Director of Indigenous and Labour Relations

Amico•Mississauga, ON

8h•CA$175,000 - CA$225,000

About The Position

The Director of Indigenous and Labor Relations is a senior leadership role working collaboratively with others within the organization to develop, lead, and executing the company’s strategies related to labor relations and Indigenous relations across all business units. Operating within a unionized construction environment in the Heavy Civil and ICI sectors, this role provides expert guidance on collective bargaining, grievance management, and union relationships, while also shaping and advancing meaningful, long-term partnerships with Indigenous communities. This position will also be responsible for guiding the company through the PAIR program where it currently enjoys “Committed Status”. As the company expands into new geographic regions, this role will play a critical part in ensuring projects are delivered in a manner that is collaborative, respectful, and aligned with Indigenous engagement best practices—creating employment, training, and business opportunities for Indigenous peoples, while supporting successful project outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Labor Studies, Law, Business, or a related field; advanced degree or labor relations designation is an asset.
Minimum 10–15 years of progressive experience in labor relations within a unionized construction or industrial environment, preferably Heavy Civil and/or ICI.
Demonstrated experience managing grievances, arbitrations, and collective bargaining processes.
Proven experience developing and leading Indigenous relations or community engagement strategies, ideally within construction, infrastructure, or resource sectors.
Strong knowledge of Ontario labor legislation, collective agreement administration, and construction industry labor practices.
Experience working directly with Indigenous communities, leadership, and organizations, with a strong understanding of consultation principles and relationship-based engagement.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and tactical levels in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.
Willingness to travel to project sites and Indigenous communities as required.
Strategic thinking and leadership
High level of integrity, cultural awareness, and respect
Strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills
Influential communicator with the ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders
Collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset
Ability to balance business objectives with social responsibility and long-term relationships

Nice To Haves

advanced degree or labor relations designation is an asset

Responsibilities

Develop, lead, and continuously improve the company’s labor relations strategy across all unionized environments and create KPI's and trackers to monitor areas of concern.
Serve as the primary subject-matter expert on collective agreements, labor legislation, and union practices within the Heavy Civil and ICI sectors.
Provide strategic and hands-on support to business units on labor relations matters, including grievances, disputes, discipline, and arbitration preparation.
Support Business Unit VP's with grievance management processes, including oversight of the investigations, resolution strategies, and participation in grievance meetings and hearings.
Support Business Unit VP's on collective bargaining preparation and negotiations, including strategy development, costing, and risk analysis.
Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with union representatives and labor organizations.
Monitor trends in labor relations, legislation, and industry best practices, advising senior leadership on potential impacts and opportunities.
Develop and lead a comprehensive Indigenous Relations strategy aligned with the company’s current growth strategy in Ontario and Pan Canada, aligning values, and project pipeline that will include managing and advancing the company’s status in the PAIR program.
Establish, build, and maintain respectful, long-term relationships with Indigenous Nations, Bands, and organizations in regions where the company operates or plans to operate or has in progress projects.
Support project teams in early engagement with Indigenous communities, ensuring culturally appropriate consultation and collaboration.
Identify and advance opportunities for Indigenous employment, apprenticeships, training, and career development within the company.
Facilitate Indigenous business participation through subcontracting, procurement, and joint venture opportunities where appropriate.
Provide guidance and education to internal stakeholders on Indigenous history, rights, consultation expectations, and best practices.
Work collaboratively with Indigenous communities to develop project-specific engagement plans, agreements, or MOUs as required.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, project teams, and operations leaders on labor and Indigenous relations matters.
Partner with HR, Legal, Operations, and Project Management teams to ensure alignment of strategies and consistent application of policies.
Assess risk related to labor and Indigenous relations and proactively develop mitigation strategies.
Work in conjunction with the company’s communications team to support the company’s ESG, reconciliation, and social responsibility objectives as they relate to labor and Indigenous engagement.