Employee Relations Advisor

RGA; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 121,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

RGA in Toronto offers a hybrid Employee Relations Advisor role guiding managers and employees on performance and conduct, conducting investigations, and documenting findings. You’ll partner with HR Business Partners and legal counsel to address ER matters across North America and beyond, ensuring compliant practices while maintaining confidentiality and sound judgment.

The role emphasizes proactive issue intervention, consistent policy administration, and coordinating with benefits and payroll

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in HR or related field.
• 3+ years in employee relations with investigations and terminations.
• Experience supporting multiple jurisdictions in North America.

Responsibilities

• Coach and advise managers on performance, conduct, and early intervention.
• Support performance improvement plans and documentation steps.
• Conduct and document ER investigations with recommended actions.
• Gather facts via interviews and document review; prepare summaries.
• Deliver findings to ER leadership and counsel with compliance focus.
• Escalate high-risk matters per guidelines and involve legal when needed.
• Participate in accommodation discussions with managers and benefits.
• Partner with HRBPs to ensure consistent ER practices across regions.
• Coordinate terminations, payroll notifications, and exit logistics.
• Identify trends and help improve ER tools, training, and policy.

Skills

Employee relations

Performance management

Investigations

Accommodations

HRBP collaboration

French

Interviews

Policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

MS Office

HRIS

Investigation tools

Job description

You desire impactful work.

You’re RGA ready

RGA is a purpose-driven organization working to solve today’s challenges through innovation and collaboration. A Fortune 200 Company and listed among its World's Most Admired Companies, we’re the only global reinsurance company to focus primarily on life- and health-related solutions. Join our multinational team of intelligent, motivated, and collaborative people, and help us make financial protection accessible to all.

A Brief Overview

The Employee Relations (ER) Advisor provides frontline employee relations support to employees and managers, advising on performance management, conduct, workplace concerns, and policy interpretation. The role conducts and supports investigations, assists with interactive accommodation discussions, and promotes consistent, compliant application of employment practices. This position partners closely with HR Business Partners, business leaders, and employment counsel to address employee relations matters across the Americas and, as needed, globally. The ER Advisor applies sound judgment, escalates complex or high‑risk matters appropriately, and ensures accurate case documentation and compliance with applicable employment laws and internal practices.

Location:

Ideally located in our Toronto office in a hybrid work arrangement, the successful candidate may also work in a full remote arrangement.

What you will do

• Coach and advise managers and employees on performance improvement, conduct issues, interpersonal conflict, and early issue intervention.
• Support managers through performance improvement plans (PIPs), including documentation guidance, process steps, and consistent application.
• Conduct and document employee relations investigations, including allegations of misconduct, policy violations, and workplace complaints.
• Gather and analyze facts through interviews and document review; prepare investigation summaries and recommendations for ER leadership and employment counsel.
• Deliver investigative findings and recommended actions to HR Business Partners and business leaders, and support communication to impacted employees.
• Escalate complex, sensitive, or high‑risk matters (e.g., harassment, discrimination, retaliation, senior leader involvement) in accordance with escalation guidelines.
• Participate in and document interactive accommodation discussions, including coordination with managers, benefits partners, and legal counsel as appropriate.
• Partner with HR Business Partners to ensure consistent application of employee relations practices across the Americas, including Quebec (French language support).
• Coordinate involuntary terminations, including Workday transactions, payroll notifications, systems access, and exit logistics, ensuring compliance with local requirements.
• Identify trends in employee relations cases and contribute to ER tools, training, policy clarification, and broader HR compliance efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• 3+ Years of Human Resources experience in employee relations, including performance management support, workplace investigations, and involuntary terminations.
• Hands‑on experience coaching managers through performance and conduct conversations.
• Experience supporting or conducting employee relations investigations of low to moderate complexity.
• Experience supporting employees across multiple jurisdictions within North America (U.S., Canada, and/or Mexico)
• Strong working knowledge of employee relations principles, corrective action, and performance management practices.
• Foundational investigation skills, including interviewing, fact‑finding, documentation, and issue analysis.
• Sound judgment and ability to recognize when escalation to senior ER or legal partners.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong active listening skills and ability to build rapport with employees and managers.
• Ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining attention to detail.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with HR Business Partners, business leaders, and cross‑functional stakeholders. Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed and, at times, global environment.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity when supporting employees across different regions and backgrounds.
• Working knowledge of employment laws and regulations relevant to assigned geography.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and HR case management systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, or equivalent)
• Experience in a regulated industry (e.g., financial services, insurance, healthcare) or a matrixed organization
• Exposure to global or cross-border employee relations practices
• Previous experience working in a global matrix organization
• Fluency in French

Compensation range : $87,500.00 - $109,400.00

#LI-MJ1 #LI-REMOTE

What you can expect from RGA:

• Gain valuable knowledge from and experience with diverse, caring colleagues around the world.

• Enjoy a respectful, welcoming environment that fosters individuality and encourages pioneering thought.

• Join the bright and creative minds of RGA, and experience vast, endless career potential.

We’re excited to get to know you and connect your unique skills with our global opportunities. To create a modern and seamless experience, we use artificial intelligence (AI) in parts of our preliminary screening process. This technology helps us personalize job recommendations, automate interview scheduling, evaluate candidates based solely on experience—without considering name, gender, or other personal details—and provide real-time answers through our chatbot. AI is used only during early screening and never makes hiring decisions. Your RGA recruiter will work closely with you every step of the way to ensure the process feels personal, thoughtful, and focused on you.

Compensation Range:

Base pay varies depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience and market location. In addition, RGA provides an annual bonus plan that includes all roles and some positions are eligible for participation in our long-term equity incentive plan. RGA also maintains a full range of health, retirement, and other employee benefits.

RGA is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, sex, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.