BE PART OF A DYNAMIC ORGANIZATION AS A GENERAL MANAGER, LABOUR RELATIONS FOR OUR PEOPLE AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT
Duties:
- Lead the development and implementation of COSTI’s labour relations strategy, ensuring a proactive, collaborative, and legally compliant approach that supports organizational goals and upholds positive union-management relations.
- Advise directors, managers, and HR staff on a wide range of labour and employee relations matters, including collective agreement interpretation, progressive discipline, performance improvement plans, and terminations, ensuring consistency and fairness across the organization.
- Administer and interpret multiple collective agreements, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, facilitating dispute resolution, and providing subject matter expertise to support operational needs.
- Serve as the primary liaison with union representatives and shop stewards, fostering constructive relationships through regular communication, issue resolution, and proactive problem-solving to avoid unnecessary conflict or escalation.
- Oversee and manage the grievance process, including intake, investigation, response, documentation, and resolution of grievances at all stages, and represent the organization as required.
- Support collective bargaining activities, including developing bargaining strategies, researching and analyzing historical data and comparators, preparing proposals, and participating at the bargaining table, including acting as lead spokesperson when delegated.
- Identify, assess, and report on emerging labour relations trends, risks, and opportunities, providing strategic recommendations to enhance employee engagement, reduce conflict, and improve workplace relations.
- Collaborate with other programs and services to ensure alignment between HR practices and broader organizational priorities, particularly regarding workforce planning, restructuring, or changes affecting unionized staff.
- Develop and deliver training and coaching for managers and HR staff to build internal capacity and confidence in labour relations matters, including respectful workplace practices, documentation, and effective communication.
- Ensure that HR policies and procedures align with collective agreements, employment legislation, and sector best practices, and play a lead role in policy development and revision from a labour relations lens.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of organizational initiatives, such as employee surveys, workforce modernization efforts, ensuring labour relations implications are considered and appropriately addressed.
- Lead and mentor members of the HR team, particularly those involved in employee and labour relations, helping them develop strong judgment, technical skills, and a consistent approach to labour relations matters across all service areas.
- Maintain accurate and confidential records, case files, and data analytics to support decision-making and demonstrate compliance with legislative and contractual obligations.
- Promote a positive employee relations environment, supporting early intervention, coaching-based approaches, and respectful communication at all levels of the organization.
- Support leadership in complex HR decisions, including organizational change, position elimination, return-to-work planning, and other sensitive or high-impact matters involving unionized employees.
- Perform other related duties or special assignments as required to support the People and Culture department and organizational priorities.
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Qualifications:
- Post-secondary education in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, or a related discipline, with a strong academic foundation in employment law and labour relations.
- Designation as a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) or Professional (CHRP) and membership in good standing with the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA); an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- A minimum of 7–8 years of progressive HR experience, including at least 5 years of hands-on responsibility for labour relations in a multi-union environment, ideally in the not-for-profit or social services sector.
- Expert knowledge of Ontario employment legislation and labour laws, including the Employment Standards Act, Labour Relations Act, Human Rights Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and related regulations.
- Demonstrated success in managing all stages of the grievance process, from intake to resolution, including representing the employer at arbitration or mediation proceedings.
- Experience serving as lead or key contributor in collective bargaining, including research, mandate development, negotiations, and implementation of new agreements.
- Well-developed communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues clearly, confidently, and respectfully to a wide range of audiences, including union partners, management, and senior leadership.
- A collaborative and diplomatic approach to relationship-building, with demonstrated success working across departments, resolving conflict, and creating psychologically safe workplaces.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risks, weigh options, and propose solutions that are legally sound, operationally viable, and culturally aligned.
- Ability to coach and influence others, particularly managers and frontline supervisors, in handling difficult conversations, applying HR policies, and understanding their responsibilities under the collective agreement.
- Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail and demonstrating excellent judgment.
- A high level of discretion and integrity, with demonstrated professionalism in managing sensitive, confidential, or politically complex issues.
- A strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism, with a demonstrated ability to incorporate these values into HR practices, conflict resolution, and policy interpretation.
- Strong digital literacy, including experience using HRIS systems and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) for reporting, documentation, and presentation purposes.
- Must be fully vaccinated or be exempt from vaccination on human rights grounds. COSTI reserves the right to require information establishing the validity of the exemption.
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Location: |
1710 Dufferin St. Toronto |
Duration of Position: |
Starting July 28, 2025 |
Starting Salary Range: |
$99,111 to $105,760 per annum + benefits |
Posting Date: |
2025-06-23 |
Closing Date: |
2025-07-07 |
Notes: |
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Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resumes and cover letters as one file quoting reference #101-25 to the below link:
https://creg.costi.ca/ui/hr/resume.aspx?refno=101-25&site=costi
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