Provincial Labour Relations Specialist

Role Responsibilities

The Provincial Labour Relations Specialist reports to the Director of Labour Relations Policy and Legislation and is the Government of Alberta’s expert on all labour relations issues and legislation. The Provincial Labour Relations Specialist provides timely and proactive strategic advice to executive decision makers with respect to labour relations trends, issues, policy, legislation and other labour relations matters.

This position is required to be a technical expert on all of Alberta's various labour relations legislation, including the Labour Relations Code, the Public Sector Employee Relations Act, Police Officer Collective Bargaining Act and the practical application of these acts to employers and unions in a variety of sectors in Alberta. The position also develops relationships and liaises with key stakeholders and leads significant labour relations policy and strategy projects. The Provincial Labour Relations Specialist provides specialized labour relations advice to Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, as well as other government departments to ensure government priority projects fully account for labour relations implications.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide expert analysis and advice on complex labour relations issues to inform government policy, legislative development, and strategic decision-making.
• Plan and deliver engagement with labour relations stakeholders, to inform policy and legislative development.
• Lead labour relations policy and legislative initiatives.
• Identify, establish and foster collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Function as the Government of Alberta's expert on all labour relations legislation.

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

APS Competencies

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.

• Drive for Results - Works to remove barriers to outcomes, sticking to principles.
• Systems Thinking - Integrates issues, political environment and risks when considering possible actions.
• Agility - Identifies and manages required change and the associated risks.
• Develop Networks - Makes working with a wide range of parties an imperative.

Qualifications

University graduation in Public Administration, Labour Relations, Industrial Relations or other related field plus 6 years progressively responsible related experience. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

Essential Work Experience

• Experience interpreting and applying labour relations legislation. 
• Experience in collective bargaining, either through participating in or leading negotiations.  
• Experience interpreting and applying collective agreements. 
• Experience in leading projects and issuing recommendations in a multi-faceted stakeholder environment.
• Experience providing strategic advice to to executive leadership.
  
  

Skills required for this role:

• Expert-level research, problem-solving, and writing skills, including knowledge of various research methodologies and the ability to identify resources (internal and external) that will support the LRPL's team's policy work, including the identification of potential solutions and recommendations to complex issues and problems. 
• Expert-level ability to conduct strategic analysis of labour relations issues, trends and events, including the ability to develop innovative and realistic solutions to complex problems and provide recommendations to senior and executive leadership. 
• Proficient at analyzing, synthesizing and interpreting information from a variety of sources to identify the key factors impacting an issue, often under tight deadlines and determine the path forward on a project. 
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to summarize information (e.g., research, data, analysis) from a variety of different sources, succinctly and in plain language, both in writing and verbally. 
• Demonstrates excellent judgement, and a strong understanding of the environment by knowing when issues need to be brought to the attention of leadership in addition to making sound recommendations and establishing and/or understanding the direction of strategic projects and initiatives.  
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction and can leverage colleagues to drive for results under pressure and tight timelines.
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to set goals, organize and prioritize work effectively, and communicate to leadership when resources are constrained or lacking.
• Ability to support a wide variety of projects and processes simultaneously in achieving the unit's goals.
  
  

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

We are recruiting one (1) permanent full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Work location is Edmonton or Calgary.

A cover letter clearly outlining, in 750 words or less, how your experience relates to the qualifications of the role is required. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

• Final candidates may 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.)

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.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.