Director, Employee and Labour Relations

About the WSIB

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is one of North America's largest insurance organizations, serving over five million people and 290,000 businesses across Ontario. As a trusted partner in Ontario's occupational health and safety system, WSIB provides no-fault workplace injury and illness insurance, wage-loss benefits, health care coverage, and support for safe and timely return to work. Entirely funded by employers, WSIB is committed to reducing the impact of workplace injuries and illnesses through innovative programs, strong governance, and a focus on service excellence. Working at WSIB means contributing to a healthier and safer Ontario while upholding values of accountability, collaboration, empathy, and integrity.

About the Opportunity

WSIB is seeking an exceptional labour relations leader to join as Director, Employee & Labour Relations, a pivotal, high-impact role shaping how a 4,500-person organization navigates a complex environment with a significant unionized presence. You will lead a large, highly capable Employee and Labour Relations team responsible for all labour and most employee relations work, including a significant grievance portfolio, complex investigations, and support for major enterprise projects. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, you will influence critical decisions on collective agreement interpretation, employment law, and HR policy, while representing management in negotiations and joint committees. The ideal candidate is a courageous, hands-on labour relations expert with deep experience in high-volume, high conflict unionized environments, strong judgment, and the ability to command a room with tact and diplomacy. You will champion fairness, integrity, and innovation, embrace change, and leverage data-driven tools to modernize processes and build a proactive, transparent, and efficient function. This is a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact in a mission-driven organization that protects millions of workers and employers across Ontario.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Advisory

• Shape and execute the corporate employee and labour relations strategy, ensuring alignment with WSIB's People Plan and Strategic Plan.
• Provide expert advice and strategic direction to senior management and business leaders on labour relations, collective agreement interpretation, employment law, and HR policies.
• Act as a key spokesperson and lead management committees during contract negotiations, representing management's position on complex labour matters.
• Partner with business areas (e.g., Finance, Benefits) to design and develop costing models and proposals for collective bargaining, preparing recommendations and risk analyses for senior leadership.
  

Operational Excellence & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and inspire the Employee & Labour Relations branch, setting clear performance objectives and fostering professional growth through coaching and development programs.
• Oversee the effective administration of collective agreements and manage day-to-day relationships with bargaining agents.
• Direct and provide senior level guidance for non-legislative workplace investigations.
• Manage financial resources, including budgeting, forecasting, and monitoring expenditures to ensure operational efficiency.
• Maintain strong communication linkages across management and business areas to identify and respond to evolving needs.
  

Performance Measurement & Business Planning

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust data collection systems, performance measures, and dashboards to track deliverables and resource utilization.
• Plan and develop short- and long-term strategic business plans for the branch, supporting WSIB's broader goals and adapting to changing organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with peers and other leaders to shape divisional strategies and objectives in alignment with corporate direction.
  

Collaboration & Project Leadership

• Lead and participate in interdepartmental project teams as a subject matter expert in employee and labour relations.
• Collaborate across the People Cluster and the organization to ensure project work is integrated and aligned with strategic objectives.
• Take on additional related duties as assigned, contributing to a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Accountability for providing oversight and guidance to the team on workplace investigations (non-legislative).
  

Qualifications

• University degree in labour/industrial relations (Master's degree preferred)
• 5–10 years' senior HR management experience in a unionized environment (public sector experience an asset)
• Demonstrated expertise in labour relations, collective agreement administration, workplace investigations, and employment law
• Experience leading teams and managing complex negotiations
• CHRP/L designation preferred

To apply for this key role, submit your application by clicking "Apply Now" below.