Labour Lawyer

Red Deer; Red Deer; Hybrid; CAD 134,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Red Deer is seeking a Labour Lawyer to provide strategic and practical legal advice on a broad range of labour and employment matters within the Legal & Legislative Services department.

Reporting to the Deputy City Solicitor, you will manage a caseload of hearings, conduct complex arbitrations, and represent the City before the Labour Relations Board and the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal, while advising on OH&S, privacy, terminations, and workforce policy.

Qualifications

• Minimum three to five years of management-side labour and employment law experience.
• Strong knowledge of labour, employment, and human rights law.
• Excellent drafting and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a politically sensitive municipal environment.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and strategy on a broad range of labour and employment issues, including collective bargaining and day to day workplace matters.
• Manage an assigned caseload of hearings and independently conduct proceedings, with the majority of the hearing work focused on complex, multi-day labour arbitrations arising under The City’s collective agreements.
• Provide advice on workers’ compensation, pay equity, occupational health and safety, human rights, employment standards, privacy, terminations, reorganizations, layoffs, and workplace investigations.
• Provide advice and support in relation to The City's non-unionized workforce.
• Research, interpret, and communicate legal principles, statutory authorities, and constraints affecting City decisions.
• Review or draft documents including workplace policies, grievance resolutions, termination documents, contracts, etc. —including those prepared by City staff—to ensure clarity, legal compliance, risk mitigation, and alignment with the City’s objectives.
• Support the Legal Services team in additional areas of law as needed.

Skills

Labour law

Employment law

Human rights law

Drafting & negotiation

Analytical thinking

Education

Bar admission in Alberta

Job description

About Red Deer:

Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government:

The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

The Opportunity:

The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Labour Lawyer to fill a permanent full-time position in our Legal & Legislative Services department. Reporting to the Deputy City Solicitor, the Labour Lawyer provides strategic and practical legal advice on a wide range of labour and employment matters.

Top Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice and strategy on a broad range of labour and employment issues, including collective bargaining and day to day workplace matters.
• Manage an assigned caseload of hearings and independently conduct proceedings, with the majority of the hearing work focused on complex, multi-day labour arbitrations arising under The City’s collective agreements. Responsibilities also include representing The City in matters before the Labour Relations Board and the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal, as well as handling of judicial reviews and statutory appeals.
• Provide advice on workers’ compensation, pay equity, occupational health and safety, human rights, employment standards, privacy, terminations, reorganizations, layoffs, and workplace investigations.
• Provide advice and support in relation to The City's non-unionized workforce.
• Research, interpret, and communicate legal principles, statutory authorities, and constraints affecting City decisions.
• Review or draft documents including workplace policies, grievance resolutions, termination documents, contracts, etc. —including those prepared by City staff—to ensure clarity, legal compliance, risk mitigation, and alignment with the City’s objectives.
• Support the Legal Services team in additional areas of law as needed.
  

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Alberta, or eligible for membership prior to employment.
• Minimum three - five years management-side labour and employment law experience, preferably in a multi-union environment.
• Strong working knowledge of labour, employment, and human rights law.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a time sensitive environment.
• Strong analytical abilities, sound judgment, and the capacity to apply legal principles in a practical, solutions-oriented manner.
• Exceptional communication and drafting skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to develop a solid understanding of the City’s operations and strategic priorities.
• Political acumen and the ability to operate effectively in a politically sensitive environment.
• High level of interpersonal skill and diplomacy, with the ability to listen effectively, identify underlying issues, and communicate clearly and constructively.
  

Affiliation

Exempt

Status

Regular Full-time

Remuneration

$68.48 to $85.60 per hour ($134,057 to $167,571 per annum)

Hours of Work

75 hours biweekly; Monday to Friday, some evening and weekend work may be required when needed.

Additional Information

Work outside of regular office hours can be expected. Attendance at City Council Meetings and other meetings outside of core business hours may be required. Timelines are often short on work assignments. The workday will be frequently interrupted. Work must be performed in a confidential manner to ensure that solicitor client privilege is maintained.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.