Director, Employee and Labour Relations

Are you a seasoned leader with a passion for fair and effective employee and labour relations? If yes, Sinai Health is looking for a Director of Employee & Labour Relations to lead their multi-site organization.

As the Director of Employee & Labour Relations, you will be responsible for providing strategic guidance on legal compliance, risk mitigation, and navigating complex labor issues. You will oversee a team of experts, ensuring alignment with Sinai Health's strategic objectives. This is an exciting opportunity to champion Sinai Health's values, and ensure a workplace where everyone thrives.

Is this you?

You are looking for an opportunity to drive organizational excellence within a leading academic health science center. With a focus on promoting fair and equitable labor practices, you excel at collaborating with senior management to align HR strategies with broader organizational goals, keeping Sinai Health at the forefront of integrated healthcare delivery.

With a proven track record in dispute resolution, team leadership, and strategic planning, you will play a pivotal role in driving organizational success. Your adept communication skills and strong negotiation abilities enable you to navigate sensitive situations and represent Sinai Health effectively during legal proceedings.

Thriving in environments that value innovation and collaboration, you continuously seek opportunities to enhance HR policies, procedures, and practices to meet the evolving needs of our workforce. Your ability to forge strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders makes you an indispensable asset in shaping the future of healthcare at Sinai Health.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy & Leadership

• In partnership with the Senior Director, Human Resources & Safety, sets strategic priorities for the ELR portfolio; develops strategic plans to achieve the larger aims of the People Plan and Sinai Health Strategic Plan
• Provides expert and consistent interpretation, advice and counsel to support Senior Management/Executive to effectively resolve complex people management issues that may require corrective action or progressive discipline
• Liaises with the Senior Director, Human Resources & Safety and the Senior Management/Executive teams to brief members on significant employee and labour relations and respectful workplace developments, legislative and jurisprudence related challenges, and anticipated issues
• Investigates and presents strategic options and background information on key issues arising through written and in person briefings to Senior Management/Executive teams; creates subsequent system wide communications and update

Operations Management

• Builds a high performance team ensuring optimized performance, development, recruitment, retention and resource allocation;
• Builds internal capacity and enables leaders across Sinai Health to make informed decisions and achieve operational goals by:
• Building confidence of leaders and managers in employee and labour relations knowledge and application
• Leveraging information management tools to capture institutional knowledge and support informed and contextual decision-making
• Enhancing collaborative and consistent approaches across employee groups
• Developing policies, tools and training to support enhanced leadership competency
• Researches, negotiates and strategizes as Chief Spokesperson for Sinai Health during collective bargaining process (ONA, OPSEU, NOWU, CUPE, OPAA); advises management and OHA on negotiated contract changes and assist with strategic implementation
• Manages sensitive public situations with the potential for significant impact on Sinai Health's reputation
• Takes a lead in supporting complex staffing redesign
• Provides leadership, guidance and approval on all proposals for mediation settlements, grievance responses, and letters of understanding
• Provides direction to team members in terms of outreach to third party representatives e.g. external and opposing counsel, arbitrators, mediators, etc.

Quality & Performance Improvement

• Ensures existing human resources policies, procedures, standards and practices that are consistent with the principles of fairness and equity and aligned to current legislative requirements (Employment Standards Act, Ontario Human Rights Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, Ontario Labour Relations Act, Public Sector Labour Transition Act, etc.); recommends revisions/modifications and/or new policies as required
• Proactively assesses and forecasts implications of current and potential issues; ensures ongoing research into precedents and case law, trends and employment related awards/cases
• Analyzes and strategically utilizes key performance indicators to provide metrics and contextual information in the discussion with clients and in the formulation of resolution strategies
• Conducts in-depth cost analysis to assess to inform strategies and recommendations
• Perform other duties consistent with the job classification as required

Job Requirements

Requirements:

Mandatory:

• Successful completion of a Master's degree in a related field from an accredited educational institution (e.g. human resources, industrial relations, LLB, etc.) preferred
• 7 years of experience in a related role, preferably in a hospital employee and labour relations management role
• Applicants with proven equivalent and related training and experience may also be considered

Preferred:

• Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL)

Skills and Knowledge:

• Extensive knowledge of Human Resources related legislation, e.g. Ontario Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act, Labour Relations Act, Workplace Safety & Insurance Act, etc.
• Proven advanced dispute resolution skills, demonstrating confidence when confronting difficult situations; proven capability in conflict mediation and resolution
• Proven ability to effectively lead, manage and develop a team of HR professionals
• Solid understanding of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation and facilitating operational planning at the program and department level
• Proven experience supporting operational planning within a complex unionized environment
• Strong project and change management skills; models collaborative, cross-portfolio engagement to build consensus and to create solutions to complex issues
• Highly effective communicator with the ability to clearly and concisely articulate ideas, concepts and proposals
• High degree of judgment, political sensitivity and strong negotiation skills
• Proficient using Microsoft Office Suite and Human Resources Information Systems
• Effective critical thinking and strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills with ability to generate innovative solutions for complex issues
• Experience and knowledge of the transition/translation of strategic plans to operating plans
• Excellent networking and relationship building skills with both internal and external stakeholders
• High ethical standards, promotes inclusiveness and recognizes and respects the value of diversity and inclusion within our community and our workforce
• Proven demonstration of workplace excellence shown by commitment to strong job performance and attendance

If this sounds like you and you're ready to build your career within human resources leadership, apply now and let us know why you would be a great addition to our team.