Lead Negotiator

City of Saskatoon; Saskatoon; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Saskatoon is seeking an experienced Lead Negotiator to lead collective bargaining in a complex, multi-union environment. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, you will develop and execute strategic negotiation plans, provide expert labour relations advice, and be part of a high-performing team to achieve sustainable, legally compliant outcomes aligned with the City’s priorities.

If you bring proven negotiation expertise, strong leadership, and a collaborative approach to

Qualifications

• Degree in Labour or Industrial relations or a related field.
• Ten years’ related experience in human resources with emphasis in labour relations, including 5 years in a Lead Negotiator role.
• Experience as a successful negotiator, preferably in municipal or public sector.
• Strong communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience in costing collective agreements.
• Advanced knowledge of negotiation techniques, principles, strategies, and best practices.
• Knowledge of municipal, provincial and federal labor and employment laws.
• Ability to manage complex, high-stakes negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Acts as principal advisor to the Chief Human Resources Officer on negotiations and related labour relations matters.
• Leads contract negotiations as lead spokesperson; directs professional staff in negotiation, labour relations and related legal matters.
• Responsible for collective agreement costings and mandate compliance.
• Develops and executes negotiation strategies aligned with organizational goals including multi-year bargaining strategy.
• Drafts, reviews and edits collective bargaining proposals, offers for settlement, tentative agreements and Council Reports.
• Analyzes and interprets legislation, and court and arbitration rulings applicable to negotiations and related legal matters.
• Plans goals and objectives for the city’s collective bargaining activities and monitors workloads to ensure negotiations are handled expeditiously.
• Interprets labor contracts and advises on related legal matters.
• Responsible for performance management of assigned staff and staff development plans.
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to develop best practices for negotiation and labour relations.
• Ensures compliance with laws, regulatory requirements, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Develop and monitor division KPIs and adjust as needed.

Skills

Negotiation

Labour relations

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Labour or Industrial relations

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert: Create Alert

Department:Strategic Negotiations, Labour Relations and Client Services

Closing Date: This posting will remain open until the job is filled.

Labour Group: ESA

Posting: 5792

Join Our Team!

The City of Saskatoon is seeking an experienced Lead Negotiator to lead collective bargaining in a complex, multi-union environment. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, you will develop and execute strategic negotiation plans, provide expert labour relations advice, and be part of a high-performing team to achieve sustainable, legally compliant outcomes aligned with the City’s priorities. If you bring proven negotiation expertise, strong leadership skills, and a collaborative approach to labour relations, we invite you to apply.

The work you'll be involved in:

Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Lead Negotiator is responsible for leading overall negotiations in a multi-union environment for the City of Saskatoon.

This position acts as an advisor to the Chief Human Resources Officer on all aspects of bargaining, labour relations and related legal matters. The Lead Negotiator develops and coordinates negotiation strategies, ensures outcomes align with the approved mandate, and fosters collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

It develops negotiation strategies, fosters collaborative labour-management relationships, and ensures compliance with applicable labour laws and regulations. This role demands a strong leader with the ability to navigate complex negotiations, build relationships, and influence positive results. Duties include:

• Acts as the principal advisor to the Chief Human Resources Officer on negotiations and related labour relations matters.
• Serves as the lead spokesperson during contract negotiations. Manages the activities of negotiations by directing the work of professional and technical staff in all matters relating to negotiation, labour relations and related legal matters.
• Responsible for collective agreement costings in preparation for mandate development, bargaining and proposal costing and confirmation for mandate compliance.
• Develops and executes negotiation strategies aligned with organizational goals including the development of a multi-year bargaining strategy. Coordinates the work of researching and analysis in preparation for bargaining, as needed.
• Drafts, reviews and edits collective bargaining proposals, offers for settlement, tentative agreements and Council Reports.
• Analyzes and interprets legislation, and court and arbitration rulings applicable to negotiations and related legal matters.
• Plan goals and objectives related to the city’s collective bargaining activities and prioritizes and monitors workloads to ensure negotiations are handled expeditiously.
• Interprets labor contracts and advises on related legal matters.
• Responsible for the performance management process of assigned staff and ensures performance and development plans are in place to support staff career development. Coaches, mentors, supports and motivates staff, by providing career planning, education and skills training, and performance management.
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to develop and support best practices for the delivery of negotiation and labour relations.
• Ensures compliance with various laws, regulatory requirements, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Develop and monitor division key performance indicators (KPIs) and make appropriate changes to KPIs and advise and address when service standards are not being met.
• Manage, direct, coordinate and oversees projects and initiatives.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Who we are looking for:

