Manager, Labour Relations & HR Strategy

Coquitlam; Coquitlam; Hybrid; CAD 148,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Coquitlam is seeking an experienced Manager, Labour Relations and HR Strategy to lead the labour relations portfolio and translate organizational priorities into practical HR strategies and improvements.

Reporting to the CHRO, you will guide collective bargaining, investigations and policy development while partnering with managers and union representatives to support effective municipal service delivery.

Qualifications

• A university degree in Industrial Relations, Labour Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration or related discipline.
• Extensive progressive labour relations experience in a complex unionized environment.
• Experience developing collective bargaining strategies and negotiations.
• Experience managing grievances and workplace investigations.
• Strong knowledge of employment, labour relations and human rights legislation.
• Ability to build productive relationships with union representatives and managers.
• Strong written communication and analytical skills for reports and recommendations.
• Experience leading HR initiatives and translating strategic objectives into implementation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the City’s labour relations portfolio with strategic direction on bargaining and administration.
• Build bargaining strategies and lead or participate in negotiations with CUPE and IAFF.
• Maintain constructive relationships with union representatives to balance needs.
• Oversee grievances and coordinate mediation/arbitration processes.
• Lead sensitive workplace investigations with clear recommendations.
• Advise leaders on discipline, performance, rights matters and policy interpretation.
• Operationalize the Talent and Retention Strategy with managers and HR colleagues.
• Develop, review and implement HR policies aligned with legislation and objectives.
• Prepare reports and advisories for senior leadership and council presentations.
• Coach managers on labour relations practices and decision-making.
• Identify improvements to labour relations processes and service delivery.
• Provide leadership and development to direct reports and cross-team collaboration.

Job description

MANAGER,LABOUR RELATIONS AND HR STRATEGY

RegularFull Time (Exempt)

About Us

One of BC’s Top Employers, the City of Coquitlam offers meaningfulcareer opportunities to make a difference within the local community. As one ofBritish Columbia’s largest and most dynamic municipalities, Coquitlam is hometo a diverse and rapidly evolving community of more than 170,000 residents.

Located in the heart of Metro Vancouver, Coquitlam combines establishedneighbourhoods, emerging urban centres, rapid-transit connectivity andsignificant new community development with extensive parks, trails and naturalareas. The City is experiencing substantial growth and transformation whilecontinuing to focus on thoughtful city building, sustainable service deliveryand an exceptional quality of life.

Our brand is built on managing our resources in a responsible andsustainable manner while supporting a vibrant, growing regional urban centre.We envision a bright future in Coquitlam that we hope includes you.

About You / What We Are Looking For

The City of Coquitlam is seeking anexperienced and relationship-focused leader to join our Human Resources team asManager, Labour Relations and HR Strategy.

Reporting to the Chief HumanResources Officer, you will lead the City’s labour relations portfolio whilehelping translate organizational priorities into practical HR strategies,policies and improvements. Working closely with HR colleagues, operationalleaders and union representatives, you will provide trusted advice on complexworkplace matters and help build the relationships that support effectivemunicipal service delivery.

This is an opportunity for aseasoned labour relations professional who understands both the technicaldiscipline and the judgment required to achieve constructive outcomes. Youbring depth in collective bargaining, grievances, investigations and collectiveagreement administration, together with the ability to understand competinginterests, navigate sensitive situations and find a workable path forward.

We are looking for someone who earnscredibility through sound advice, thoughtful negotiation and consistentfollow-through. You can hold a clear position while remaining open to differentperspectives, recognize when compromise will achieve a stronger outcome, andunderstand how today’s decisions can shape workplace relationships for years tocome.

Alongside this labour relationsmandate, you will help advance the City’s recently approved Talent andRetention Strategy. Partnering with managers and HR colleagues, you will turnstrategic commitments into practical changes, strengthen policies and practices,and help leaders bring their teams along as the organization evolves.

For an accomplished professionalmotivated by complex challenges, trusted partnerships and the opportunity toinfluence how an organization supports its people, this role offers meaningfulscope to make a lasting contribution.

Main Responsibilities

• Leadthe City’s labour relations portfolio, providing strategic direction andpractical advice on collective bargaining, collective agreement interpretationand administration, non-occupational disability management, grievances, disputeresolution and complex employee relations matters.
• Developbargaining strategies, prepare proposals and supporting analysis, and lead or participate in negotiations involving the City’s CUPE and IAFF bargainingrelationships.
• Buildand maintain constructive relationships with union representatives, addressingemerging concerns early and pursuing resolutions that balance organizationalneeds, employee interests and long-term working relationships.
• Overseecomplex grievances and support mediation and arbitration processes,coordinating with HR colleagues, external counsel and other representatives asappropriate.
• Leador oversee sensitive workplace investigations, ensuring a thorough, fair andwell-documented process and providing clear recommendations on findings andappropriate next steps.
• Adviseleaders on discipline, performance management, terminations, human rightsmatters and other sensitive workplace issues, helping them assess options,risks and organizational implications.
• Partnerwith HR colleagues and managers to operationalize the City’s Talent andRetention Strategy, translating priorities into coordinated initiatives,practical tools and measurable progress.
• Leadthe development, review and implementation of HR policies and procedures,ensuring alignment with legislation, collective agreements, organizationalobjectives and evolving workplace needs.
• Prepareclear, well-supported reports, policy briefs, correspondence andrecommendations for senior leadership, and support the CHRO with Councilreports and presentations.
• Coachmanagers and HR professionals on labour relations practices, policy applicationand effective workplace decision-making, strengthening confidence andconsistency across the organization.
• Identifyopportunities to improve labour relations processes, reporting and servicedelivery, using experience, workplace trends and feedback to guideimprovements.
• Provideleadership, coaching and development to one direct report, establishing clearpriorities and supporting effective collaboration across the Human Resourcesteam.

