Senior specialist, employee relations

Gordon Food Service; Ajax; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food distribution company in Ontario is seeking a Sr. Specialist, Employee Relations to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement. This role involves supporting HR initiatives, developing training programs, and fostering positive employee relations. The ideal candidate has a degree in Human Resources and a strong background in labour relations, with at least 3 years of relevant experience. A bilingual ability in English/French is a plus.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug benefits

Company matching RRSP

Advancement opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of progressive experience in labour or employee relations.
• Experience in a unionized environment or a strong focus on employee relations.
• Proven ability to analyze and synthesize data into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Support the HR department in conducting engagement surveys.
• Develop and deliver training programs for leaders on communication.
• Promote positive employee relations and enhance employee satisfaction.

Skills

Employee engagement

Analytical skills

Interpersonal communication

Education

Degree in Human Resources or related field

Job description

Welcome to Gordon Food Service! We are excited that you are thinking about opportunities with us, and we have an amazing story to share. Here's a quick glance of who we are and the impact you could have on the food service industry. There's a seat at our table for you…

Gordon Food Service, North America’s largest family-operated food distribution company, is seeking a strategic labour relations and positive employee relations specialist. The right candidate will have a strong labour or employee relations background with experience fostering employee engagement, building programs to support employee culture and support business strategy to ensure a positive employee experience across the organization.

Position Summary

The Sr. Specialist, Employee Relations, will support business leaders and the Human Resources team in all aspects of maintaining a positive employee culture. Working with both unionized and non-union sites, this individual will work on projects which will enable business and HR leaders to enhance the employee experience, increase engagement and provide exceptional leadership for our frontline employees. This role will work closely with many different internal teams to ensure strategy and initiatives are aligned with the company’s business goals and objectives to ensure a positive and harmonious work environment.

This role will have a variety of daily tasks; you could be involved in developing and delivering training for new leaders, analyzing reports and data to identify shifts in employee sentiment, or building and maintaining tools for employee feedback. The position also includes participating in round table discussions and ride‑alongs with frontline employees. Other tasks may involve drafting communication or change management plans with leadership, collecting market data, presenting research findings, or facilitating action planning sessions.

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug, and EFAP Benefits after 30 days of employment
• FULL flex benefits program
• Company matching RRSP
• Family culture
• Advancement opportunities
• Profit Sharing
• 128 year, family owned and operated company history

Duties and Responsibilities

• Foster employee engagement by supporting and implementing programs that enhance employee satisfaction and retention.
• Work with the HR department to conduct engagement surveys to identify areas for improvement and celebrate successes.
• Support the Director, Employee Relations on employee relations issues, supporting employees and project management.
• Develop and deliver training programs for leaders on effective communication, conflict management, and fostering a positive workplace culture.
• Promote positive employee relations within the company, in union and non‑union environments, and develop programs and initiatives to improve employee morale, communication, and engagement.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with labour relations and advise leadership on best practices to avoid potential disputes.
• Research and summarize the broader labour market.
• Benchmark employee programs, compensation and benefits to external sources.
• Support the overall Labour Relations strategy and its implementation at unionized worksites.
• Work closely with internal and external legal counsel on a variety of employment matters.
• Maintain knowledge of provincial employment legislation, human rights legislation, labour relations and regulatory changes throughout Canada; identify their impact and support updates to company policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Work closely with the DE&I and Learning & Organizational Development teams to align strategies.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.
• Some travel to locations across Canada and in the US may be required (up to 20%).

Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of progressive experience in labour or employee relations.
• Proven ability to analyze and synthesize data from multiple sources, transforming complex information into clear, actionable insights and recommendations.
• Thorough experience and understanding of all applicable laws and regulations, such as provincial labour and employment related legislation. Able to reduce complex legal language (ie. collective agreements, arbitration decisions, LRA) into simple concepts.
• Experience in the food service industry, logistics, or distribution preferred.
• Experience in a unionized environment or a non‑union environment with a strong employee relations focus within a medium to large multi‑location company.
• English/French bilingualism is an asset.

#GFSCA

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for the next stage will be contacted. Gordon Food Service is an equal opportunity employer who strives to provide an inclusive work environment that involves everyone and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment, or in terms or conditions of employment, without regard to any enumerated or analogous grounds of discrimination, including race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, sexual orientation or status as a qualified individual with disability.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to [e-mail] and use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for the next stage will be contacted. Gordon Food Service is an equal opportunity employer who strives to provide an inclusive work environment that involves everyone and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment, or in terms or conditions of employment, without regard to any enumerated or analogous grounds of discrimination, including race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, sexual orientation or status as a qualified individual with disability.
If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to [e-mail] and use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line.