Kinectrics takes pride in being consistently ranked as one of the best places to work in the energy and utility industry, where purpose and people mean as much as innovation and growth. That’s why we choose only the best and brightest to join us. To keep pace with Canada’s expanding energy and utility sector, Kinectrics has grown from a company of 300 to over 1,000 in only the last few years - and we aren’t looking to slow down. Join our diverse, supportive workplace for a rewarding career in the electricity industry.

Visit our website to learn more:  www.kinectrics.com

The Opportunity

Position: Manager, Labour & Employee Relations

Location: 800 Kipling Ave, Toronto

Department: Human Resources

Reports to: VP Human Resources

Number Required: 1

What We Offer

At Kinectrics, employees are recognized for their knowledge, experience, and contributions while working in a highly technical and challenging environment. Kinectrics puts you in the driver’s seat of your own career, setting you up alongside industry experts who will help you develop the skills essential to your professional growth in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and rewarding work culture.

• Purpose: The work we do each day helps communities around the world. Find satisfaction in work that really matters, working alongside and as part of the best and brightest in the industry.
• Growth: To keep pace with Canada’s expanding energy and utility sector, we are growing more each day, which means more opportunities for you. We encourage our employees to grow alongside our company thanks to a number of significant training and personal development opportunities.
• Innovation: Our staff proudly develop innovations that push the industry forward.
• Diversity: The company is dedicated to promoting diversity in its workforce, up to and including the senior management level. Our diversity committee ensures we stay up to date on leading trends and best practices, creating a desirable workspace for each and every one of our employees.
• Competitive Compensation: We offer a competitive total compensation package unmatched by most industries throughout North America.

How You Will Make an Impact

We are seeking a Manager, Labour & Employee Relations to join our growing HR team. This position will be the subject matter expert in in all areas of labour relations and employment issues in a highly unionized environment, providing leadership and guidance to the organization.

Reporting to the VP Human Resources, the Manager, Labour & Employee Relations will lead the design and implementation of employee and labour relations strategies, practices, and procedures. The position will be accountable for the development of, and compliance with, policies and programs pertaining to both unionized and non-unionized staff in areas such as hours of work/overtime, attendance management, sick leave and return to work, performance management, employment status, and human rights/accommodation.

General Accountabilities:

• Provide senior-level leadership and functional guidance to HR Advisors ensuring the highest quality of labour & employee relations advice is provided consistently to client groups.
• Collaborate as a strategic partner with Senior Management ensuring HR best practices, processes, protocols, corporate policies, and collective agreements are followed.
• Make informed recommendations to decision makers on complex employee & labour relations issues that supports overall business goals and interests.
• Investigate and resolve complex workplace disputes, ensure compliance with labour and employment legislation/regulations and collective agreement requirements.
• Cultivate a positive and constructive labour relations environment at all levels of the organization.
• Lead joint labour-management meetings, grievance resolution meetings, and liaise with unions on a day-to-day basis to resolve employee/labour relations issues under multiple collective agreements.
• Provide guidance to HR Advisors and management teams through collective agreement dispute resolution processes, including grievances.
• Represent the organization in formal dispute resolution procedures (mediation, arbitration and at various boards/tribunals as required).
• Manage collective bargaining negotiations to ensure the best outcomes in line with the organization’s business objectives.
• Develop HR policies/programs and identify opportunities to increase their effectiveness for employees, managers and HR Advisors ensuring alignment of broader HR programs to overall business objectives and compliance with legislation; advise on and influence policy development where owned by other groups.
• Develop and deliver training for HR Advisors and management team regarding collective agreements and employment-related policies, procedures, and legislation.
• Prepare briefing notes, analytics, and other materials for reporting to Senior Management (e.g., benchmarking, emerging trends, employment risks).
• Maintain awareness of changing legal/regulatory requirements and best practices within the industry.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Need to Succeed

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Labour Studies, or a related field. Master’s degree in Industrial Relations or Human Resources Management is preferred.
• CHRL designation is an asset.
• 8-10 years of experience in Human Resources, focused on leading labour relations functions in a unionized environment.
• Experience managing collective bargaining negotiations in a complex union environment; experience as chief spokesperson is highly desired.
• Broad and comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of employment standards and labour law in Ontario (and some knowledge of the rest of Canada) is required; international experience is an asset.
• Experience drafting policies, collective agreement language, and related documentation effectively using plain language.

Essential Competencies:

• Ability to function independently and as a member of a team dealing with multiple priorities in a fast paced, complex environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Highly effective conflict resolution skills, including ability to foster and maintain constructive relationships between management and union partners.
• Demonstrated ability to assess risk related to employment practices from a variety of perspectives (e.g., legal, reputational, and business).
• Ability to apply sound judgment and innovative solutions to challenging issues.
• Excellent project management and leadership ability.
• Demonstrated ability to influence change involving multiple stakeholder groups.
• Ability to concisely articulate positions and make practical recommendations.
• Excellent time-management skills to manage multiple tasks with varying priority levels.

Kinectrics welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.