Manager, Labour & Employee Relations, Talent Services – Permanent Full-Time (1.0)

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 87,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEO in Ottawa seeks a senior Labour & Employee Relations Manager to lead bargaining, grievance handling and workplace relations across the hospital. You will collaborate with management, unions and staff to foster a constructive, compliant environment and drive strategic HR initiatives aligned with CHEO’s mission.

The role requires deep knowledge of labour laws, strong negotiation and people leadership skills, and the ability to manage sensitive situations with professionalism and fairness.

Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources or Labour Relations and CHRP or equivalent designation.
• Extensive knowledge of collective bargaining, grievances and employment law.
• 7–10 years of progressive labour relations experience with leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead labour relations including bargaining, grievances and arbitration procedures.
• Manage and mentor the Labour Relations team and liaison with union reps.
• Develop policies and programs aligned with hospital mission, values and safety.
• Monitor KPIs on grievances, safety issues and employee engagement; drive improvements.
• Provide guidance on complex labour-management issues and workplace investigations.

Skills

Bilingual English/French

Excellent communication

Negotiation skills

Leadership

HR knowledge

Education

Degree in Human Resources / Labour Relations

CHRP Certification or equivalent

Tools

MS Office Suite

HR information systems

Job description

Compensation Pay Range: $63.26-$76.89

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land. CHEO is one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system. Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director, Labour Relations & Healthy Workplace, the Manager, Labour & Employee Relations will bring a high level of expertise, leadership and support in the areas of Labour Relations. The Manager will work closely with all levels of management, union representatives and employees to establish and maintain a culture of positive and collaborative labour relations. The Manager will lead negotiations with all union groups and will provide expertise when preparing for and representing the organization in mediation and arbitration cases. The Manager will be accountable for day to day labour relations and to develop and enhance operational objectives, corporate goals and values.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Manages the labour and employee relations function including collective bargaining, collective agreement application and administration, grievance and arbitration procedures, workplace complaints process, labour relations training, discipline and discharge, attendance awareness.
• Manages and leads the Labour Relations team.
• Supports the CTO in the planning and development of goals, objectives and strategies consistent with the Hospital’s mission and vision.
• Leads in the development and implementation of relevant policies, procedures, and programs and ensures compliance with all applicable legislation and regulations.
• Leads CHEO’s collective bargaining team and process.
• Leads and facilitates labour management meetings.
• Leads the design and development of labour relations education and training initiatives for management and staff.
• Monitors performance indicators; i.e. number and type of grievances and other complaints, labour management topic themes, occupational health and safety issues/concerns, employee engagement scores etc. and develops solutions to enable positive outcomes.
• As part of the HR Management team, contributes to the strategic development of HR programs, policies and processes by developing a progressive, business focused labour relations strategy to reflect current and future needs of the organization.
• Provides expertise, training and support to all levels of management to ensure the effective management of labour relations issues.
• Establishes and reports on key performance indicators to measure employee relations success and reports on a regular basis.
• Performs work in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and all CHEO corporate/department policies and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by supervisor.

The successful candidate will embody organizational values and lead with vision, fairness, and integrity, fostering a culture of trust, respect, and accountability. They are skilled in diplomacy and proactive communication, effectively navigating sensitive labour-management issues and building collaboration across departments. An exceptional communicator, they can explain complex matters clearly to diverse audiences while actively listening and ensuring all voices are respected. They are confident in leading difficult conversations with professionalism and tact. As a people leader, they provide clear direction, coaching, and support for career growth, while cultivating a safe, inclusive, and high-performing workplace that balances organizational priorities with staff well-being. By modelling resilience under pressure, they set the tone for a respectful, high-performing workplace.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree specializing in Human Resources, Labour Relations or a related discipline (Essential)
• Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) Certification or equivalent designation (Essential)
• Minimum seven to ten (7-10) years of progressive relevant experience, with proven experience in team leadership (Essential)
• Comprehensive knowledge of labour relations principles, such as collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration procedures and employment legislation (Essential)
• Skilled in workplace complaint investigations and dispute resolution mechanisms (Essential)
• Criminal Record Check (CRC) (Essential)
• Effective leadership, critical thinking and team building skills (Essential)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with proven ability to establish trust at all levels (Essential)
• Strong negotiations, problem solving, conflict resolution and decision-making skills (Essential)
• Demonstrated experience in effectively managing contentious situations / people issues (Essential)
• Strong knowledge and experience working with relevant employment and labour legislation (Essential)
• Strong organizational and multi-task skills (Essential)
• Flexible with working hours to suit operational requirements (Essential)
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment (Essential)
• Pleasant manner and tactful in dealing with the public, excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skill (Essential)
• Demonstrated initiative, customer service and team work skills (Essential)
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office Suite and good general knowledge of payroll/HR information systems (Essential)
• Working knowledge of applicable occupational health and safety legislation; general knowledge of corporate/departmental policies and procedures related to health and safety (Essential)
• Bilingualism (English/French) (Preferred)

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process. This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested. Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail]. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.

CHEO is much more than a hospital. Our commitment to outstanding care and continued development impacts every part of a child and youth's health and well-being. We play a crucial role in building a healthy future for our community. Working at CHEO means a rewarding career.

A career at CHEO provides a: competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package unique culture that fosters dedication, communication, respect and teamwork place where your opinions will be respected, contributions valued and your initiatives rewarded family-friendly environment that supports you and your own family, as well as the children, youth and families we serve chance to grow - personally and professionally - through our comprehensive orientation program and on-the-job learning support for continued education and learning potential for a relocation reimbursement benefit truly unique work environment

We are redefining what it means to be a hospital. Exceptional and integrated care is what families, children and youth deserve. We are committed to partnering with them and the community to provide this care - where, when and how its needed. CHEO continues to be selected by local, national and international competitions showcasing employers who lead their sector in offering exceptional workplaces for their employees. For the eleventh time, CHEO has been recognized as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers. We were given this honour based on our outstanding: workplace atmosphere benefits employee communications training and skills development community involvement