Temporary Full-Time HR Business Partner - Labour Relations

Owen Sound; Oshawa; Hybrid; CAD 111,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Oshawa is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner (Labour Relations) to join the Human Resources leadership team. You will act as a key advisor within a fast-paced, multi-union environment, providing expert labour relations guidance and strategic support across client groups.

Reporting to the Manager, Labour Relations & Disability Management, you will lead negotiations, advise on disputes, and support workforce planning, succession, and performance management initiatives.

Qualifications

• University degree in HR/Business Administration or related field.
• 5+ years progressive HR/Labour & Employee Relations experience.
• Experience in unionized/public sector is a strong asset.
• CHRP designation or working towards designation.
• Proficient in HRIS and MS Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert labour and employee relations guidance across client groups.
• Support collective bargaining preparations and table negotiations.
• Lead reorganizations, layoffs, redeployments with unions as needed.
• Advise leaders on performance management, appraisals and coaching.
• Interpret collective agreements and policies to ensure compliance.

Skills

Labour relations expertise

Negotiation and conflict resolution

Strong communication

Education

University Degree in Human Resources/Business Administration or related field

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

JobNumber:J1026-0163

Vacancy:TemporaryFull-TimeHumanResourcesBusinessPartner(HRBP)-LabourRelations

JobType:TemporaryFullTime

JobCategory:HumanResources

Department:CorporateandFinanceServices

UnionGroup:Exempt

DatePosted:October15,2026

ClosingDate:October30,2026

Salary:$110,978.00-$130,563.00/Year

WeeklyHours:36.25

ShiftWorkRequired:No

Aprogressivecityof187,800peoplelocatedjustashort30-minutedrivefromToronto,theCityofOshawaisoneofCanada’sfastestgrowingcommunitiesthatisexceptionallypositionedtolive,work,learnandinvest.Itsstrategicpursuitofsustainablegrowth,excellentcommunityservicedeliveryandcooperativepartnershipshaveenhanceditsqualityoflifeadvantage,whilemaintainingastrongcommitmenttofinancialstewardship.

TheCityofOshawaisseekinganexperiencedstrategicandresults-orientedHRBusinessPartner(HRBP)tojointheHumanResourcesleadershipteam.ReportingtotheManager,LabourRelations&DisabilityManagement,theHRBPwillactaskeyadvisorwithintheCorporationbyprovidingconsultativeservicestotheirassignedclientgroups.TheHRBPprovidesexpertiseinlabourandemployeerelationsacrossallHRfunctions.Thesuccessfulcandidatewillbuildstrongrelationshipswithstakeholdersacrosstheorganizationbyprovidingvalue-addedserviceinatimelymannerwithinacomplex,fast-paced,andmulti-unionenvironment.

Responsibilities:

AnintegralpartoftheLabourRelationsteam,thispositionprovidesvalueinthefollowingways:

• Employee&LabourRelations(labourmanagementmeetings,grievances,mediation,arbitration,andprogressivediscipline/terminationsetc.)
• Collectivebargaining,includingpreparations,strategydevelopment,representingtheCityatthebargainingtable,andimplementation
• Leadanyreorganizations,layoffs,redeployments,andagreementswiththeunions
• LiaisewiththeDisabilityManagementteamandleaderstoprovideadviceandguidanceregardingattendancesupportprogram,leavesofabsence,investigateissuesetc.
• Leadinternalinvestigationssuchasviolationsofthecodeoftheconduct,respectintheworkplaceandotherpoliciesorlegislation,referringselectinvestigationstoexternalspecialistsasnecessary
• Liaisewithexternalconsultants,suchasinvestigators,legalcounseletc.
• Provideadviceandcoachingtoleadersandemployeesregardingtheperformanceappraisalsandperformancemanagementprocess
• Interpretingcollectiveagreements,policies,proceduresandlegislationinordertoprovideexpertadviceacrosstheCity
• Serveasthepointofcontactfortheunionswithintheassignedclientgroup
• ParticipateasacommitteememberontheJointJobEvaluationCommitteeandadviseonbestpracticesregardingworkforceplanningandcompensation
• Supportsuccessionplanning,employeeandleadershipdevelopmentthroughcoachingandcareerplanning
• Supportculturechangesandchangemanagementinitiatives
• Providingsupportinorganizationaldevelopmentprogramssuchasstrategicandbusinessplanning,employeedevelopment,workforceplanningandcareerplanning
• Assistwithleadershiplevelrecruitmentanddevelopmentasnecessary
• GiveadviceandguidancetootherteammemberswithinHumanResources
• SupportanddemonstratetheCityofOshawacorevaluesofAuthenticity,Courage,andTrust
• Otherdutiesasassigned

