Lead, Labour and Employee Relations Specialist

_**JOB TITLE: Lead, Labour & Employee Relations Specialist**_
- Administration_
- **DEPARTMENT**:_People & Culture (P&C)_
- **POSITION STATUS**:_Permanent, Full-time_
- Non-union_
- **LOCATION**:_Sault Ste. Marie or Brampton_
- **SUPERVISION RECEIVED**:_Manager, Labour and Workplace Experience_

**PRIMARY FUNCTIONS**:
Labour & Employee Relations 65%
General Human Resource Management 25%
Other Duties 5%
**Total 100%**

The Specialist, Labour and Employee Relations is a key member of the People & Culture team and will play a strong role in the University’s goal of enhancing and maintaining a positive work environment for all employees. Reporting to the Manager, Labour and Workplace Experience, the Labour and Employee Relations Specialist will support employee/labour relations within the institution.

This role works within the People & Culture Department on sensitive matters affecting our community. They gather, maintain documents and records required for collective agreement, contract and policy development, administration, investigation and negotiation. The Labour and Employee Relation Specialist has a strong focus on developing positive relationships with internal community stakeholders, while contributing to a strong culture of mutual respect. The People & Culture Team plays a key role in Algoma’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and decolonizing and Indigenizing our policies and procedures.

This position is responsible for conducting research, data collection, developing analytical tools, preparing summary reports and maintaining files related to internal complaints, grievances, awards and settlements and external decisions, in order to make informed recommendations to Manager, Labour and Workplace Experience. This position requires high sensitivity to confidential matters, and the incumbent must take appropriate measures to maintain integrity.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:
**Labour & Employee Relations (65%)**
- Manages routine labour relations and human resource inquiries related to policies, procedures and collective agreements: refers complex matters to the Manager, Labour and Workplace Experience.
- Support relationship building with all administrative and unionized groups,
- Provide support and guidance to management officers to ensure best practices are followed and collective agreements are correctly interpreted and applied.
- Support the implementation of a restorative mediation approach to problem solving to continue the enhancement of maintaining healthy and positive relationships across the institution.
- Support employee and labour relations matters on some issues including performance management, progressive discipline up to and including termination, workplace investigations, grievance management and resolution.
- Ensure grievances, appeals, discipline, and arbitration are appropriately directed, tracked, and monitored with adequate follow-up.
- Initiate research and compile necessary data to assist with the generation of reports and department planning.
- Support the preparation of, and participate as needed in Arbitrations and in Collective Bargaining sessions.
- Working with both academic and operational leadership to ensure all collective agreement deadlines are met.
- Utilize all collective agreements, policies, procedures, regulations and initiatives, and legislative requirements to support effective people management.
- Maintain ongoing awareness of all changes to federal and provincial legislation pertaining to labour and employee relations.
- Provide training, as required, on all applicable collective agreements.
- Develop and maintain effective liaison with staff and faculty unions including active participation on their respective Joint Consultative Committees (JCC) as required.

**General Human Resource Management (25%)**
- Provide general problem solving solutions to help maintain healthy and positive working relationships across the institution.
- Collects data, conducts surveys, interviews and other research related to human resource management strategies and policies
- Occasionally participates in human resource activities such as recruitment, training and development and onboarding
- Assists with preparation of plans, policies, documents and reports including EDI reports, organizational charts, labour agreements and human resources.

**Other duties (5%)**
- Support other team initiatives and other duties, as assigned

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Industrial Relations or a related discipline, a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation would be considered an asset.
- A minimum of five years of experience in the Labour Relations field in a unionized environment or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience required.
- This position requires sound judgment, attention to detail, adaptability, and an ability to work under challenging time constraints and varying