Employee Relations Manager

The Employee Relations Manager provides expertise in the direction, coordination, implementation, and administration of dynamic labour and employee relation strategies and supplies for the development and implementation of standard processes.
This role primarily supports the company by working closely with team members and stakeholders in achieving the strategic direction of the department by guiding grievance resolution, contract administration, policy development, and HR reporting.
Note: Due to business needs, this position is required to be fully on-site based at 50 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver.

Description

1. Participate in the formulation of senior management’s position on a variety of labour relations and employee relations issues and collective bargaining.
2. Responsible for the administration of labour relations and employee relations for respective business units.
3. Provide advice, guidance, and support to all levels of management on labour relations and employee-related matters including contract interpretation, employment terms and conditions, attendance management, performance management disciplinary process, and grievances.
4. Represent the Company in labour relations matters, including Chief Spokesperson at negotiations, mediation, grievances, tribunals, and arbitrations.
5. Investigate a variety of employee-based issues, incidents, and coordinate with legal counsel when required.
6. Ensure compliance with all regulations and employment laws by reviewing legal regulatory and policy developments affecting areas of labour and employment.
7. Conduct research for collective bargaining and assist with communication strategies.
8. Assist with collective bargaining and labour relations issues in other business units.
9. Support continuous improvement through such activities as examining administrative processes and recommending appropriate changes, exploring opportunities for automation, and gaining consensus from stakeholders to minimize effort on low-gain activities, and align availability of resources for endeavors that make valuable contributions to the organization.
10. Support Managers by creating roadmaps, tools, procedures, etc., and ensure accessibility of information to cultivate front-line people leadership skills and reinforce the advocacy role of the Labour Relations department.
11. Maintain effective working relationships with union business agents through regular communication, professional correspondence, and a solution-based approach to problem solving.

Requirements

1. Degree in relevant field (Business or Human Resources preferred) with focus on Labour Relations, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. 5-7 years of dynamically senior labour relations experience gained in a sizable and sophisticated unionized multi-jurisdictional profit-oriented organization.
3. Senior level responsibility for contract development and implementation of collective bargaining negotiations, arbitration, mediation, and contract administration.
4. Experience as a spokesperson at collective bargaining.
5. Understanding of Federal and Provincial labour legislation, regulatory requirements, employment standards, and arbitral jurisprudence.
6. Interpersonal and communication skills with considerable ability to interact effectively at all levels and gain the confidence and respect of both line management and union officials and members.
7. Capacity for innovative and proactive dispute resolution and problem solving.
8. Ability to build and maintain employee-employer relationships in a unionized environment.
9. Collective bargaining and negotiations skills.
10. Ability to perform successfully in a fast-paced culture experiencing very rapid change and contending with considerable resistance.
11. Proficient digital literacy including Word/Excel/PowerPoint.
12. Ability to multitask, prioritize, and organize.