Director, Labour Relations & Negotiations

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director, Labour Relations & OHS, the Director, Labour Relations and Negotiations is accountable for leading the Labour Relations and Negotiations team which includes oversight of negotiations and bargaining strategy. They will facilitate/review labour relations (LR) policies, directives, programs and initiatives in unionized and non-unionized work environments across the Alberta Public Service (APS) and throughout other Canadian jurisdictions to ensure the Government of Alberta (GoA) is positioned to engage in meaningful discussions impacting the bargaining unit. This will support strategic direction and oversight in the preparation and negotiations of the Collective Agreement and Essential Services Agreement, the establishment of a Business Contingency Program, and ensuring employer interests are well represented throughout the bargaining process. 

The Director, Labour Relations and Negotiations provides direction, guidance and mentorship to a team of subject matter experts (SMEs) involved in the development of  bargaining strategies for upcoming negotiations.

Accountabilities:

• Supports the Assistant Deputy Minister and Executive Director (LRPP) in management of the LRPP.
• Leads the consultation, preparation and negotiations process for collective bargaining, overseeing the development of negotiation strategies, ensuring mandates and proposals are in alignment with employer interests. 
• Participates in collective bargaining, negotiations and settlement proceedings along with the Lead Negotiator for Public Service Commission.
• Informs Senior Government of Alberta leadership on complex labour negotiations issues including the status of collective bargaining.
• Develops collaborative partnerships with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) representatives to enable productive Labour Relations partnership.
• Leads the strategy and implementation of Business Continuity Planning in the event of legal or illegal strike action. 
• Provides expert advice to Executive and Senior Management regarding the interpretation and application of Collective Agreement and Essential Services Agreement articles.
• Remains attune to legislative and policy changes impacting the Labour and Employee Relations environment, ensuring GoA directives, policies and guidelines are in alignment with industry best practices. 
• Manages a team of SMEs, ensuring they highly trained and mentored in support of retention and career growth.

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

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviours 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.

Creative Problem Solving: Able to provide consistent and effective advisory services to Executive Leadership and CSD regarding Collective Agreement / Essential Service trends.

Drive for Results: able to develop and execute an effective collective bargaining and negotiations strategy to ensure employer interests are well supported and defended. 

Agility: Ability to ensure comprehensive preparation of contingency plans are developed and implemented in the event of a work stoppage due to legal or illegal strike action.
.

Build Collaborative Environments: Able to develop strategic and collaborative partnerships with AUPE representatives. 

Develop Networks: Engage in expanding the presence of negotiations services with the GoA and other quasi-government organizations.

Qualifications

Minimum recruitment standard: 

University graduation supplemented by six years of progressively responsible experience.

Equivalency: 

Related education and experience is considered on the basis of:
•    1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
•    1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Requirement:
The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following skills and attributes:
•    Experience within a large, sophisticated unionized environment.
•    Knowledge of the Alberta Labour Relations Code, Public Service Act, Public Service Employee Relations Act, Employment Standards Code, Human Rights Act, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
•    Leading and mentoring a team of labour relations and negotiations professionals, including selection, performance management, and mentoring/career development.
•    Understanding of key Human Resource concepts including compensation/benefits/pension, classification, recruitment, occupational health and safety.
•    Conducts environmental scanning and review of labour and employment policy directives, guidelines and policies to ensure alignment with legislative changes and industry best practices. 
     o    Drafting clearly written and concise policy positions for senior executives.
•    Development of bargaining strategy(s)/options for upcoming negotiations, including:
     o    Surveying of management within stakeholder group.
     o    Identification of bargaining options.
     o    Briefing of senior executives to define key issues.
     o    Creation of book of proposals.
•    Bargaining table experience, preferably as first chair/instructing client.
•    Knowledge of Essential Services processes, including:
     o    Essential Services legislation.
     o    Development of Essential Service negotiations strategy.
     o    Negotiation of Essential Service Agreement(s) or directing client at the ESA table.
•    Development of Contingency Business Continuity Plans.
     o    Development of organizational training protocols in support of Business Continuity.
•    Developing collective agreement implementation strategy.

Qualifications cont'd

Assets:

The following attributes are key to performance success and will be considered assets:
•    Experience as chief spokesperson at collective bargaining.
•    Experience leading or participating at hearings at the Alberta Labour Relations Board.
•    Developing organizational updates relating to bargaining status.
•    Establishing relationships within and outside the GoA focusing on communicating organizational positions or obtaining insights into policy options.
•    Knowledge of Financial Administration Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act, Individual Rights Protection Act, Administrative Procedures Act and the Fair and Family Friendly Workplaces Act.
•    Experience with high level use of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

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 has 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.