Join our team!

The City of Saskatoon is looking for a permanent Full Time Manager, Labour Relations and Negotiations.

Do you have strong experience as a lead negotiator or key spokesperson at the bargaining table, managing complex negotiations?

This position provides responsible for leading a team of labour relations professionals in delivering effective strategies, policies, and practices aligned with the City's strategic direction and workforce priorities.

The work you'll be involved in:

• Ensures the labour relations priorities, goals and service levels within the HR business plan are achieved.
• Lead the development and preparation of collective bargaining mandates, strategies, costing, and related analysis, in consultation with key stakeholders and under the oversight of the Director, ensuring alignment with Council-approved parameters and reporting requirements
• Partners with internal clients and peers to oversee and ensure effective advice and guidance is provided regarding the interpretation, compliance, administration and implementation of the Collective Agreements, and other policies or programs with a labour relations or employee relations impact.
• Leads a team of labour relations professionals, including mentorship, coaching, professional development, hiring, and performance management while actively working to provide an engaging environment and plan for future workforce needs.
• Collaborates with other members of HR Leadership by providing professional advice and bringing forward trends gathered from labour relations activities and practices in the organization.
• Support the solicitors in their preparation and presentation of the City’s interests in arbitration hearings and other labour related legal proceedings.
• Consults with the City’s Solicitor’s Office on legislation and legal issues related to labour relations, providing information and advice to the Director to support the development of labour strategies.
• Develops and maintains a repository of legal advice related to labour relations. Maintains effective working relationships with unions, solicitors, external agencies, and internal collaborators and stakeholders at all levels to provide quality services and resolve labour and employee issues.
• Develop and lead change management and communications strategies to improve the implementation of collective agreements, policies, programs, or other changes.
• Provides training and special topic seminars in employee and labour relations based on business needs and service agreements.
• Other related responsibilities as assigned.

Who we are looking for:

• Degree in labour relations, commerce, business administration or a related field, and 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with experience in a unionized environment is required. A combination of equivalent education and experience may be considered.
• Prior experience in a leadership capacity is required.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a lead negotiator or key spokesperson at the bargaining table, managing complex negotiations and achieving sustainable outcomes.
• HR accreditation such as CPHR (Chartered Professionals in Human Resources) is considered an asset.
• Ability to take initiative to deal and manage situations outside comfort zone, with the ability to prioritize and re-prioritize to achieve municipal objectives.
• Ability to learn and adapt to various situations in areas with a high degree of ambiguity.
• A proven track record of building relationships with senior leaders, with the ability to provide robust recommendations, coach, influence and drive change in pursuit of best practice.
• Business and political acumen, and human resources expertise coupled with critical thinking ability and a proven track record of collaborating and problem-solving complex matters with stakeholders where there is little or no precedent.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing organization-wide change initiatives and the ability to develop, implement and manage change plans effectively.
• Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with and influence individuals in different disciplines and at different levels.
• Ability to create and foster a learning environment and culture of sharing and collaboration.
• Possesses the ability to develop relationships at all levels, both internally and externally while having difficult conversations.
• Proven leadership ability, including the ability to manage workflows, resolve conflicts, and promote engagement within a team.
• Knowledge of municipal organizations, types of municipal occupations, and related functions.
• Proven ability working in a complex multi-unionized environment to reduce typical business information silos to increase cooperation and communication and work more effectively across business functions.
• Ability to collaborate to ensure the highest quality in service delivery, and operational management.
• Knowledge and experience with large ERP systems and Microsoft Office.
• Possession of a valid Saskatchewan Class 5 Driver’s License