Core Competencies:

Strategic Labour Relations Leadership:Provides enterprise-level leadership in collective bargaining and labour relations within a complex, multi-union environment. Aligns negotiation strategies with the City’s long-term financial, workforce, and service delivery priorities, positioning labour relations as a strategic enabler of organizational success.

Expert Negotiation and Bargaining Acumen:Leads high-stakes collective bargaining as the lead spokesperson with confidence, credibility, and discipline. Develops and executes negotiation strategies grounded in research, costing, and mandate alignment to achieve sustainable, compliant, and defensible outcomes.

Influencing and Advisory Excellence: Acts as a trusted advisor to the Chief Human Resources Officer and senior leadership on bargaining, labour relations, and related legal matters. Influences decision-making through clear analysis, sound judgment, and persuasive communication with executives, Council, unions, and stakeholders.

Collaborative Relationship Management: Builds and maintains constructive labour-management relationships based on respect, transparency, and professionalism. Navigates conflict effectively, balances competing interests, and fosters dialogue that supports positive outcomes while protecting the City’s interests.

Legal and Legislative Insight: Applies advanced knowledge of municipal, provincial, and federal labour and employment legislation, arbitration decisions, and collective agreement interpretation. Ensures negotiation strategies and outcomes comply with legal requirements and mitigate organizational risk.

Analytical and Financial Stewardship: Demonstrates strong analytical capability in costing collective agreements and evaluating financial implications of bargaining proposals. Ensures fiscal accountability by aligning negotiated outcomes with approved mandates and long-term sustainability.

People Leadership and Talent Development: Leads, coaches, and develops professional and technical staff to build a high-performing labour relations team. Sets clear expectations, supports career development, and fosters a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

Change Leadership and Innovation: Anticipates emerging labour relations challenges and introduces contemporary, creative approaches to negotiations and dispute resolution. Leads the organization through evolving labour environments with clarity, adaptability, and a focus on continuous improvement.

What we are looking for:

• Degree in Labour or Industrial relations or a related field.
• Ten years’ related experience in human resources with an emphasis in labour relations, including 5 years experience in a Lead Negotiator capacity.
• Experience as a successful negotiator, preferably in the municipal or public sector.
• Strong communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated experience in costing collective agreements.
• Advanced knowledge of negotiation techniques, principles, strategies, and best practices.
• Considerable knowledge of municipal, provincial and federal labor and employment laws.
• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of labour law and collective bargaining.
• Considerable knowledge of legal research methods, techniques, and resources.
• Demonstrated ability to mange complex, high-stakes negotiations.
• Demonstrated ability to apply contemporary, creative and innovative solutions to labour relations issues.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with all levels of civic staff, elected officials, unions, government and other external agencies.
• Possession of a valid Saskatchewan Class 5 Driver’s Licence.

Additional Requirements

The City of Saskatoon offers a wide range of benefits. These benefits support the health, well-being and financial security of our employees. Click the link belowe to find out more!

Salary Range:A comprehensive total rewards package will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The City of Saskatoon offers an inclusive workplace that embraces diverse backgrounds. As an equity partner with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the City commits to diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplaces. By having our workforce reflect the community we serve, we support the realization of miyo-pimatisiwin, (me-o-pi-ma-ti-si-win) “the good life”, for all residents. To learn more about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the City, please visit Saskatoon.ca/diversity

Accommodation

The City of Saskatoon strives to provide an accessible and inclusive workplace for all, including throughout the application and selection process through reasonable access and accommodations. Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please email [e-mail].

While we appreciate all applications we receive, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

Our Recruitment Process: Application > Posting Closes > Resume Review > Pre-screen/Interview > Offer > Pre-Employment Conditions > Welcome to the City