Arbitrations & Disputes Representative

Posting Date: Aug 5, 2025

Location: Edmonton, AB

Company: Government of Alberta

Job Information Job Title: Arbitrations & Disputes Representative
Job Requisition ID: 74454
Ministry: Public Service Commission Location: Edmonton OR Calgary
Full or Part-Time: Full time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open
Closing Date: August 19th, 2025
Classification: Senior Manager Zone 1
Salary: $3,655.42 to $4,987.54 bi-weekly ($95,406- $130,175/year)

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy.aspx.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) plays a pivotal role in enabling the Alberta Public Service (APS) to deliver programs and services that matter to Albertans. As one of the key central agencies, the PSC is responsible for leading the development of policies and programs that ensure Alberta has a professional, non-partisan, diverse and inclusive public service that proudly serves Albertans. We provide excellence in human resource management and act as a catalyst for system transformation to revitalize the APS.

Our vision is to support and improve the overall effectiveness of the public service by providing integrated strategies, policies and programs that position the Government of Alberta as an employer of choice. This is achieved by providing expert advice, strategic leadership and stewardship as well as developing and delivering innovative supports and services to APS employees.

To learn more, please visit https://www.alberta.ca/public-service-commission.aspx.

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, Arbitrations and Disputes, the primary accountability for the Arbitration and Disputes Representative is to represent the Government of Alberta (as Employer) before grievance arbitration boards and other labour and employment administrative tribunals as required.

The successful candidate will:

  • Lead the delivery of labour and employment relations arbitrations and disputes program and services through a shared service delivery model.
  • Provide strategic advice, direction and support to Employee Relations Services staff dealing with disputes in the workplace and at Levels 1 and 2 of the grievance procedures to ensure labour relations issues are resolved as close to the workplace as possible.
  • Represent corporate and departmental clients’ interests before quasi-judicial arbitration boards empowered to rule on employee grievances arising from employee discipline and application / administration of the collective agreement that ensures the best case is put forward with respect to the employers’ decisions and practices.
  • In preparation of, and as assigned counsel in arbitrations, coordinate case preparation (interview witnesses, gather and analyze evidence, analyze legal precedent research to prepare arguments, etc.) and ensure a positive client department relationship is maintained – even in difficult cases where settlement is best alternative.
  • Represent the Public Service Commissioner as the Employer, build and maintain strong relationships in partnership with AUPE.
  • Resolve employer / union issues and employee grievances through negotiation, mediation or alternate dispute methods.
  • Draft well-researched position papers, policy statements and responses for senior department and government officials that address employee / labour relations issues in a manner sensitive to organizational strategy, direction and needs.


Please click on this link to view the job description for this position. 

APS Compentencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

 

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Systems Thinking – Ability to effectively gather, synthesize, integrate, and interpret multi-faceted information from a wide range of sources and perspectives.

Creative Problem Solving – Ability to work within broad HR parameters and challenge the status quo in proposing strategies and programs that will support sustained business solutions.

Build Collaborative Environments – Superior collaboration, facilitation, consultative, consensus building and conflict management abilities, ensuring two-way communication to resolve complex issues.

Develop Networks – Possesses and continually builds extensive connections and collaborative working relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders, looking for mutually beneficial solutions to support effective, cooperative and streamlined delivery of HR programs/services.

Develop Self and Others – Superior interpersonal skills and the ability to manage and lead work groups effectively. Contributes to team learning through mentoring and coaching others.

Qualifications

Minimum recruitment standard:

This position requires a university degree with 3 years of experience in labour relations, business administration, and experience preparing and presenting labour arbitration cases in an arbitration, tribunal, or other judicial forum.

Equivalency: A related area supplemented with a minimum of 6 years’ progressively related experience and expertise as a labour or employee relations professional, coupled with experience preparing and presenting labour arbitration cases in an arbitration, tribunal or other judicial forum.

As the ideal candidate, you are an expert in the labour and employment resolution’s function and have extensive knowledge of related Provincial labour legislation and regulations such as: the Public Service Act, Public Service Employee Relations Act, Public Service Employment Regulation, Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Collective Agreement and related directives.

  • You are highly organized, an excellent communicator, resilient to change, and have well-developed project management and change management skills and experience.
  • Leadership experience in human resources is considered an asset.
  • Equivalencies will be considered on the basis of: One year of related education for one year of experience, or one year of related experience for one year of education.


Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

To be considered for this competition, you application must include a well-written cover letter and resume. Carefully review the Qualifications section to see the specific requirements for the cover letter and resume that are unique to this role.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening. Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

This competition is used to fill more than one vacancy and future opportunities at the same level or at the lower classification.

Hours of Work:

7.25 hours per day / 36.25 hours per week - Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.

• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca.

• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.

• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.

• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.

Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.

• Leadership and mentorship programs.

How To Apply
Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/job-application-resources#before for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)(https://www.alberta.ca/international-qualifications-assessment.aspx) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information (https://canalliance.org/en/default.html).

It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Cindy V Zaiffdeen at Cindy.V.Zaiffdeen@gov.ab.ca.