Director, Employee and Labour Relations

Seneca • Ontario, CA

19d

About The Position

Director, Employee Labour Relations, Health & Safety
Do you believe that strong, interest-based approach to labour relations are the foundation of a thriving workplace? Are you ready to build strong relationships that balance progressive thinking with practical flexibility at one of Canada’s leading post-secondary institutions?
We’re seeking a Director, Labour Relations, Health & Safety, to join our Human Resources leadership team. Reporting to the Vice President, Human Resources, you will play a pivotal role in advancing Seneca’s commitment to collaborative interest-based labour relations, safe and respectful workplaces. You will lead an integrated portfolio, partnering with union leaders, leaders across the institution, senior executives, and HR colleagues to drive constructive change, support operational effectiveness, and contribute to the long-term strategic direction for employee and labour relations across Seneca.
How You Approach the Role
In a postsecondary environment shaped by evolving work models, workload pressures, safety considerations, technological change, and public accountability, you support teams through complexity with clear communication and steady leadership.
Champion partnership by engaging unions as essential collaborators in building positive labour relations and safe workplaces.
Lead the labour relations function through interest-based collaboration, shared problem-solving, and the responsible use of data, insight and technology.
Leads the effective implementation of outcomes from central collective bargaining, ensuring alignment with Seneca’s strategic priorities and operational context.
Build trust through consistent dialogue, transparency, and reliable follow-through.
Approach labour relations as an evolving relationship grounded in respect, accountability, and fairness.
Recognize health and safety as integral to organizational effectiveness, employee well-being and sustainable outcomes.
Navigate sensitive and complex issues including workplace investigations using sound judgment, ethical decision‑making, evidence‑informed approaches and
creative solutions that balance fairness, risk, and operational realities.

Requirements

• Significant experience in labour relations within a unionized environment, including collective agreement interpretation and issue resolution.
• Strong capability to manage constructive, professional, and solution-oriented union relationships while clearly upholding and reinforcing management’s right to manage.
• The ability to integrate labour legislation and collective agreement requirements with operational priorities and evolving business needs.
• Professional judgment in assessing when collaboration, principled challenge, or firm but fair direction is required to achieve outcomes in the best interest of Seneca.
• Experience applying interest‑based and collaborative labour‑management approaches to address issues, resolve disputes, and support sustainable outcomes.
• Leadership capability to influence, collaborate, and build alignment across diverse stakeholders and leadership groups.
• Experience using data, insights, and emerging tools to support sound, evidence-based decision-making.
• A values based approach demonstrated through timely ethical decision-making, transparency, and accountability in high-stake or complex situations.

Responsibilities

• Champion partnership by engaging unions as essential collaborators in building positive labour relations and safe workplaces.
• Lead the labour relations function through interest-based collaboration, shared problem-solving, and the responsible use of data, insight and technology.
• Leads the effective implementation of outcomes from central collective bargaining, ensuring alignment with Seneca’s strategic priorities and operational context.
• Build trust through consistent dialogue, transparency, and reliable follow-through.
• Approach labour relations as an evolving relationship grounded in respect, accountability, and fairness.
• Recognize health and safety as integral to organizational effectiveness, employee well-being and sustainable outcomes.
• Navigate sensitive and complex issues including workplace investigations using sound judgment, ethical decision‑making, evidence‑informed approaches and creative solutions that balance fairness, risk, and operational realities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed