Senior Consultant, Employee and Labour Relations

Description

Employee and Labour Relations within People and Culture is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Senior Consultant.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Employee & Labour Relations, the Senior Consultant, Employee & Labour Relations is responsible for proactively engaging with human resources, as well as operational and faculty leaders to address issues; coordinating, and communicating various complex comprehensive policies, programs, collective agreements and initiatives associated with the different staff groups across the University; providing expert advice to the University community; works closely with People and Culture Centers of Expertise, internal and external legal counsel; provides guidance on grievance management; leads projects, and actively participates in collective bargaining.

The work requires expert knowledge of labour relations management theories and principles, university operations, organizational structure, employment legislation, regulations, policies, programs, and directives; administering processes, experience in collective bargaining, planning, and coordinating the delivery of labour relations programs/services, analyzing issues, formulating labour relations plans and strategies, drafting briefing materials for approval, preparing reports, and providing comprehensive advice to clients and management.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Provide expert recommendations/solutions related to the management of support staff and ensure consistency throughout business practices and interpretation of collective agreement(s)
• Identify and develop required policies, procedures, and documentation related to the management and support staff groups
• Research and prepare briefing materials for approval by the board of governors including bargaining mandates
• Lead and implement program changes across the University including education and communication initiatives to the various faculties and departments
• Provide credible expert advice and consultation, education and support to the team as well as the extended team of Human Resources, staff, and senior leaders on group benefit plans and programs
• Foster and maintain positive and effective problem-solving relationships with the staff groups and union officials
• Participate in bargaining new collective agreements, negotiating letters of understanding, grievance and arbitration settlements and other complex legal agreements.
• Maintain, negotiate, develop, research and prepare bargaining proposals, serve on bargaining teams and implement new collective agreements
• Work with HR Services, employees, and union officials to constructively resolve conflict
• Act as a senior member of the Employee & Labour Relations team, including recommending best practices, coordinating workflow and workloads, and reviewing work to ensure consistency of practices
• Act as a coach/mentor in the training and development of the Employee & Labour Relations team; ensuring the staff develops collegial, positive, high trust working relationships with each other and other key stakeholders both internal and external
• Lead the development and maintenance of educational content and communication tools in a variety of mediums; including the facilitation of orientation and training for managers.
• Responsible for staying abreast of related legislation and jurisprudence to act as an expert resource to Employee & Labour Relations, Human Resources and the University as a whole and ensure prompt and accurate service delivery

Qualifications / Requirements:

• University degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Business, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years experience in human resources, labour relations or legal services interpreting, applying, and administering collective agreement terms
• Demonstrated conflict management skills
• Experience managing grievance and arbitration files, leading or participating in collective bargaining, assisting legal counsel in preparing for and attending quasi-judicial board hearings including the Alberta Labour Relations Board
• In-depth knowledge of labour law principles and jurisprudence
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to be a collaborative team member and a service delivery focus
• Demonstrated ability to develop and support the implementation of new programs and policies (including project management) with ongoing evaluation
• Strong verbal and written skills
• Demonstrated group facilitation skills, and ability to help groups reach a consensus
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to work well under pressure with minimal supervision

Application Deadline:  February 9, 2025

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is classified in the Professional Career Band, Level 4 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework. 

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.