HR Business Partner or Employee Relations Consultant

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about building strong partnerships and delivering thoughtful, strategic HR support?

Are you seeking an opportunity to deepen your expertise in employee relations, while supporting workforce planning and proactive client engagement across the APS? If so, we invite you to explore these exciting opportunities within Client Service Delivery.

Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP): As an HRBP you will serve as a trusted advisor, providing expert guidance and advice on workforce and talent strategies, organizational design, employee relations including support with grievance and workplace investigation processes, employee engagement, HR and Human Capital Management (HCM) processes. You will support the implementation of HR initiatives and projects, translating business priorities and HR metrics into practical people solutions that strengthen organizational effectiveness and workforce sustainability. Your role influences change, drives results, and makes a lasting impact across the Government of Alberta.

Employee Relations Consultant (ERC): As an ERC you will be the go-to expert for resolving complex workplace challenges and guiding organizations through sensitive employee and labour relations matters. Partnering closely with HRBPs and leaders, you will provide strategic advice, lead or support grievance and workplace investigations processes, and drive the implementation of critical ER initiatives and projects. Combining your legislative and collective agreement expertise with strong relationship-building skills, you will help organizations navigate change, mitigate risk, and resolve complex workplace issues. Your expertise and judgment drive solutions-oriented outcomes and are critical to addressing challenging workplace matters across the Government of Alberta.

Both positions provide support for an assigned client portfolio.  You will partner closely with leaders to provide strategic and operational HR advice, ensuring alignment with legislation, policy, directives, and best practices. You will support a diverse group of clients, balancing proactive relationship management with responsive issue resolution.

Your strong analytical thinking and sound judgment will enable you to manage multiple, complex files while delivering high-quality outcomes. Exceptional consultative and interpersonal skills will be essential to build trust and credibility with clients, HR colleagues, and union representatives.

Success in this role requires a strong foundation across the full spectrum of human resources, including HR advisory and project management support, employee and labour relations, workforce planning, organizational design, and effectiveness. You are adept at interpreting and applying collective agreements, legislation, and HR policies and processes while providing strategic advice on complex workplace matters. Through partnership, sound judgment, and a solutions-focused approach, you help leaders make informed decisions that support both organizational objectives and people and business outcomes.

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

Systems Thinking: Solid understanding of how HR scenarios might impact other employment systems and/or create precedent for the department or broader Government of Alberta. Also, integrating many diverse considerations when formulating options for resolving issues related to the employment relationship.

Creative Problem Solving: Ability to initiate and develop solutions to address client workforce needs. Focuses on continuous improvement and increasing breadth of insight. Constantly looks for new ways to improve results and activities.

Agility: Monitor organizational priorities and proactively shift focus as appropriate to achieve intended outcomes. Ability to initiate shifts in priorities for working group and monitor progress.

Drive for Results: Providing solutions oriented options for leadership to consider when dealing with concerns related to the employment relationship.

Develop Networks: Builds collaborative relationships to ensure diverse perspectives are represented in decision-making. Consistently connects with colleagues, clients and other stakeholders and ensures their needs are represented.

Qualifications

A post-secondary degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related area, plus a minimum of one year of progressive HR experience providing consultation, guidance, and solutions across a broad range of human resources disciplines in a large, multi-stakeholder environment is required. Candidates must also demonstrate strong client service, relationship-building, problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills.

HRBP preferred experience:
Candidates must demonstrate experience providing broad HR advisory and consultation services  in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. This includes experience supporting workforce planning, staffing and talent strategies, organizational design and structure reviews, employee relations matters, and implementation of HR programs, initiatives, and projects. 

ERC preferred experience:
Candidates must demonstrate employee relations experience, including experience interpreting and applying collective agreements, employment legislation, and related HR directives or policies. This includes demonstrated experience advising on complex or contentious ER matters, supporting grievance processes, conducting or supporting workplace investigation processes, drafting or reviewing ER-related correspondence, and working with union representatives or other stakeholders to resolve employment-related issues.

The following knowledge and experiences would be considered assets:
•    Experience providing human resource support and advice within a unionized or public sector workplace.
•    Experience supporting workforce planning, staffing and talent strategies, organizational design and structure reviews.
•    Experience advising on employee and labour relations matters in a large, complex organization, including the interpretation and application of collective agreements, employment legislation, HR policies, and workplace practices.
•    Experience working with Union counterparts, managing grievances, conducting workplace investigations and resolving sensitive workplace matters.
•    Demonstrable experience supporting and implementing HR programs, initiatives, and projects that enhance organizational effectiveness, performance and workplace culture.  
•    Experience using workforce data, metrics, and analysis to identify trends, assess needs, inform decision-making, and support strategic HR recommendations.

Equivalency: 
•    A related 2-year diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution and 3-years of related experience. 
•    A related 1-year certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution and 4-years of related experience. 
•    Directly related education or experience considered based on 1-year of education for 1-year of experience; or 1-year of experience for 1-year of education.

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

Notes

This competition will be used to fill current and future vacancies for temporary and permanent HRBP and ERC (Human Relations 2) positions. 

Hours of work: 36.25 per week.

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.