Executive Director (VP-level), Workforce Strategy and Labour Relations.

Summit Search Group; Toronto; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Search Group is partnering with a leading aviation and transportation organization to recruit an Executive Director, Workforce Strategy & Labour Relations in Toronto, ON. The role reports to the Chief Human Resources Officer and leads enterprise workforce strategy, labour relations and the HR Business Partner operating model.

You will advise the executive team, shape governance for workforce decisions, guide collective bargaining strategy, and drive data‑informed planning across business

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in HR or labour relations.
• Experience advising executive teams on workforce strategy and governance.
• Experience operating in a unionized, complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Own and shape enterprise workforce strategy, integrating workforce planning and labour strategy.
• Anticipate trends and translate insights into enterprise priorities and decision frameworks.
• Align workforce strategy with business strategy, resilience and long-term sustainability.
• Act as a primary workforce and labour advisor to the CHRO and Executive Team.
• Lead executive-level workforce governance and escalation of complex matters.
• Provide strategic oversight of labour and employee relations across the enterprise.

Skills

Executive leadership

Labour relations

Workforce planning

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/IR/Business

MBA preferred

CHRL designation

Tools

HRIS experience

Job description

Our client is a leader in the aviation and transportation industry.

Location: Toronto, ON

Position Scope:

Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Executive Director, Workforce Strategy & Labour Relations provides enterprise leadership for the organization's workforce strategy, labour relations and HR Business Partner operating model.

The role ensures workforce decisions are forward-looking, risk-informed and aligned with organizational priorities, operational requirements and the future of work at the organization.

As a trusted advisor to the Executive Team, this leader provides executive-facing workforce insight, governance and prioritization across business units while strengthening integration between workforce strategy, labour relations and business execution in a complex, unionized environment.

Responsibilities:

• Own and shape the organization's enterprise workforce strategy, integrating workforce planning, labour strategy and future-of-work considerations.
• Anticipate workforce, labour market and regulatory trends, translating insights into enterprise priorities and decision frameworks.
• Align workforce strategy with business strategy, operational resilience and long-term sustainability.
• Act as a primary workforce and labour advisor to the Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Team.
• Lead executive-level workforce governance, prioritization and escalation of complex workforce and labour matters.
• Provide strategic oversight of labour relations and employee relations across the enterprise, including collective bargaining strategy, risk mitigation and long-term labour sustainability.
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of collective agreements, policies and governance frameworks.
• Own the HR Business Partner operating model, enterprise priorities and executive-facing cadence, ensuring HR Business Partners focus on high-value strategic advisory.
• Champion the use of workforce data, analytics, forecasting and scenario planning to inform executive decisions.
• Lead and develop senior leaders across HR Business Partnerships and Labour & Employee Relations, building a cohesive, high-performing leadership team.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Operations, union leadership, external counsel and professional networks to support integrated decision-making and effective issue resolution.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education, Knowledge and Experience:

• A university degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business Administration or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A graduate degree, such as an MBA or master's degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations or a related discipline, is preferred.
• A CHRL or equivalent professional designation and demonstrated expertise in labour relations within a unionized environment.
• 15 or more years of progressive Human Resources or labour relations experience in a large, complex organization.
• Eight or more years of senior leadership experience, including experience leading through Directors.
• Extensive experience advising executive leaders on workforce strategy, labour relations and organizational effectiveness.
• Proven experience operating in a highly unionized and operationally complex environment.
• Expert knowledge of labour relations, employment legislation and employee relations governance.
• Strong enterprise workforce planning, analytics and scenario-planning capability.
• Executive-level influencing, judgment and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance long-term strategy and near-term operational and labour demands.
• The ability to lead through others, providing direction and support while maintaining clear accountability.
• Enterprise workforce strategy or transformation leadership experience and experience supporting Board or executive committee workforce matters are considered assets.

Key Attributes:

• Enterprise-minded and strategically oriented.
• Trusted executive advisor with sound judgment.
• Collaborative, influential and relationship focused.
• Decisive and comfortable navigating complexity and ambiguity.
• Data-informed and forward-looking.
• Accountable, pragmatic and risk aware.
• Experienced in leading through senior leaders and building high-performing teams.

Committed to constructive labour relations and organizational effectiveness.