Director, Employee & Labour Relations

BACKGROUND

There’s never been a better time to join Humber River Health. Since opening in 2015 as North America’s first fully digital hospital, Humber River remains unwavering in the belief that we can change the hospital where we work, the community where we live, and the world of healthcare beyond our borders. Now, emerging from the challenges of the pandemic with fresh insight and direction, Humber River Health is proud to introduce a new vision, Lighting New Ways in Healthcare. This vision speaks to Humber River Health’s role as a leader in healthcare innovation, driving a future in patient care that is equitable, accessible, empowering, and informed by research.

Humber River Health is on an exciting transformational journey of redefining patient care for the 850,000 residents served, with a team who encompass values of Compassion, Professionalism and Respect.

Looking ahead to the next three years, Humber River Hospital has outlined four strategic directions in the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan: 1. Embrace equity, diversity and inclusion; 2. Advance the empowerment of our people and patients; 3. Deliver comprehensive, quality care closer to home; and 4. Foster innovation, research and academics. Humber River Health is formally affiliated with both the University of Toronto and Queen’s University and committed to becoming a community academic hospital. Clinical Excellence, Optimizing Care through Technology and Community Connection frame our Research Strategy.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the VP, Human Resources, the Director, Employee & Labour Relations brings extensive leadership experience in strategy, operations, and labour relations within a hospital environment. An expert communicator, the Director, Employee & Labour Relations nurtures positive relationships and collaborates with the leadership teams and staff internally and externally, with a staff complement of over 5,000 people. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident leader with a strong vision of best practices in Employee & Labour Relations to shape the direction of this practice, with the support of an exceptional team, within North America's first fully digital acute care hospital. If you are motivated by the potential to set a new standard, implement better processes, and join a dynamic team working towards a shared vision for better patient care, we’d like to hear from you!

RESPONSIBILITES

Leads and oversees Employee & Labour Relations for the organization, together with a team of eight persons (Human Resources Business Partners, Coordinators, and Labour Relations Specialists), through strong effective relationships with union leaders and representatives:

• Oversees decisions on legal representation and human resource’s legal budget
• Ensures labour relations procedures, guidelines, policies, and procedures are in place
• Ensures the implementation of hospital strategy and/or corporate initiatives are compliant with legislation and progressive labour relations principles
• Provides oversight of internal investigations and the investigation process
• Ensures legislative, internal policy and collective agreement compliance
• Oversees grievance and arbitration management for the hospital
• Supports interprofessional practice development, team, and individual development
• Participates in the development of people strategy and its implementation
• Acts as subject matter expert to the leadership team, and provides advice and consultation on employee and labour relations issues
• Leads collective bargaining for all unions (six)

EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES

• Modeling behaviour that is aligned with the values of Humber River Health – Compassion, Professionalism, Respect
• Minimum 5 years labour relations progressive leadership with multiple unions in a hospital
• Minimum 5 years labour relations within a healthcare setting
• Graduate degree or LLB preferred
• Experience with collective agreement interpretation, grievance management and dispute resolution
• Strong understanding of hospital operations
• Expert business and financial acumen, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills
• Acts in accordance with the commitment to safe and compassionate patient care and safe and healthy work environments
• Degree or diploma in a related field required
• Experience leading local collective bargaining, negotiation, and arbitration
• Expert communication, coaching, and team building skills
• Evidence of expanding learning, development, and recognition opportunities

Humber River Health is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer committed to providing accommodations for applicants upon request at any stage of the recruitment process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

In order to be eligible for employment at Humber River Hospital, all new hires must have received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada (e.g., two doses of a two-dose vaccine series, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine series); AND have received the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the hired employee’s first date of employment Medical exemptions or any other kind of requested exemption based upon the Hospital’s obligations pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code will be considered on a case-by-case basis.