Manager, Human Resources and Labour Relations

The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) believes in Our Communities, Our Environment and Our People. As a trusted partner to municipalities, First Nations communities, businesses, governments and institutions across Ontario, we provide our clients with total solutions in water and wastewater. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to help them build healthy sustainable communities and organizations and provide safe and reliable drinking water to thousands of Ontarians each day.

What we are looking for:
If you are a strategic labour relations thinker who leverages a hands-on approach to enable consistent, high-quality advice and support for the team, colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, then this is the role for you!

The Manager, HR/LR Services is accountable for leading services for the Agency in labour/employee relations (including grievance management), workplace investigations, disability management and recruitment throughout the agency. This includes enabling business objectives, aligning to organizational values and culture, meeting legal and collective agreement obligations, and achieving constructive labour relations with union partners. You will lead a team of professionals who collaborate and act as key points of contact with business leaders, HR colleagues, external stakeholders, and the Union.

Location: (Hybrid Work Model)

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the provision of strategic human resources services that support senior leaders to achieve business results related to the following key areas of responsibility: strategic labour/employee relations, recruitment and retention, performance management, disability management and conflict of interest strategies.
  
• Lead a team of HR Partners to provide subject matter expertise at the organizational, business, and local level in a complex and highly unionized environment.
  
• Manage continuous improvements within the department with the objective of organizational excellence and efficiency of processes
  
• Address systemic issues and align the Agency's strategic human resources plan with broader enterprise-wide business planning
  
• Lead and establish a framework that enables constructive labour relations between the Agency and the Union at the organizational, business, and local levels.
  
• Manage and achieve business objectives through labour and employee relation frameworks.
  
• Lead the development of corporate labour relations, employee relations, and workplace investigation strategies in partnership with diverse stakeholders.
  
• Provides for the seamless and integrated implementation of new/revised processes and procedures; develop protocols and operational processes to streamline operations and comply with legislation, regulations and policies
  
• Lead the Agency's contingency planning, including the negotiation of Essential Service Agreements, in the event of a labour disruption.

How do I qualify?

Leadership Skills:

• Ability to develop, build, mentor and lead a group of human resources professionals.
  
• Demonstrate inclusive leadership that values and creates a culture of diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace
  
• Ability to determine human resources and organizational needs for optimal performance and delivery of results, in alignment with Agency goals and objectives
  
• Encourages innovation in setting goals and meeting standards and objectives
  
• Exercise managerial and strategic leadership, accountability and authority in the areas of disability management, recruitment and retention, performance management, labour and employee relations, and compensation related matters

Relationship Management, Communication and Consultation Skills:

• Demonstrates superior relationship management and consultation skills to develop and maintain effective business relationships with senior executives and advises and influences them on complex/contentious HR matters, ongoing initiatives, HR management practices, and to provide relevant information on policy direction and recommendations
  
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills to work with a variety of staff and stakeholders at various levels and lead the preparation of formal replies, briefing notes, reports, discussion documents, consultation papers, presentations to management committees, and senior management on issues related to HR program or service development
  
• Strong capability to establish and manage effective working relationships with clients (individuals and groups), HR partners, union leadership; attending and representing employer at joint union/management committees

Analytical skills

• Assesses risks/impacts affecting program development and manages complex and sensitive issues and situations, assessing labour relations and service delivery implications.
  
• Ability to lead and manage HR projects and activities that supports the Agency's business priorities and OCWA/OPS HR planning such as business and contingency plans to manage local operations in the event of a labour disruption
  
• Proven analytical skills to assess and respond to the agencies business requirements and complex and/or contentious strategic, policy, and business issues in the HR field; evaluate risks, recommend best practices, effective strategies and innovative solutions, and advises senior executives on planning and managing human capital and organizational changes to support the agencies business needs

What's in it for you?

• Flexible learning and development opportunities.
  
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization with the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Ontario.
  
• Work with the partner of choice for more communities than any other water and wastewater service organization in Ontario for over 30 years.
  
• Work with an organization committed to innovation and advanced technology.
  
• A defined benefit pension plan; Comprehensive Health Plan; Life and Disability Insurance.
  
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents.

Ontario Clean Water Agency is an inclusive employer.

We will accommodate your needs under the Ontario Human Rights Code

The Ontario Clean Water Agency is an agency of the Province of Ontario, reporting to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. In 2023, OCWA staff treat water and wastewater, and provide other technical services for 318 clients in the province including 169 municipalities, 16 First Nations, 108 commercial and industrial clients and 25 government and institutional clients. Municipal clients range in size from populations as large as 1.5 million in the Region of Peel to as small as 2,400 in Moose Factory. This broad scope of experience ensures OCWA has the expertise to solve any issues that may arise, in any size or type of treatment process in the province. Our Agency has grown its municipal client base every year over the past 30 years is proof of this value. We continue to focus on our people and strategies to attract and retain competent staff.

Note: Thank you for your interest, we will contact you only if you are selected for further screening or an interview.