Senior Manager, Employee Relations

Scotiabank•Toronto, ON

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Employee Relations plays a critical role in fostering a safe, respectful, accountable and inclusive workplace culture at Scotiabank. This role provides leadership and direction to an Employee Relations (ER) team, prioritizes and oversees workload for ER Managers and independently manages complex, high-risk workplace issues. The Senior Manager, ER partners with executives, people managers and employees to resolve workplace issues and mitigate risk.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in Human Resources, Employee Relations or Employment Law
Advanced knowledge of employment law, HR policies and ER best practices
Expertise in interviewing, negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution techniques.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and presentations.
Demonstrated experience in delivering clear, concise, and empathetic communication tailored to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated experience in providing responsive, customer-focused support to employees and leaders, ensuring timely resolution of inquiries.
Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships with employees, leaders, and stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Post-secondary degree or diploma in Human Resources, Employment Law or another related field preferred
French and/or Spanish language skills are an asset

Responsibilities

Lead a team of skilled ER Managers to effectively support business lines, HR Business Partners and HR Heads in addressing complex workplace issues.
Develop flexible and innovative recommendations to both new and existing issues. Provide guidance and support on stakeholder discussions and escalated matters to ensure timely resolution and risk mitigation.
Develop team capabilities in investigations, communication, problem-solving, and other critical skills. Identify training needs and deliver ongoing, objective feedback.
Foster an engaging, inclusive, and results-driven team environment by promoting collaboration, recognizing performance, valuing diverse perspectives, and ensuring accountability for goals.
Organize and deliver ER team meetings and learning sessions; lead or participate in hiring processes for ER Managers and manage annual performance and development planning.
Share accountability for communicating the Bank’s vision, values, and business strategy.
Act as a champion of ScotiaBond, the Bank’s Raise a Concern Program and uphold the Bank’s Code of Conduct.
Oversee case management and workload distribution for the ER team, and be accountable for ensuring timely and appropriate resolution of matters/cases.
Collaborate with other Senior Managers to ensure cohesive and consistent team practices while managing overall case volume across the broader ER team.
Conduct formal investigations into high-risk matters (including executive-level cases) involving allegations of serious misconduct such as harassment, discrimination, violence, or breaches of the Code of Conduct.
Provide early resolution or mediation support for escalated cases, as appropriate.
Independently manage complex ER cases requiring expertise in employment law, Scotiabank policies, and global HR standards.
Advise, coach, and train ER Managers and stakeholders on managing complex workplace issues.
Serve as a subject matter expert, providing timely strategic guidance and coaching to executives, people managers, and HR Business Partners on high-risk ER matters.
Communicate solutions clearly and concisely, considering client needs, assessing risks, and ensuring fairness and consistency in policy and practice.
Support ER Managers in overseeing large-scale initiatives such as reorganizations and restructurings.
Identify trends and provide insights to senior leadership to inform HR strategy, talent management, and risk mitigation.
Recommend training opportunities for people managers and employees on ER-related topics.
Ensure case documentation meets regulatory, legal and internal standards for self and direct reports.
Monitor adherence to ER processes and protocols, recommending improvements as needed.
Challenge existing practices and propose innovative solutions to systemic issues.
Lead or participate in projects to drive organizational change within Employee Relations.
Manage team expenses and identify efficiencies to reduce costs.
Understand how the Bank’s risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
Create an environment in which their team pursues effective and efficient operations of their respective areas in accordance with Scotiabond Values, its Code of Conduct and the Global Sales Principles, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational, compliance, AML/ATF/sanctions and conduct risk.