MinimumQualifications

• A university degree inIndustrial Relations, Labour Relations, Human Resources, BusinessAdministration, Commerce or a related discipline, or an equivalent combinationof relevant education, training and experience.
• Substantial progressive labourrelations experience in a complex unionized environment, typically gainedthrough ten or more years of relevant practice, including responsibility forsensitive and complex workplace matters.
• Demonstrated experiencedeveloping collective bargaining strategies and leading or playing a significant role in collective agreement negotiations.
• Extensive experience managinggrievances, conducting or overseeing workplace investigations, and advising ondiscipline, collective agreement interpretation and dispute resolution.
• Strong working knowledge ofapplicable employment, labour relations and human rights legislation, with theability to translate technical requirements into practical advice.
• Demonstrated ability to buildproductive relationships with union representatives, managers and HRcolleagues, using sound judgment, negotiation and conflict resolution skills toachieve workable outcomes.
• Strong written communication andanalytical skills, including experience preparing policies, reports andrecommendations and advising senior leaders on complex or sensitive issues.
• Experience leading people orsignificant HR initiatives, managing competing priorities, and translatingstrategic objectives into practical implementation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Approximately fifteen years of progressive experience,bringing breadth and depth across labour relations, employee relations andstrategic HR work.
• Experience within municipal government, the broaderpublic sector or a similarly complex environment with multiple bargainingrelationships.
• A graduate degree in Industrial Relations, BusinessAdministration or a related discipline.
• A Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR)designation.
• Experience advising executive leadership, boards orelected officials, including preparing reports and recommendations that supportinformed decisions.
• Experience implementing talent, retention or workforcestrategies and supporting managers through changes to policies, practices orways of working.
• Experience with human rights proceedings, mediation,arbitration or other complex labour relations processes.

TheIdeal Candidate

The ideal candidate is anaccomplished labour relations professional who combines technical credibilitywith emotional intelligence, discretion and a practical understanding ofpeople.

You recognize that effectivelabour relations requires careful judgment about how and when to exerciseauthority. You can assess the strength of a position, understand theconsequences of different approaches, and negotiate a resolution that protectsthe organization’s interests while preserving trust wherever possible.

You build credibility withboth operational leaders and union representatives. You listen carefully, askuseful questions and remain composed when the issues are difficult. You arecomfortable having direct conversations, challenging assumptions and offeringadvice that may not always be easy to hear.

As a strategic partner, youcan move between an immediate workplace issue and its broader organizationalimplications. You write clearly, anticipate the information senior leadersneed, and bring forward recommendations that are balanced, actionable and wellsupported.

You also understand that astrategy succeeds through the people responsible for putting it into practice.You will work alongside managers and HR colleagues to build understanding,encourage participation and turn the City’s talent and retention prioritiesinto meaningful improvements.

Why Work With Us

• Leada consequential labour relations portfolio. Apply your experience acrosscomplex bargaining, workplace issues and union relationships in a growingmunicipal organization.
• Helpput strategy into practice. Play a central role in advancing the City’s Talentand Retention Strategy and shaping how we attract, support and retain ourpeople.
• Workdirectly with senior leadership. Partner with the CHRO and leaders across theCity, providing advice that informs important organizational decisions.
• Buildrelationships with lasting value. Help managers and union representativesnavigate challenges constructively while strengthening the foundations forfuture collaboration.
• Influencehow HR services evolve. Improve policies, tools and processes that supportbetter decisions and a consistent employee experience.
• Contributeto public service. Support the people whose work makes Coquitlam a welcoming,connected and thriving community.
• Joina recognized employer. Be part of an organization recognized as one of BC’s TopEmployers, with opportunities for professional growth and meaningfulcontribution.

What We Offer:

This is an excludedposition with an annual salary range of $147,819 - $166,277 (2026 Rates). Therate of pay will be determined based on a variety of factors includingqualifications, knowledge, experience and skills.

This is an opportunityto join a progressive and growing municipality and an accomplished executiveteam committed to serving a diverse and evolving community. The City supportscontinuous learning and leadership development and provides opportunities foremployees at all levels of the organization to grow professionally andcontribute meaningfully to public service.

The City offers acomprehensive total rewards package, including an attractive vacation andextended benefits program and participation in the Municipal Pension Plan.There is also an opportunity to participate in the City’s earned day off/flexday program. The position is based in Coquitlam, with flexible and hybrid workoptions available in alignment with the responsibilities and operationalrequirements of this senior leadership role.

Accessibility / Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Coquitlamis proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer working towards enhancingequitable practices in our recruitment and retention processes. As anorganization we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment tosupport our growing and diverse work force. To learn more about what equity,diversity, and inclusion means, and the City’s efforts in support of theseprinciples, please visit coquitlam.ca/edi for more information.

If at any time during the application or recruitment process you requireadditional assistance or an accommodation, please contact our team forconfidential support. Staff can also provide in-person support if required.

Applicants under consideration may be required to undergo and submit anacceptable police information check.

We thank allapplicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interviewwill be contacted.