Workplace Conduct Investigator / Senior Workplace Conduct Investigator

Role Responsibilities

The Government of Alberta is recruiting Workplace Conduct Investigator (HR2) and Senior Workplace Conduct Investigator (HR3) to conduct fair, thorough and impartial workplace investigations across the Alberta Public Service.

These roles investigate Respectful Workplace complaints and employer-initiated matters involving alleged employee misconduct. Investigators gather and assess evidence, interview parties and witnesses, apply procedural fairness and the balance-of-probabilities standard, and prepare clear, evidence-based reports.

Senior Workplace Conduct Investigators also lead the most complex and sensitive files and provide technical leadership, mentoring and quality assurance within the investigation team.

In these roles, you will:

• Plan and conduct workplace investigations from initial assignment through final report.
• Investigate matters involving harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, misconduct, Code of Conduct concerns and other workplace issues.
• Clarify allegations, determine investigation scope and identify relevant witnesses and evidence.
• Conduct respectful and impartial interviews with complainants, respondents and witnesses.
• Gather and analyze testimonial, documentary and electronic evidence.
• Assess conflicting information, credibility and reliability of evidence.
• Apply procedural fairness and the balance-of-probabilities standard when reaching findings.
• Prepare clear, comprehensive and defensible investigation reports.
• Manage multiple investigations while maintaining confidentiality, quality and timelines.
• Work with HR, management, Legal, Labour Relations, union representatives and other stakeholders as appropriate.

Additional HR3 Responsibilities
Senior Workplace Conduct Investigators will also:

• Lead complex, sensitive, high-risk or politically significant investigations.
• Assess complaints for jurisdiction, complexity, risk and appropriate investigative approach.
• Provide technical advice on complex workplace investigation matters.
• Coach and mentor Workplace Conduct Investigators.
• Review investigation plans and reports for quality, consistency and procedural fairness.
• Lead case consultations and investigation debriefs.
• Contribute to investigation standards, training, tools and process improvements.
• Identify trends, systemic issues and emerging organizational risks.

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.

• Creative Problem Solving: Analyzes conflicting or incomplete information and develops fair, practical investigation approaches.
• Systems Thinking: Considers legislation, policy, collective agreements, workplace context and organizational risk when making investigation decisions.
• Agility: Adjusts investigation plans appropriately as new evidence or circumstances emerge.
• Drive for Results: Moves investigations forward while maintaining quality, fairness and timelines.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Works effectively with employees, management, HR, unions and other partners while maintaining independence and impartiality.

Qualifications

Workplace Conduct Investigator — HR2

A related university degree plus a minimum of one year of related experience. Related experience should include demonstrated experience in one or both of the following areas:

• Workplace investigations: conducting workplace, administrative, regulatory or comparable investigations, including interviewing, evidence gathering and analysis, findings, and report writing; and/or
• Employee Relations/Labour Relations (ER/LR): advising on complex employee or labour relations matters, interpreting employment policies or collective agreements, supporting workplace conflict or misconduct matters, or providing related HR advice.

Strong experience in either workplace investigations or ER/LR is required. Experience in both areas is preferred. Candidates with strength in one area and demonstrated ability to develop capability in the other will be considered.

Candidates should also demonstrate strong judgment, analytical ability, written communication skills, and experience handling sensitive and confidential matters.

Equivalencies will be considered:

• Related two-year diploma plus three years of related experience;
• Related one-year certificate plus four years of related experience; or
• An equivalent combination of directly related education and experience considered on a one-for-one basis.

Senior Workplace Conduct Investigator — HR3

A related university degree plus a minimum of four years of related experience. Candidates must demonstrate progressively responsible experience in both workplace investigations and Employee Relations/Labour Relations (ER/LR), including:

• Independently leading complex workplace or comparable investigations from planning through final report.
• Conducting sensitive or high-conflict interviews and analyzing complex or conflicting evidence.
• Assessing credibility and making evidence-based findings using the balance-of-probabilities standard.
• Applying procedural fairness and preparing detailed, defensible investigation reports.
• Advising on complex employee and labour relations matters.
• Interpreting and applying collective agreements, employment policies, legislation and related workplace requirements.
• Working with HR, management, unions, Legal, Labour Relations or other stakeholders on complex workplace matters.
• Managing multiple complex files and exercising sound judgment with limited oversight.

Equivalencies will be considered:

• Related two-year diploma plus six years of related experience;
• Related one-year certificate plus seven years of related experience; or
• An equivalent combination of directly related education and experience considered on a one-for-one basis.

Qualifications Continued

Assets
The following are considered assets:

• Experience investigating harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, retaliation or serious misconduct.
• Experience in a large, complex, unionized or public-sector environment.
• Formal workplace-investigation or investigative-interviewing training.
• Training in administrative law, conflict resolution or trauma-informed interviewing.
• Experience supporting grievance, arbitration or other formal proceedings.
• Knowledge of Alberta Public Service employment frameworks.

For the HR3 level, additional assets include experience mentoring investigators, reviewing investigation reports, leading high-risk investigations, and developing investigation standards, tools or training.

Which Level Is Right for You?

• HR2 – Workplace Conduct Investigator: For professionals who bring strong experience in workplace investigations or Employee/Labour Relations, with the ability and interest to build further expertise in the other area.
• HR3 – Senior Workplace Conduct Investigator: For senior practitioners who bring strong experience in both workplace investigations and Employee/Labour Relations and can lead complex investigations, advise on challenging workplace matters, and provide technical leadership to other investigators.

Candidates may indicate whether they wish to be considered for HR2, HR3, or both levels. Consideration will be based on the qualifications and demonstrated experience required for each classification.

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

Location: Edmonton

 Hours of Work: 36.25 Hours per week, Monday to Friday.

 This competition may be used to fill current and future vacancies at equal or lesser classification across the Government of Alberta.

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.