Employee Relations Advisor

rgare; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

RGA is seeking an Employee Relations Advisor to provide frontline ER support to employees and managers across the Americas and globally as needed. The role emphasizes investigations, performance coaching, and policy interpretation in a hybrid Toronto setting, with potential for remote work.

You will partner with HR Business Partners, deliver findings with professional communication, and help ensure compliant employment practices across multiple jurisdictions in North America.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Employee relations

Performance management

Investigations

Coaching managers

Interviews

Policy interpretation

Communication

Cross-jurisdiction NA

Confidentiality

Stakeholder management

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Matrix/worldwide environment

Cultural awareness

Employment laws knowledge

Office tools (MS Office)

Education

Bachelor's Degree in HR/Business/IR or related field

Tools

Workday

Microsoft Office

HRIS

Job description

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 organ