People Relations Manager

Covenant Health Canada; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 98,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant Health in Edmonton is seeking a Manager, People Relations to lead a team in a complex healthcare setting. The role focuses on guiding investigations, standardizing practices, and building proactive, strategic partnerships aligned with our mission and values.

The ideal candidate has a strong HR background with extensive experience in employee and labour relations, excellent stakeholder skills, and the ability to navigate a fast-paced, multi-union environment while maintaining ethical

Qualifications

• 10+ years progressive HR experience, including 5+ years in leadership within employee or labor relations.
• Advanced knowledge of labour laws, collective agreements, and conflict resolution strategies.
• Experience guiding teams through complex investigations and high-risk matters.

Responsibilities

• Oversee resolution of complex workplace matters including investigations.
• Lead a team within a multi-unionized healthcare environment.
• Partner with senior leaders and unions to drive proactive People Relations practices.

Skills

Leadership

Employee relations

Labor relations

Stakeholder management

Communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/IR

Tools

Microsoft Office

HR systems

Job description

Your Opportunity:

Are you an experienced HR leader who thrives in complexity, leads with integrity and translates organizational needs into decisive action? Do you bring strong expertise in employee and labour relations, sound business acumen and the ability to guide teams through change with clarity and confidence? Covenant Health is seeking a dynamic Manager, People Relations to provide operational leadership to a team within a complex, multi-unionized healthcare environment. Reporting to the Corporate Director, Talent Acquisition & People Relations, this role is accountable for advancing a modern, responsive and values-driven People Relations function. This position will oversee the resolution of complex workplace matters, including investigations, while also shaping the evolution of our people relations practices, moving to a model of proactive, innovative and strategic partnerships. The ideal candidate will guide the team in standardizing practices to achieve excellence while modernizing the People Relations function to meet evolving organizational needs. They will champion continuous improvement and ensure practices are consistent, evidence-informed, legally sound and ethically grounded across the organization. The successful candidate will be a trusted and action-oriented leader who can navigate ambiguity, balance competing priorities and make timely, risk-informed decisions. They will provide principled advice to senior leaders, build productive stakeholder relationships and deliver recommendations aligned with Covenant Health’s Mission, Vision and Values. They will also foster psychological safety and develop a high-performing team that is accountable, resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced environment. Please note: This is a hybrid position which requires you to work both remotely as well as onsite within Edmonton.

Description:

• Classification: Manager
• Union: COV OUT OF SCOPE
• Unit and Program: People Relations
• Primary Location: Cabrini Centre
• Location Details: As Per Location
• Employee Class: Regular Full Time
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 08-SEP-2026
• Date Available: 05-OCT-2026
• Hours per Shift: 7.75
• Length of Shift in weeks: 2
• Shifts per cycle: 10
• Shift Pattern: Days
• Days Off: Saturday/Sunday
• Minimum Hourly Salary: $50.20
• Maximum Hourly Salary: $75.30
• Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations or related field. 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including 5+ years in a formal or informal leadership role within employee relations or labor relations. Advanced knowledge of labour laws, collective agreements, and conflict resolution strategies.

Additional Required Qualifications:

• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop teams responsible for complex cases and high-risk employee and labour relations matters. Demonstrated ability to establish accountability, manage complexity, set priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment. Strong business acumen and the ability to assess operational, workforce, financial and reputational implications when making decisions and recommendations. Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to make timely, evidence-informed and risk-informed decisions. Exceptional communication, negotiation, collaboration, relationship-building and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to establish trust, influence others and work effectively with senior leaders, unions and multidisciplinary partners. Demonstrated ability to optimize work processes and improve service consistency and effectiveness. Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining discretion, professionalism and ethical judgment. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and human resources systems. Understanding of the healthcare system from a corporate human resources perspective. Commitment to Covenant Health’s Mission, Vision and Values.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPHR Designation. Certification in workplace investigations and/or labor relations. Leadership experience within a complex, multi-unionized healthcare or public-sector environment.