Position Purpose

The People Relations Specialist provides strategic guidance and expertise in labour relations and collective agreement interpretation. This role is instrumental in managing the grievance process, preparing cases for arbitration and Tribunal hearings, and supporting collective bargaining initiatives. Acting as a trusted advisor, the Specialist partners with the Business Partner to resolve labour issues effectively, fostering a positive, collaborative, and harmonious labour climate.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

Provides expert guidance on the interpretation and application of working agreements, employment legislation, and internal policies.

Oversees the process for all non-medical accommodations, military leave, and unpaid leaves of absence, including leaves provided for under the Employment Standards Act.

Maintains and tracks labour administration records including member discipline, interpretation decisions, letters of understanding and applicable precedents and practices.

Provides coaching, advice and training to leaders regarding the duty to accommodate, complex personnel matters and attendance concerns.

Conducts thorough and effective harassment and grievance investigations, including conducting interviews and obtaining documentation and other factual data as required as well as attend grievance hearings, arbitrations and similar.

Partners with Business Partners on complex misconduct investigations, ensuring all processes are legally defensible, procedurally fair, fully compliant with working agreements, and aligns with past practices and legal precedents.

Participates in the representation of the Chief/Board in legal matters at grievances, arbitrations and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

Provides strategic guidance and expertise in the development, implementation and ongoing management of human resources programs.

Identifies current and emerging labour arbitration decisions and trends from other police agencies, governments and public sector organizations.

In consultation with the Business Partners and Director, advises management on a consistent and fair level of discipline for civilian members, from verbal reprimand to recommendation for termination.

Develops and delivers labour relations training programs, guides, issues information memos and delivers training to supervisory personnel.

Supports the bargaining team with the collective bargaining process by conducting research and identifying trends in police and broader public sector bargaining to support proposals, evaluating effectiveness of existing provisions, drafting language and updating Board proposal documents, working with Finance on costing, gathering feedback from internal stakeholders, etc.

Supports post-bargaining efforts such as updating collective agreement and interpretation documents, communicating changes and collaborating with stakeholders on implementation.

Drafts and refines all Board reports assigned to the People Relations unit.

Responds to inquiries from other Services and participates in committees which require labour relations expertise.

Acts as back-up for the Business Partner as necessary and performs additional duties as assigned.

This position description is intended to describe the general level and nature of the position, and is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of all tasks assigned in the performance of this position.

Education, Licensing & Certifications

Experience

Skills

An understanding of relevant legislation and regulations including the Labour Relations Act, Ontario Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Workplace Safety & Insurance Act, applicable federal and provincial pension legislation, Pay Equity Act and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Ability to analyze and interpret collective agreement language, legislation, statistical data and make recommendations.

Writing communication skills in order to draft reports regarding details of harassment complaints, correspondence regarding grievances, discipline proceedings, interpretation of the Collective Agreements, Letters of Understanding, and Board reports.

Presentation and facilitation skills to communicate with members at all levels in the organization and present education and training programs in regards to labour relations matters.

Ability to participate in harassment and misconduct investigations, recommends courses of action for approval, advises regarding application of working agreements and legislation.