Managing Director, Employee Relations

BMO; Winnipeg; On-site; CAD 175,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Canada is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager to lead enterprise-wide employee relations strategies and ensure compliance with employment legislation. The role requires a Canadian law degree and over 10 years of experience in HR focused on employee relations. Candidates should possess strong influencing and leadership skills, proactive in aligning employee relations initiatives with business strategies.

Benefits

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Accident and life insurance

Retirement savings plans

Qualifications

• 10 years+ of Human Resources experience with a focus on employee/industrial relations.
• Ability to develop and maintain knowledge of complex employee relations regulatory requirements.
• Capacity to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Leads all aspects of Employee/Industrial Relations across BMO.
• Directs various employee relations programs and initiatives managed both internally and externally.
• Ensures workplace accommodations support employees with disabilities.
• Provides high-quality consulting advice to Senior Executives and internal business partners.

Skills

Strong influencing and relationship management skills

Excellent negotiation, presentation and communication skills

Strong critical thinking and analytical skills

Effective team leadership and people management skills

Project management experience

Experience with mediation and arbitration

Innovative and creative mindset

Education

Canadian law degree

Job description

Application Deadline :

11 / 04 / 2025

Overview

Leads all aspects of Employee / Industrial Relations across BMO enterprise-wide. Formulates, recommends and implements Employee and Industrial Relations strategies, policies and programs on an enterprise-wide basis and will manage the governance of such policies. Monitors jurisdictional legislation that impacts the employer-employee relationship including employment standards legislation, health & safety legislation and privacy legislation and ensures that BMOFG employment policies and practices are compliant with legislative obligations. Proactively seeks out ER best practices across all jurisdictions to ensure organizational advancement and alignment to policy. Deals directly and regularly with top senior executives in relation to Executive Officer terminations, policy matters and / or any matters that may have enterprise wide ramifications. Maintains and improves the Bank\'s image with respect to the application of Employment Law, acting as Relationship Manager with all levels of government agencies.

Responsibilities

• As a member of the Total Rewards Direct Report team, contributes to setting the strategic direction for the function overall informing and shaping the strategic direction including the vision, strategy, and execution and providing input and advice on the alignment of strategies and initiatives Employee Relations requirements
• Formulates long-term (and short-term) strategies and coordinates activities designed to realize the Bank\'s objectives in Employee Relations including educating Executives and Managers on legislative obligations and appropriate behavior.
• Leads the development, promotion and maintenance of enterprise wide employee relations program(s), ensuring they are effective and support business needs.
• Oversees a team of professional in the provision of expert employee relations advice and governance ensuring employee relations policies, practices and strategies support the business / group strategies and meet regulatory / legal requirements. Ensures initiatives and HR solutions (programs and processes) are consistently and effectively implemented across the business groups.
• Directs various employee relations programs & initiatives managed internally and with vendors, including work related to acquisitions, divestitures, employment transitions, separation agreements, and outsourcing.
• Primary point of contact with government agencies across all jurisdictions, to influence changes relative to labour legislation and regulations which can have major financial and governance repercussions for the Bank. Often called upon to act as spokesperson for the banking industry as well as other federally regulated employers and / or sit on a number of committees to influence legislative changes both
• Develops ER strategic framework, to ensure the provision of proactive and effective employee relations advice to HR BPs and executives. Provides support to businesses / functions regarding people and culture implications on business goals and strategies
• Maintains a long-term view of strategic initiatives pertaining to the better health of the organization relative to fostering and maintaining a positive culture in line with organizational values.
• Ensures all enterprise practices conform with internal and external Health & Safety legislation and policies as they relate to employees.
• Manages executive terminations, preparing severance packages, obtaining CEO approval, coaching employee\'s manager on conducting the termination meeting (sometimes actually conducts the meeting), negotiating with the terminated employee to settle the deal, preparing the Separation Agreement and General Release, and ensuring the terms of the Agreement are properly implemented. Manages, on behalf of the client, any litigation that results from this activity
• Ensures that ER service delivery is effectively implemented cross-functionally through all LOBs. Acts as a Corporate ER resource to CoE groups, and HR Business Partners across BMO.
• Ensures workplace accommodations provide required support for employees with disabilities
• Provides high quality / value added professional consulting advice and counsel to Senior Executives, clients, and internal business partners to improve and / or enhance business effectiveness.
• Provides training on ER / IR issues to all levels of the organization to enhance the capability of ER, HR and IR Practitioners.
• Promotes and supports the Bank\'s risk culture ensuring employees understand their accountabilities for risk-taking activities, promoting an environment of open communication and effective challenge, and establishing the "tone from the top" through leading by example.
• Complies with the Bank\'s Risk Appetite framework and ensures risk-taking activities remain within agreed limits and comply with all regulatory requirements

Qualifications

• Canadian law degree is mandatory
• 10 years+ of Human Resources experience with a focus on employee / industrial relationship would be ideal
• Requires the professional and technical ability to develop and maintain a high level of knowledge of complex and evolving employee relations regulatory requirements and trends across all jurisdictions in which BMO FG is located
• Experience with mediation and arbitration
• Effective team leadership and people management skills
• Strong influencing and relationship management skills
• Excellent negotiation, presentation and communication skills
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills
• Project management experience
• Innovative, creative, self-starter, capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously

Salary

Please note the target base salary range for this specific position is noted as a range from $175,000 to $205,000 CAD.

Salary : Pay Type :

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group\'s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group\'s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group\'s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit : https : / / jobs.bmo.com / global / en / Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose : Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one - for yourself and our customers. We\'ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we\'ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at https : / / jobs.bmo.com / ca / en .

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other\'s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please contact your recruiter.

Note to Recruiters : BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.