Senior Advisor, Employee & Labour Relations

Calgary Catholic School District; Calgary; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Calgary Catholic School District is seeking a Senior Advisor, Employee & Labour Relations to provide expert ELR guidance in a multi-union environment. The role focuses on advising Area Directors and leaders, managing complex grievances, investigations, and disputes, and partnering with Legal Services to secure practical, defensible outcomes.

The Senior Advisor collaborates across People Services and unions to strengthen labour-management relations, while supporting coordinated responses to

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Human Resources, Labour Relations, Business Admin, Public Admin, or related field; equivalents considered.
• CPHR designation preferred.
• 7–10 years in employee and labour relations within a complex unionized environment.
• Experience advising operational and senior leaders and working with unions, People Services, and Legal Services.
• Strong knowledge of collective agreement administration and applicable legislation.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice, guidance, and support on ELR matters including grievances, investigations, performance, discipline, and changes.
• Partner with leaders to understand priorities and workforce challenges, offering proactive ELR advice.
• Maintain full carriage of complex ELR matters from assessment through resolution, including disputes and human rights claims.
• Develop case strategy, provide recommendations, negotiate resolutions, and support mediation/arbitration as needed.
• Interpret and apply collective agreements, legislation, policy, and practices to support defensible decisions.
• Build constructive relationships with unions/associations and support labour-management relations.
• Collaborate across People Services to support responses to complex people matters.
• Work with Legal Services and external counsel on high-risk matters with ELR context.
• Identify emerging issues and contribute to initiatives strengthening outcomes.
• Support leaders in building capability in people leadership through coaching and tools.

Skills

Communication skills

ELR experience

Grievance handling

Investigation skills

Negotiation

Relationship building

Strategic advisory

Report writing

Education

Undergraduate degree in HR/related discipline

CPHR designation preferred

Job description

Senior Advisor, Employee & Labour Relations

Calgary Catholic School District is seeking a Senior Advisor, Employee & Labour Relations to provide specialized employee and labour relations expertise in a complex, multi-union environment.

This role combines deep technical ELR expertise with a practical, partnership-oriented approach to supporting school, Area, and system leaders. The Senior Advisor maintains full carriage of complex employee and labour relations matters, provides clear and risk-informed advice, and works closely with Area Directors and other leaders to understand operational priorities, workforce challenges, and emerging people issues.

As a member of the Labour Relations & People Partnerships team, the Senior Advisor also works collaboratively across People Services, with Legal Services, and with union and association representatives to support coordinated, sustainable workplace outcomes.

About the Role

This is a senior practitioner role for an experienced employee and labour relations professional who brings sound judgment, strong technical capability, and confidence navigating complex workplace matters.

The Senior Advisor will:

• Provide advice, guidance, and support on employee and labour relations matters including collective agreement administration, performance management, discipline, attendance, accommodation, conflict, and organizational change.


• Partner with Area Directors and other school and system leaders to understand operational priorities, workforce challenges, and emerging people issues, providing proactive ELR advice and connecting broader People Services expertise where required.


• Maintain full carriage of complex employee and labour relations matters from assessment through resolution, including grievances, workplace investigations, human rights and employment-related claims, and other disputes.


• Develop file strategy, provide recommendations, negotiate resolutions, and support mediation, arbitration, and other proceedings as required.


• Interpret and apply collective agreements, legislation, administrative procedures, policy, and organizational practices to support practical and defensible decision-making.


• Build and maintain constructive relationships with union and association representatives and support effective labour-management relations.


• Work collaboratively across People Services, including staffing, disability management, leaves, compensation, and classification, to support coordinated responses to complex people matters.


• Partner with Legal Services and external counsel on complex or high-risk matters, bringing ELR expertise and organisational context to strategy and resolution.


• Identify emerging issues, patterns, and systemic risks and contribute to initiatives that strengthen organisational and People Services outcomes.


• Support leaders in building capability and confidence in people leadership through consultation, coaching, education, tools, and practical support.


• Participate in collective bargaining and related activities, including preparation, research, proposal analysis, costing, negotiations, and implementation.


• Contribute to shared practice, knowledge exchange, and consistency across the Employee & Labour Relations team.


• Lead or contribute to People Services projects, working groups, and organizational initiatives where ELR expertise or client partnership is required.

What You Bring

• Undergraduate degree in Human Resources, Labour Relations, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related discipline; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.


• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation preferred.


• Significant progressive experience, typically seven (7) to ten (10) years, in employee and labour relations, human resources, or a related field within a complex unionized environment.


• Demonstrated experience managing complex grievances, workplace investigations, performance and discipline matters, accommodations, and other sensitive employee relations issues.


• Experience advising operational and senior leaders and working collaboratively with unions, People Services colleagues, and Legal Services.


• Strong knowledge of collective agreement administration and applicable labour, employment, human rights, privacy, education, and related legislation.


• Sound judgment and the ability to assess risk, develop options, and provide clear recommendations in complex or ambiguous situations.


• Strong relationship-building, consultation, negotiation, investigation, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.


• Ability to influence and build alignment across organisational and functional boundaries.


• Demonstrated ability to analyze workplace issues and balance employee, operational, organisational, collective agreement, legislative, and values-based considerations to achieve practical, sustainable outcomes.


• High degree of discretion, professionalism, and political acuity in complex stakeholder environments.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills.


• Collective bargaining, mediation, arbitration, or related labour relations experience is considered an asset.

All interested candidates please visit: www.cssd.ab.ca/careers