Lead Labor Relations, Toronto

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Lead Labour Relations professional to join a high-performing People & Culture team in Toronto, Ontario. This role is responsible for providing leadership and expert guidance on labour relations matters within a unionized manufacturing environment, ensuring compliance with collective labour agreements, provincial legislation, and internal policies.

The Lead Labour Relations role serves as the primary point of contact for two union locals and plays a critical role in fostering strong, collaborative relationships between union representatives and site leadership. This position oversees grievance handling, dispute resolution, investigations, negotiations, and collective agreement administration while supporting operational excellence across the site.

The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, combining strong labour relations expertise with strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and operational leadership. This is an opportunity to drive effective labour strategies, strengthen compliance, and contribute to a stable and productive workplace.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Labour Relations partner – partners with Toronto site leadership, and People and Culture team, to ensure proactive labour strategies are developed and executed upon in support of key business priorities. Responsible for providing counsel and advice on the interpretation of both CLA's for management and People and Culture team to ensure a consistent approach to managing unionized populations across the site
• Dispute Resolution – responsible for all unionized employee investigations, grievances, arbitrations and other dispute resolution processes. Ensures a consistent application of corrective action and performance management, while challenging the Union(s) to drive improved employee performance. Engages with external legal counsel in preparation for and participation in arbitrations, tribunal processes.
• Education of Managers and People and Culture Team – develops and implements timely and effective training programs for site line managers and People Business Partners to improve knowledge and execution of the CLA(s), addressing critical gaps and strengthening capabilities.
• Negotiations – responsible for all aspects associated with negotiations preparations for both CLA's. In partnership with the Head of People & Culture/People Excellence, Canada, formulates bargaining strategy in consultation with business leadership, develops and gains approval for mandates (financial and non-financial), and actively participates as part of the bargaining team for both unions. Ensures understanding, adoption and compliance with newly negotiated CLA's across the site.
• Collective Agreement Administration – responsible for all CLA administration activities and related operating forums, including but not limited to, Joint Labour Management Committee (JLMC) meeting organization and follow-up action(s) completion; job evaluation committee lead; all required payments and charge-backs (contractors, time off for union business, wage/benefits for President & Chief Steward); and all other contractual contributions per the CLA(s)
• Proactively conducts research to inform on developments in labour relations issues and policies, within the current Canadian and North American market
• Partnerships with the Labour Relations Specialist to grow and develop their capabilities and managing all tasks within Labour Relations function
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Labour/Industrial Relations or related field, plus a minimum of 4 years of labour relations experience, coupled with previous negotiations experience.
• Masters degree and/or certification in Industrial Relations or Alternate Dispute Resolution certification is an asset.
• As an individual contributor the role will support a population of unionized employees and line management totaling approx. 1400, based locally in Toronto.
• Strong strategic mindset is essential (needs to consider long-term business operations and cost implications of decisions taken in the short-term)
• Strong judgement and decision-making are essential
• Strong conflict resolution and negotiations skills coupled with collaborative mindset
• High level of agility, ability to think strategically and implement strategy and emotional intelligence
• Proficiency in digital tools including Workday and ServiceNow to track, analyze, and report on labor relations metrics, trends, and case management
• Ability to deal with ambiguity and conflicting priorities in a pressured environment
• Ability to collaborate and build partnerships with union and management teams at all levels
• Political acumen required to manage within the global matrix organization and locally
• Work setting is in an office environment, primarily sedentary with regular movement around the site for client visits and meeting attendance
• Decision making is critical in ensuring consistency with the CLA(s), company policies, and provincial and federal labour laws, to avoid costly legal challenges, damage to company image and business interruptions.
• Considerable effort required to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the union
• The accountabilities are primarily local in nature, although participation may be required occasionally on global, and country projects/programs.
• Direction is taken from legal, Head of People & Culture/People Excellence Canada and local management.
• Thorough knowledge of the Labour Relations Act, Employment Standards Act, and Ontario Human Rights Code
• Progressive related work experience in a unionized environment including grievance handling, arbitration experience, negotiating with union representatives and CLA administration
• Ability to analyze complex labour related issues and successfully negotiate and implement appropriate actions
• Strong judgement, reasoning and problem solving skills and able to resolve conflicts effectively
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) to tactfully communicate with managers, union representatives and union employees to resolve issues, and build training programs.
• Strong writing skills to accurately craft language in settlement memos and agreements
• Strong analytical, hands-on troubleshooting and problem solving skills.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships at all levels of the organization
• Demonstrated track record of effective influencing and coaching, teamwork and leadership skills
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment, while balancing multiple conflicting priorities at a time
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HRIS systems (Workday is an asset).
• Works in full compliance with the policies, procedures and standards as required by the Company and under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other related legislation.

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