Requirements:

• AUniversityDegreeinHumanResources/BusinessAdministrationorrelatedfield.Anequivalentcombinationofrelevanteducationandexperiencewillbeconsidered
• Minimumoffive(5)yearsofprogressiveexperiencewithinHumanResourcesandLabour&EmployeeRelations
• Experienceworkinginaunionizedsettingisrequired,experienceinapublicsectororganizationisconsideredastrongasset
• CertifiedHumanResourcesProfessional(CHRP)designation,CHRLdesignationpreferred,orworkingtowardsdesignation
• EstablishedskillsandexperienceinMicrosoftOfficeandrelatedsoftwareapplications(HRIS)
• Excellentanalytical,reasoningandproblem-solvingskillsanddemonstratedlabourrelationsexperience,specificallydealingwithgrievance,mediationandarbitrationmattersisamust
• Experiencewithcollectivebargainingispreferred
• ExtensiveknowledgeofHumanResourcesbestpracticesandrelatedlegislationincludingtheEmploymentStandardsAct,LabourRelationsAct,theOntarioHumanRightsCode,thePayEquityAct,OccupationalHealthandSafetyActetc.arerequired
• Strongcommunicationandconsultativeabilities
• Mustpossessawell-definedsenseofdiplomacy,includingsolidnegotiationandeffectiveconflictresolutionskills
• Excellentleadership/peoplemanagementandinterpersonalskillswiththeabilitytocommunicateeffectivelywithalllevelsofstaff,unionmembersandthegeneralpublicinordertobuildstrongrelationshipswithbothinternalandexternalpartners
• Advancedskillsinfacilitation,counsellingandactivelisteningwithademonstratedabilitytoprovideguidance,coachingandassistancetomanagersandstaff
• Demonstratedhighlevelofinitiativeandflexibility,withtheabilitytoplanandworkindependently
• Abilitytoexercisegoodjudgmentisessentialandmustbecommittedtoabsolutediscretioninhandlingconfidential/sensitiveinformation
• Provenexperienceinneedsassessment,providingsupporttoorganization-wideprograms,suchassuccessionplanningandperformancemanagement
• Experienceinjobevaluationandanalysisisanasset

Thispositioniseligibleforhybridwork.

Asaconditionofemployment,theCityofOshawawillrequiresuccessfulcandidatestoundergoaCriminalRecordsandJudicialMattersCheck.

Thisopportunitymaybeuptoone(1)yearwiththepossibilityofanextension.

Pleasebeadvisedthatpositionlocationasnotedisatthetimeofpostingandissubjecttochange,asrequiredduetooperationalneeds.

TheCityofOshawaissituatedonlandsandwaterswithintheWilliamsTreatiesTerritory,hometosevenFirstNationcommunitiesoftheMichiSaagiigandChippewaAnishinaabeg,whohavecaredforandmaintainedtheselandsfromtimeimmemorialandcontinuetodosotopresentday.Learnmore

WeareanEqualOpportunityEmployerinaccordancewiththeAccessibilityforOntarianswithDisabilitiesAct,2005andtheOntarioHumanRightsCode(OHRC).TheCityofOshawapromotestheprinciplesofdiversity,equityandinclusionandadherestothetenetsoftheCanadianHumanRightsActandtheOntarioHumanRightsCode.TheCityofOshawaencouragesapplicationsfromwomen,IndigenousPeoplesandpersonsofallcultures,ethnicorigins,religions,abilities,ages,sexualorientations,andgenderidentitiesandexpressions.

TheCityofOshawawillprovideaccommodationsthroughouttherecruitmentandselectionand/orassessmentprocesstoapplicantswithdisabilitiesand/orneedsrelatedtotheOHRC.Ifyourequireanaccommodationduringtherecruitmentprocessorassistancewiththeapplicationprocess,pleasecontactHumanResourceServices.PersonalinformationprovidediscollectedundertheauthorityofTheMunicipalFreedomofInformationandProtectionofPrivacyAct.