations strategy aligned with business objectives and regulatory obligations. Serve as the lead negotiator in collective bargaining with various bargaining units (e.g., pilots, flight attendants, customer service, and ground crew). Provide expert advice to executives and managers on labour relations issues, including contract interpretation, discipline, and operational decisions.
• Union & Stakeholder Relations: Build and maintain constructive relationships with union representatives across multiple bargaining units. Act as the organization’s primary point of contact for union leadership during both routine engagement and during periods of conflict. Lead regular labour-management meetings and joint consultation committees to proactively address workplace issues.
• Grievance & Arbitration Management: Oversee the end-to-end grievance process, ensuring timely investigation, documentation, and resolution. Represent the company at arbitration hearings or coordinate with external legal counsel as necessary. Analyze trends and root causes of grievances to recommend policy or procedural improvements.
• Collective Bargaining & Contract Administration: Develop bargaining mandates in collaboration with finance, operations, and legal. Lead the preparation of proposals and counterproposals, manage negotiations, and oversee ratification processes. Ensure accurate implementation of collective agreements and updates to People and Culture systems, payroll, and operations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure full compliance with the Canada Labour Code, Canadian Aviation Regulations, Occupational Health and Safety legislation, and other applicable federal labour standards. Monitor changes in labour law and industry-specific regulations to mitigate risks and update policies accordingly. Actively participate in Porter’s Security and Safety Management System (SMS), including reporting hazards and incidents encountered in daily operations; understand, comply and promote the Company Safety Policy.
• Labour Analytics & Reporting: Provide regular reports to senior leadership on key labour metrics, risks, opportunities, and trends. Use workforce and labour data to inform strategic decision-making and negotiations. Lead labour relations audits and risk assessments.
• Team Leadership & Development: Provide training and coaching to People and Culture Advisors and operational leaders on unionized workforce management.

Behavioural Competencies

• Concern for Safety
• Teamwork
• Passenger / Customer Service
• Initiative
• Results Focus
• Fostering Communication
• Exemplifying Integrity
• Inspiring Others
• People Leadership
• Leading Change

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Law, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree or LLB / JD is an asset. CPHR or CHRL designation is an asset.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressive labour relations experience in a unionized environment, with at least 5 years in a leadership role. Experience in the aviation or transportation industry is strongly preferred. Proven experience in leading complex collective bargaining negotiations and managing multiple union relationships.
• Skills and Competencies: Deep knowledge of Canadian federal labour law and collective agreement frameworks. Excellent negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution skills. Strong business acumen and understanding of operational demands in aviation. Ability to work well under pressure and manage high-stakes situations with diplomacy. Superior interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Proficiency in labour relations data systems, Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Working Conditions: Hybrid work environment with travel to airport and union locations as needed. On-call availability during high-impact labour disruptions or operational incidents.