Position Overview:

As a valued member of Human Resources senior management team, the Senior Human Resources Business Partner leads and supports the City’s corporate and operating departments in maintaining effective labour relations and in all workforce planning requirements.

You will be responsible for delivering both strategic and operational excellence across all aspects of HR—including, but not limited to, labour relations, workforce planning, recruitment and retention, learning and development, succession planning, and performance and attendance management.

You will work closely with the City’s senior leadership team, departmental managers, union partners, and talented HR staff to build a strong and resilient workforce aligned with the City’s long-term vision and service priorities.

As the successful candidate:

• You have a track record of extensive experience across multiple HR fields of discipline, with demonstrated experience in labour relations, working knowledge of employment and labour legislation, and experience across multiple HR disciplines. You have delivered HR strategic support in unionized, multi-stakeholder environments in public or private sector.

• You seek to drive meaningful change to positively impact workplace culture, with the ability to respond to the changes and challenges facing today’s workplaces—from fostering equity and inclusion to addressing workforce planning and development, to building strong labour relationships.

• You are a lifelong learner, curious and creative and willing to take calculated risks, knowing that sometimes they will fail as steps on the path to success.

Key Responsibilities

As the Senior Human Resources Business Partner, your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Labour Relations:

• Maintain effective working relationships with union bargaining agents representing City employees through clear and professional communications, while promoting a solution-based approach to problem solving

• Facilitate joint union/ management meetings and discussions to resolve issues

• Manage the grievance and arbitration processes, including research, preparation, and participation, in accordance with legislation and respective collective agreement’s provisions

• Consult, educate, and guide managers on interpretation of respective collective agreement terms and disciplinary matters

• Conduct internal workplace investigations and facilitate external investigations

• Lead and/or participate in collective bargaining

Human Resources Workforce Planning and support:

• Partner with assigned departments to lead their planning for current and future resource requirements and, changes and enhancements to skills and abilities within roles

• Work with corporate HR staff to communicate departmental needs and support planning of corporate HR initiatives that support these needs

• In collaboration with department leaders, guide managers through performance and attendance management processes to support employee engagement and optimization of resource utilization

• Guide departmental leadership through talent management processes to establish succession planning, employee learning and development, and skill training to support future workforce requirements.

• Lead the delivery of Human Resources programs to managers and employees within assigned departments, in coordination with other Human Resources staff members

Special Assignments:

• Lead specified corporate Human Resources projects, programs, and/or policies
• As assigned, serve as the Human Resources liaison on various organizational initiatives and projects, in the capacity as facilitator, chair, or participant

Essential Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have a minimum of ten years of progressive senior management positions in human resources managing and supporting multiple HR functions, in a unionized work environment, including a minimum of five years direct experience in labour relations with a strong knowledge of applicable legislation.

Candidates will have a minimum of a university undergraduate degree in business administration, human resource management, law, industrial relations or a related discipline.

A Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation would be considered an asset.

An equivalent combination of experience and education may also be considered.

What we offer to a successful candidate

• Competitive salary

• Competitive vacation entitlement and paid holidays

• Comprehensive group benefits plans

• Participation in a Shared Risk Pension Plan from day 1 of your employment

• Eligibility to participate in the City’s Flexible Time Options Program which includes flexible schedules and compressed work week (4-day work week) options, subject to business requirements

• Training and Development opportunities

• A diverse and inclusive workplace

• Sponsored Employee and Family Events

• Community Services Volunteer Program that provides for up to 2 days per calendar year to engage in volunteer opportunities to make a difference and give back to your community.

• A career that serves and supports your Community

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live and which we serve. We encourage and support applications from Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups. Candidates who belong to such groups, who are qualified, will be given preference at the time of selection.

Applications will be accepted through our online system only. Qualified applicants should submit their cover letters and resumes to:

City of Saint John
Attn: Hiring Committee
www.saintjohn.ca (careers/employment opportunities)