Labour and Employee Relations Specialist

Socket.dev; Chatham; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15% in lieu of benefits

4% vacation pay

Job summary

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is seeking a temporary full-time Labour and Employee Relations Specialist to lead labour relations initiatives and administer collective agreements. The role emphasizes investigation, bargaining support, and advising management on grievances and discipline within a multi-union municipal context.

The position requires strong communication, analytical skills, and knowledge of Ontario labour laws, with remote working approved and on-site meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• University degree in HR/IR/related field with 2–4 years labour and employee relations experience

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate core values and competencies
• Support development and maintenance of labor relations initiatives
• Administer and interpret all municipal collective agreements
• Assist in preparation for collective bargaining and negotiations
• Prepare bargaining briefs and labour relations data
• Provide guidance on collective agreements and related policies
• Support workplace investigations with documentation and reporting
• Advise management on grievances and disciplinary matters
• Track grievances through all stages of the grievance procedure
• Ensure evidence for arbitration, labour board, or tribunals
• Attend mediations, arbitrations and hearings
• Analyze and advise managers during disciplinary processes
• Participate in discipline meetings and terminations
• Support conflict resolution and investigations
• Facilitate labour-management meetings
• Build relationships with union and management stakeholders
• Assist with annual budget preparation
• Provide support during temporary leadership coverage

Skills

Labour relations

Employee relations

Investigation skills

Disciplinary process

Grievance handling

Collective bargaining support

Policy interpretation

Negotiation support

Education

Bachelor degree in HR/IR/Business

Tools

HRIS (UKG)

JD Edwards

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Status: Temporary Full-Time

Union: Non-Union

Number of Positions: 1

Hours of Work: 35

Location: Civic Centre, Chatham

Reason for Vacancy: Replacement

Closing Date: September 28, 2026, 11:59pm EST. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.

Job description

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has an opening for a temporary full-time Labour and Employee Relations Specialist in the Human Resources and Organizational Development division. This temporary full-time opportunity is for a period up to October 2027.

Essential responsibilities

• Demonstrate Chatham-Kent’s core values and competencies
• Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of employee and labour relations initiatives that align with municipal priorities, workplace wellbeing, respectful workplace practices, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice principles.
• Administer and interpret all municipal collective agreements and letters of understanding.
• Assist in the preparation for and participation in collective bargaining, including research, costing proposals, drafting language, analyzing trends, and supporting negotiations.
• Prepare bargaining briefs, background materials, comparators, and labour relations data for collective bargaining.
• Provide guidance on collective agreement interpretation, labour relations practices, employee relations matters, and related municipal policies, procedures, and programs.
• Support and conduct workplace investigations, including gathering and assessing evident, preparing documentation and reports, and recommendation appropriate resolution strategies.
• Advise and support Managementregardinggrievances, performance and general supervisory functions.
• Support and track grievances through all stages of the grievance procedure.
• Conduct grievance investigations and provide recommendations regarding resolution strategies.
• Ensure evidenceis collected and preparedfor presentation at arbitration, labour board, and/or human rights tribunals.
• Attend and support mediations, arbitrations, labour board hearings, and other administrative proceedings.
• Analyze and advise managers during the disciplinary process, and providing input into the level of discipline.
• Conduct and participate in discipline meetings and employment terminations asassigned by the Manager/Director.
• Participate in conflict resolution process, assistwith/co-ordinate and conduct workplace investigations, ensureappropriate documentation, and prepare final reports.
• Facilitate labour management meetings.
• Build and maintain constructive working relationships with local union executives, national representatives, management, employees, and other stakeholders while demonstrating professionalism, neutrality, and confidentiality.
• Assist with the preparation of the annual budget.
• Provide support during temporary leadership coverage or special projects within Employee Relations & Wellness, as assigned by the Manager/Director.
• Participate in other HR functions, as directed by the Manager, Employee Relations, and the Director of Employee Relations & Wellness.

Essential qualifications

• University degree preferably in Human Resources, Labour/Industrial Relations, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related discipline, with two (2) to four (4) years of related labour and employee relations experience; or an equivalent combination of related education and experience.
• Experience in labour and employee relations, including collective agreement interpretation, grievance handling, workplace investigations, discipline, attendance management, preferably in a multi-union municipal or broader public sector environment.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple files, investigations, grievances, projects, and priorities requiring sound judgment, mental concentration, time management, organization, and prioritization skills.
• Exemplify professionalism and excellent communication and interpersonal skills (both verbal and written) in order to manage relationships with both internal clients and external stakeholders with tact and diplomacy.
• Experience working with a Human Resources Information System (HRIS) preferably UKG, case management system, or similar software program is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of or experience working with JD Edwards Enterprise or similar software programs is considered an asset.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and internet (or other similar software programs).

Other qualifications

• Knowledge of municipal human resources policies, procedures, programs, and collective agreements considered an asset.
• Prior exposure to total rewards for the purpose of providing information to the leadership team during bargaining.
• Strong knowledge of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Ontario Human Rights Code, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Pay Equity Act, Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Core Competencies:

• Political acuity and sound judgment
• Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills
• Superior analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Exceptional report writing and documentation skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality while managing highly sensitive information.
• Ability to influence and build credibility with management and union leadership.
• Ability to interpret and apply collective agreement language consistently and effectively
• Exemplary oral and written communication skills

Certifications, memberships, licenses

• Current membership with the Human Resources Professionals Association considered an asset.
• Currently have or working towards Certified Human Resources Professional or Leader (CHRP/CHRL) designation is considered an asset.
• Training or certification in labour relations, workplace investigations, mediation, conflict resolution, or collective bargaining is considered an asset.

Work environment/hours of work

• This position works primarily indoors.
• This position works primarily weekday hours.

Working Remotely

This position has been approved for remote working, at the discretion of the supervisor based on the Working Remotely Policy.

This position may be required to attend on-site meetings in order to complete essential responsibilities of the role. As per the Working Remotely Policy, employees scheduled to work remotely on a certain day may occasionally be called to a municipal onsite work location on short notice. Employees must remain flexible to accommodate municipal requirements and be prepared to be called in on short notice.

Driver’s licence/vehicle requirements

Because this position would be required to travel, a valid Province of Ontario driver's license with a reliable motor vehicle is preferred.

Background check requirements

Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check prior to commencement of employment. A background check may include the following: education/certification verification, police check, and employment reference check.

Essential physical and/or safety requirements

• Sitting: frequent sitting in a chair (working at desk, on computer and during meetings)
• Hands: frequent fine finger dexterity (movement) (data entry, working on computer, completing reports, spreadsheets, preparing benefit packages etc.)

Benefits

This temporary full-time position has an hourly wage of $49.725 to $56.209 and will receive 15% in lieu of benefits (which includes group benefits, statutory & non-statutory holidays, and non-enrolment in OMERS) and 4% vacation pay. Where a permanent employee is receiving benefits and is the successful candidate for a temporary vacancy, benefits will remain as per the policy manual.

When internal employees are applying to temporary vacancy and want to maintain their permanent status: positions posted as “temporary” may be filled with permanent employees (full-time, part-time and call-in) who want to keep their permanent status provided their ability to be released to a temporary position is reviewed and approved with their current manager/supervisor before submitting an application.

________

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees in a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve.

The Municipality does not use artificial intelligence or automated decision‑making tools in its recruitment or selection processes; all hiring decisions are made by people.

Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources & Organizational Development (HROD) at 519-360-1998. Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.