Senior Labour Relations Consultant

Centennial College; Toronto; On-site; CAD 98,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Toronto is seeking a Senior Labour Relations Consultant to manage labour relations matters and provide operational guidance to people managers. Responsibilities include interpreting collective agreements, leading grievance management, and facilitating negotiations. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience within a unionized setting and a degree in Human Resources. This role offers a competitive salary and a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in labour/industrial relations in a unionized environment.
• Public sector experience is a plus.
• In-depth knowledge of employment related legislation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic labour relations guidance to people managers.
• Interpret and enforce collective agreements.
• Lead grievance case management and negotiations.

Skills

Negotiation

Conflict Resolution

Analytical Skills

Interpersonal Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management or related field

CHRP designation or ADR certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Classification: Full-time Administration

Pay Band: 11

Pay Range: $98,395 - $122,994 per year

Campus/Location: Progress Campus/Hybrid

Hours/Week: 35

Posting Date: July 30, 2025

Closing Date: August 21, 2025

Centennial College recognizes and affirms Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Indigenous ways of knowing as central to the vibrancy and uniqueness of its learning and working academic mission.We strongly encourage applications from members of Indigenous communities and all equity-deserving groups including Women, Racialized, Persons with Disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities.

We also recognize that Centennial is situated on the Treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and pay tribute to their legacy as well as that of all First Peoples that have been and remain present here in Toronto. We recognize that First Peoples come from sovereign Nations and that part of understanding our responsibilities of residing on this territory are understanding the true history, circumstances and legacy of the Treaties signed here (such as the Toronto Purchase, Robinson-Huron Treaty and Williams Treaties) and including pre-contact Treaties and Agreements between sovereign Nations and that all peoples in this area are therefore Treaty people with obligations and responsibilities to all our relations.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Labour Relations (LR) and Investigations, the Senior LR Consultant plays a strategic leadership role in managing labour relations matters for a designated client group. Serving as the first point of contact and trusted advisor, the Consultant provides operational guidance, risk mitigation, and ensures compliance with legal and policy frameworks. The Consultant supports the College’s strategic objectives by addressing a wide range of issues that include interpreting collective agreements and employment legislation, managing progressive discipline and terminations, overseeing layoff and recall procedures, responding to human rights and workplace harassment complaints, mediating workplace conflicts, and advising clients on employee conduct and other human resources related matters. The Consultant collaborates with specialized inter-departmental teams (i.e., Investigations, Total Rewards, etc.) in support of corporate goals or case resolution.

Responsibilities

Labour Relations Services for Client Groups:

• Provides strategic and operational labour and employee relations guidance to people managers across the College.
• Interpret and enforce Collective Agreements for Support and Faculty unions, including managing grievances, layoffs, strike/lockout procedures.
• Lead grievance case management: coach management representatives, gather relevant information, liaise with stakeholders and act as the President’s Designee by chairing grievance meetings and issuing formal responses on behalf of the College.
• Collaborate with the Director of LR and legal counsel to negotiate terminations and grievance settlements.
• Engage with union and College representatives to proactively investigate and resolve employee and union-related concerns.
• Provides proactive and strategic advice to de-escalate potential human rights and other conduct-related complaints.
• Facilitate and lead fact-finding, mediation, complex accommodation, return-to-work, lay-off, and termination meetings.

College-Wide LR Support:

• Coordinate College-wide lay-off and redeployment processes in collaboration with unions and internal HR partners.
• Participate in Union-Management meetings to resolve complex labour relations issues and contribute to the strategic development and implementation of strategic solutions.
• Negotiate and implement settlements on behalf of the College, ensuring effective communication and compliance across all impacted stakeholders.
• Support collective bargaining activities for three (soon to be four) agreements, including strike planning and management, and post-bargaining implementation.
• Deliver support and/or training in LR topics in collaboration with the Strategic Talent Management team.

Qualifications/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Labour/Employment Law, Industrial Relations, and/or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, work, and/or lived experience
• CHRP designation and/or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) certification considered an asset.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in labour /industrial relations within a unionized environment including grievance handling, union negotiations and collective agreement administration.
• Public sector experience (e.g., education, healthcare, and/or government) is a plus.
• Demonstrated analytical skills with experience investigating and resolving complex conduct-related issues.
• Demonstrated ability to advise, negotiate, and implement appropriate courses of action with clients.
• In-depth knowledge of employment related legislation and its application.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage tactfully with managers, employees, and union representatives.
• Skilled at preparing a range of written materials including settlement memos, union agreements, employee updates and executive briefing notes.
• Demonstrated credibility, approachability, and client service orientation with the ability to build trust and rapport.
• Effective problem-solving, planning, time-management and project management skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and comfortable using internet and networked systems.
• Awareness and understanding of Indigenization, equity, diversity, and inclusion (IDEI) principles in the workplace.

Proof of credentials or equivalencies from accredited regional or federal post secondary institutions and/or their foreign equivalents will be required at the time of job offer.

When applying, your cover letter and résumé must include examples that reflect all of the requested skills and qualifications and must be submitted online by August 21, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST. Please quote Job ID J0725-1260. Misrepresentation of applicant information will be grounds for your exclusion from the competition or for dismissal should you subsequently be hired for the position. We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We are committed to providing persons with disabilities equal opportunities regarding all employment activities, including access to jobs and accommodations during employment as required, in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).