Manager, Employee and Labour Relations

JOIN US IN ENABLING TRADE THROUGH CANADA'S LARGEST PORT.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is an arm’s-length federal agency responsible for the shared stewardship of the lands and waters that make up the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port. Our mandate, as outlined in the Canada Marine Act, is to enable Canada’s trade objectives on behalf of all Canadians, ensuring the safe movement of goods through the Port of Vancouver while protecting the environment and considering local communities.

As an organization with a significant impact on communities and businesses across Canada, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. We strive to create a workplace that mirrors the richness of our community, empowering all employees to achieve their full potential.

The Manager, Employee and Labour Relations is responsible for providing senior-level strategic labour relations expertise and advice to management on the interpretation of the collective agreement, and labour legislation and policies. This position will establish and maintain a collaborative working relationship with union representatives to foster a respectful and constructive employee and labour relations environment and play a key role in the collective bargaining process, grievance administration, and performance management.

What You Do

• Advise people leaders to ensure legal compliance, consistent and appropriate application of practices and policies, and the interpretation and application of the collective agreement.
• Provide support and guidance to people leaders on incident investigations and disciplinary matters.
• Manage all grievances from their initial stage until final resolution, up to and including arbitration if necessary.
• Actively promote strategies/processes that advance organizational/management business objectives; monitor management practices to identify those that are not conducive to promoting sound labour relations practices.
• Integrate innovative, effective labour relations processes and systems into the organization to support organizational change efforts.
• Research and explain laws and legal affairs concerning employment to people leaders and employees.
• Advise and train managers in best employee relations practices and strategies for managing management problems and employee grievances. Develop further training as needed.
• Provide consultation and coaching in sensitive and confidential employee relations matters; facilitate the performance management process.
• Represent the organization in contract negotiations, meetings, and negotiations with employee and labour organizations.
• Collaborate with leadership on matters of policy and terms of memoranda of understanding before and throughout negotiation process.
• Collaborate with legal counsel and departments in the preparation for and participation in negotiations with employee and labour groups.
• Remain current by conducting research and analysis of new case law, labour arbitration cases and awards to determine trends and precedence.
• Clarify or develop business processes and workflows.
• Create and present training content for people leaders/employee workshops and seminars.
• Credible and knowledgeable advice in all areas of labour relations, including interpretation of the collective agreement, the Canada Labour Code, health and safety issues, arbitrations and jurisprudence to management and personnel responsible for bargaining unit employees

What You Bring

• A degree in industrial/labour relations, human resources, labour law, or a related discipline plus at least 5 years’ of related human resources experience in progressively more senior labour/industrial relations roles in a large, complex unionized environment, including a minimum of three (3) years’ at a strategic/leadership level.\
• Thorough knowledge of human resource principles and labour relations methods and procedure
• Skilled in applying negotiation and mediation techniques in a business environment
• Advanced knowledge in all areas of HR policy and compliance, including but not limited to return to work, employee/labour relations, grievance management, policy management, compliance, conduct and risk, and employment law.

What We Offer

• Market-competitive base salaries and variable incentive plan
• Generous and inclusive benefits offering including retirement benefits plan
• Flexible remote work program
• Earned time off program
• Paid vacation and personal care leave
• Learning, development, and advancement opportunities
• Onsite gym with towel service in a national landmark in the heart of Vancouver’s waterfront
• Friendly, unique, and respectful workplace

Location: Vancouver, Canada

Job type: Exempt, Full-Time, Permanent, Hybrid

Working environment: Normal office conditions.

This is Canadian-based employment, and it is expected that all employees maintain legal entitlement to work in Canada. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be subject to background checks, including but not limited to criminal record, credit, and/or reference checks.

At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, we are dedicated to employment equity and a workplace reflective of the diversity of our port community. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities. Reasonable accommodation can be provided in the selection process and while working with the port authority. If you require support applying to our openings, please contact us at [email protected].

We recognize and acknowledge that we are located on the traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. To learn more about our indigenous relations and commitment to reconciliation, please visit our website.