Bilingual Employee & Labor Relations Manager

Uniqlo Canada•Toronto, ON

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Bilingual Employee & Labor Relations Manager will lead the development and execution of employee relations strategies, policies, and programs across UNIQLO Canada. This role acts as a strategic business partner within the organization, collaborating closely with the Director of HR and the Heads of Departments to ensure alignment of HR practices with both global and local business objectives. The incumbent will provide expert guidance on workplace concerns, employee performance evaluations, and organizational effectiveness, and will also support the development and implementation of organizational strategic plans. The successful candidate will proactively identify and mitigate employee relations risks, foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture, and ensure consistent application of policies and employment legislation. This individual will play a crucial role in supporting and developing leaders across a multi-unit retail environment, enabling effective decision-making, driving employment engagement initiatives, and building leadership bench strength for future organizational needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive HR experience, with a strong focus on employee relations in a multi-unit, high-volume retail environment.
Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations issues, including workplace investigations and performance management processes.
Strong knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practices, particularly within Canada.
Proven ability to influence and coach leaders across all levels of the organization.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in handling confidential information.
Bilingual proficiency (French/English) is required.
Willingness and ability to travel across Canada as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting new market or store openings is an asset.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement comprehensive internal communication strategies to foster transparency, engagement, and alignment across the organization.
Partner with leadership and department heads to ensure consistent messaging and effective communication of key initiatives, policies, and organizational changes.
Oversee the creation, delivery, and continuous improvement of internal communications content, channels, and campaigns to support business goals and drive organizational culture.
Work closely with Global Labor Management and coordinating with both the North America Legal team and Global Legal Team.
Submit weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports to both Local Management and the Global Team.
Facilitate the Global and North America Training and Survey, including annual training on the Code of Conduct, Anti-Harassment, Employee Engagement, and other topics related to Employee Relations.
Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of employee relations policies, programs, and best practices.
Partner with leadership to proactively identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and develop action plans to enhance the employee experience and mitigate potential issues.
Serve as a strategic business partner to management, aligning employee relations and HR initiatives with global, regional, and local business objectives and long-term organizational strategy.
Lead and manage complex employee relations matters, including investigations, grievances, and workplace concerns.
Oversee robust, fair, and objective fact-finding processes, championing best practices that ensure adherence to company policies, legal requirements, and support a culture of accountability and trust.
Provide recommendations and oversee appropriate resolutions, including corrective and disciplinary actions.
Deliver recommendations and guide leadership through resolution strategies, including corrective and disciplinary actions that strengthen organizational integrity.
Provide expert coaching and guidance to managers at all levels on employee performance, behavior, and conflict resolution.
Support leaders in delivering effective feedback, managing performance improvement plans (PIPs), and navigating sensitive workplace situations.
Build leadership capability through training and ongoing support in employee relations best practices that support long-term business success.
Interpret and apply employment legislation and company policies to ensure compliance and mitigate organizational risk.
Maintain accurate, confidential documentation of all employee relations matters and investigations.
Monitor organizational changes and proactively address potential employee relations implications.
Lead initiatives to enhance employee engagement, retention, and the overall associate experience across retail locations.
Support the design, execution, and analysis of global and local employee engagement surveys, translating insights into actionable strategies and presenting recommendations to organizational leadership.
Track and analyze exit interview data and workforce trends to inform continuous improvement efforts.
Collaborate with the broader HR team to support key functions, including payroll, benefits, compliance, and records management.
Contribute to cross-functional HR initiatives and projects that support organizational growth, operational excellence, and the achievement of strategic business goals.
Deliver training on key topics, including workplace harassment prevention, diversity and inclusion, unconscious bias, and equitable practices.