Director, Employee and Labour Relations

This position is excluded from the bargaining unit.

In accordance with the Handbook of Employment for Management and Professional Staff (Excluded) , this full-time continuing position offers a comprehensive benefits package that can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page and annual salary range which will be commensurate with qualifications.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person, with on-site work primarily taking place at Enterprise Square, Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

About Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment:

“Hire great people and give them freedom to be awesome.” — Andrew Mason

Thriving organizations are built on people. The Human Resources, Health Safety and Environment (HRHSE) portfolio is composed of exceptional people creating a people-focused culture to support the institution's vision.

We are committed to questioning the status quo, driving excellence, and leading with purpose. We lead with purpose in creating a workplace culture that supports the institution in strengthening its core teaching, research, community engagement, and student enrichment experience.

HRHSE is a values-based portfolio; we incorporate our values of trust, accountability, relationship building and safety in everything we do. Our employees are committed to living our values and are grounded in the conviction that leadership should be demonstrated, encouraged and supported at all levels of the institution.

Department Summary

In HRHSE, we are made up of six teams that are responsible for providing the highest quality services to our campus community; Total Rewards, Talent Management, Organizational Development, Health, Safety and Environment, Employee and Labour Relations and HR Service Partnerships.

Join our practical, results-driven, energized, and engaged team and see firsthand how we live our values, drive change and lead with purpose!

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director of Employee and Labour Relations to join the exceptional Human Resources, Health Safety and Environment (HRHSE) team. The Director, Employee and Labour Relations leads the Employee and Labour Relations team. The Director provides employee and labour relations support to the Vice-President, University Services and Finance, the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, the Associate Vice-President, HRHSE and senior leadership across the University. The Director acts as the escalation point for highly sensitive and complex employment issues and is responsible for identifying and mitigating cultural, legal and reputational risks. In this capacity, this position works with associations, leadership, and HR colleagues to proactively prevent issues, exercise creative problem-solving to resolve issues and manage various complex projects including collective bargaining. This position acts as a resource to senior leadership on complex human resource matters relating to the following employee types: Administrative Professional Officers (APO), Trust/Research Academic Staff (TRAS), Temporary Librarian, Administrative Professional Officers (TLAPO), Management And Professional Staff (MAPS) and Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA) Support Staff and Excluded Support Staff. 

Duties

• Ensure an aligned and consistent approach to employee and labour relations activities across all portfolios. In collaboration with Faculty Relations develops and sets the labour relations strategy for the University including developing the bargaining strategy for relevant collective agreement negotiations.
• Track and analyze the external and internal labour relations environment, activities and statistics, formulate reports, and recommend strategic plans to the Associate Vice-President, HRHSE for the Employee and Labour Relations team.
• May lead negotiations for the non-academic bargaining table or provide support as second chair to University appointed negotiators, which may include: research and development of bargaining proposals, bargaining planning, communications, essential services negotiation, implementation of post-bargaining activities and rollouts.  
• Develop and maintain policies and operating standards to enable effective and consistent Employee and Labour Relations practices across the institution (in collaboration and agreement with Faculty Relations).
• Develop relevant labour relations training for the Employee and Labour Relations and Human Resource Partner teams in collaboration with Faculty Relations.
• Foster the development of management practices that focus on continuous improvement in the delivery of labour resources to the university community.

Qualifications

• Experience in a post-secondary environment is strongly preferred.
• Experience leading collective bargaining in a public sector environment. 
• A University degree in Law, Labour Relations, Human Resources, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible labour relations experience, including experience in a management/leadership role.
• Considerable knowledge of workplace legislation (Labour Relations Code, Human Rights Act, Employment Standards Act, Post-Secondary Learning Act) and leading labour law and human rights decisions.
• Ability to work well under pressure with minimal supervision, and the ability to cope with an unpredictable and complex workload.
• Proven experience partnering with leaders to provide sound, ethical and practical labour advice.
• Proven experience conducting complex investigations up to and including recommendations on remedial action.
• Proven experience with driving team accountability and execution of results.
• Demonstrated experience managing grievance procedures and managing settlements.
• Autonomous, self-starter with an ability to manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment and to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to foster and maintain relationships with different levels of leadership, and union representatives.
• Effective communication, interpersonal, organizational and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.