Senior Consultant, Employee Relations

About the role

Canadian Blood Services is looking for a Regular, full-time Senior Consultant, Employee Relations to join our dynamic Employee Relations team to support our operations in Alberta and Saskatchewan. 

Reporting to the Associate Director, Employee Relations, the Senior Consultant will provide a wide range of labour and employee relations services, including negotiating collective agreements, overseeing grievance and arbitration processes, managing tribunal and Labour Board matters, and providing expert advice to both front-line and senior business leaders.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to help shape the future of Canada’s national blood system while working within a highly regulated, complex, and evolving organization. With more than 35 collective agreements across nine provincial jurisdictions, you will be continually learning and growing while taking on meaningful, interesting, and challenging work.

Formula for success

• Harnessing your skills in the collective bargaining process, you will prepare management proposals and counterproposals and obtain the necessary support for a portfolio of bargaining groups. You will be responsible for negotiating matters such as working conditions, wages, and health and welfare benefits, while ensuring proposals align with the national mandate and the organization’s overall strategic direction.
• Using your organizational skills, you will compose and sign all official correspondence, maintain records of negotiations and related communications, prepare status reports as required, and keep management informed of the progress of negotiations.
• Leveraging your superior research skills, you will analyze collective agreements and research relevant reference documents, labour legislation, labour market conditions, prevailing union and management practices, and provincial settlements to support the review of current contract provisions and proposed changes.
• Drawing on your expertise in employee relations, you will provide advice and guidance on grievances, including arbitrations, disciplinary matters, and general issues related to applicable labour legislation. You will also be responsible for drafting Minutes of Settlement and Memoranda of Understanding and will have the authority to execute these agreements, as appropriate.
• Utilizing your business acumen, you will assist the Associate Director, Employee Relations & HR Operations, in developing labour relations strategies that foster a positive employee and labour relations environment while supporting the future needs of the organization.
• Leveraging your knowledge of employment legislation, you will provide direction on the interpretation and administration of agreements, terms and conditions of employment, labour legislation, and corporate policies and procedures.
• Using your ability to adapt to changing needs, you will identify requirements for new or revised employee-related policies, research and develop policies in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, and develop implementation, communication, and educational materials as required. You will also provide training to HR Managers on policy changes. 

Desired education and skills

• Post secondary level education in a relevant discipline from a recognized academic institution, preferably an Undergraduate Degree in Labour/Industrial Relations.
• A professional Certification in Human Resources management, e.g., CPHR (or working towards a certification) is considered an asset.
• 5 years of progressive Labour Relations experience including experience as a spokesperson in collective bargaining.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills along with the proven ability to exercise sound judgment, tact, and discretion.
• Advanced knowledge and demonstrated ability in dispute resolution, investigative methods, as well as negotiation, mediation and facilitation.
• Ability to analyze complex problems in a potentially adversarial climate.
• Extensive knowledge of employment and labour-related legislation, labour relations jurisprudence, principles, and practices, as well as working knowledge of the latest trends, developments and practices in Human Resources management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop individual relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders including lawyers, mediators, union leaders, internal business leaders, and HR Managers by establishing credibility and trust.

What we offer you

• 4 weeks' vacation
• Annual performance award up to 8%
• Comprehensive group health, dental and vision benefits for you and your family
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources

What you can expect

• This role requires a minimum of 40% on-site presence. Additional on-site work may be required based on business needs. On-site expectations are subject to change and may be adjusted on a temporary or permanent basis.  
• This role will support the bargaining units in Alberta and Saskatchewan. 
• Travel is required to attend meetings as and when required.
   

If you are motivated by performing challenging work at the highest level, you will love it here. It’s a great place to be challenged in an environment that allows you to continually learn, grow, and thrive.  Our team is driven to be the best by focusing quality and detail. We have high expectations, challenge and support one another to meet them, and have fun while we do it.  Your colleagues will welcome you as a professional and a person. They will be as motivated to support you as they will be to learn from and about you.  Your leaders will be accessible and approachable. They will dedicate themselves to your success through their time, expertise, and resources focused on your development.  Every day you can feel the satisfaction of being the best, surrounded by people who want the same things you do, doing work that matters.