University of Waterloo

Labour Relations Consultant

University of Waterloo$80K — $100K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Undergraduate degree in Human Resources, Business, Law, or related field; advanced studies in Industrial Relations preferred.
  • Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) or Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation preferred.
  • Minimum four years of experience in unionized environments, ideally in post-secondary education.
  • Expertise in labour and employee relations, including policy interpretation and conflict management.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with capacity for strategic advice amidst competing interests.

Responsibilities

  • Provide senior-level labour relations advice to support strategic university objectives.
  • Facilitate the resolution of complex grievances and disputes, collaborating with stakeholders.
  • Promote consistent application of collective agreements and employment practices.
  • Support collective bargaining through research and analysis of labour trends.
  • Prepare detailed reports and documentation related to labour relations matters.
  • Identify and mitigate labour relations risks via proactive analysis and recommendations.
  • Develop effective relationships with unions and institutional stakeholders to foster constructive interactions.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Generous leave entitlements and paid holidays.
  • Opportunities for professional development and continued education.
  • Participation in pension and retirement savings plans.
  • Flexible work arrangements and support for work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Job Requisition ID:


Time Type:
Full time

Employee Group:
Staff

Job Category:
Human Resources Advisory

Employment Type:
Permanent

Department:
Human Resources - Labour Relations

Hiring Range:
$80,248.28 - $100,310.35

Posting Information:This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is Thursday, October 1 2026, at 11:59PM.

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

Provides senior-level labour relations expertise to support the University's operational and strategic objectives. The position advises leaders on complex employee and labour relations matters, promotes consistent collective agreement and policy administration, supports grievance resolution and collective bargaining, strengthens constructive labour-management relationships, and identifies and mitigates institutional risk. Through sound professional judgment, research, analysis, and collaboration, the role delivers practical and defensible solutions aligned with institutional needs.

Key Accountabilities

Labour Relations Advisory
  • Provides specialized advice and guidance to leaders on labour relations, collective agreement interpretation, and employee relations matters.
  • Advises on the labour relations implications of organizational change, restructuring, workforce planning, and strategic initiatives.


Grievance, Dispute Resolution, and Case Management
  • Facilitates the resolution of complex labour and employment matters, including grievances, complaints, workplace disputes, and investigations, in collaboration with employees, leaders, and union or employee association representatives.
  • Supports the University in grievance meetings, mediations, and other dispute resolution processes by preparing and presenting information, recommendations, and supporting documentation.
  • Oversees labour relations case files and ensures records are accurate, complete, confidential, and maintained in accordance with legislative, regulatory, collective agreement, and institutional requirements.


Collective Agreement Administration
  • Promotes consistent interpretation, application, and administration of collective agreements, policies, and employment practices while supporting compliance and mitigating institutional risk.


Collective Bargaining Support
  • Provides strategic bargaining support through sector scans, benchmarking, and analysis of labour relations trends, emerging issues, and institutional priorities.
  • Supports the development and evaluation of bargaining proposals, strategies, and collective agreement language through research, analysis, and recommendations aligned with institutional goals.
  • Prepares reports, settlement agreements, bargaining documentation, and related labour relations materials.


Labour Relations Risk Management
  • Identifies, assesses, and mitigates labour relations risks through proactive consultation, analysis, and recommendations that support compliant and effective employment practices.


Labour-Management Relations
  • Develops and maintains effective working relationships with unions and their representatives, faculty and staff associations, and leaders to support constructive labour-management relations.
  • Participates in labour relations and other institutional committees as required, providing labour relations expertise and recommendations.


Program, Policy, and Process Improvement
  • Contributes to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of labour relations policies, programs, practices, and resources.
  • Collaborates with leaders to develop tools, resources, and training that strengthen leadership capability and support effective labour relations administration across the University.


Required Qualifications

Education
  • Undergraduate degree specializing in Human Resources, Business, Law, Industrial Relations, or a related field, or an institutionally recognized equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Formal education in Industrial Relations is preferred.
  • Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) or Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation is preferred.


Experience
  • Minimum four years of related work experience, preferably in a unionized post-secondary environment.


Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
  • Strong labour and employee relations expertise, including collective agreement and policy interpretation, risk and issue management, workforce planning, organizational design, change management, and conflict resolution.
  • Strong consultation, negotiation, investigation, and conflict-management skills, with the ability to provide strategic advice and guide leaders through complex matters involving competing interests.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish trust, foster productive labour-management relationships, and work effectively with stakeholders through high-conflict situations.
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct or support workplace investigations, assess facts and evidence, prepare clear and comprehensive reports, and develop defensible recommendations.
  • Strong organizational, analytical, critical-thinking, and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information, manage competing priorities, maintain detailed documentation, anticipate emerging issues, and develop proactive solutions.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively, exercise professional judgment with minimal supervision, use technology to improve efficiency, adapt to diverse contexts, and lead work within the assigned area of responsibility.
  • Knowledge of the post-secondary sector and labour relations considerations within an academic environment is preferred.

About University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is a public research university with a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on 404 hectares of land adjacent to "Uptown" Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also operates three satellite campuses and four affiliated university colleges. The university offers academic programs administered by six faculties and thirteen faculty-based schools. Waterloo operates the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world, with over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the university's co-op program. Waterloo is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada. The institution originates from the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, established on 4 April 1956; a semi-autonomous entity of Waterloo College, which was an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario. This entity formally separated from Waterloo College and was incorporated as a university with the passage of the University of Waterloo Act by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1959. It was established to fill the need to train engineers and technicians for Canada's growing postwar economy. It grew substantially over the next decade, adding a faculty of arts in 1960, and the College of Optometry of Ontario, which moved from Toronto in 1967. The university is a co-educational institution, with approximately 36,000 undergraduate and 6,200 postgraduate students enrolled there in 2020. Alumni and former students of the university can be found across Canada and in over 150 countries; with a number of award winners, government officials, and business leaders having been associated with Waterloo. Waterloo's varsity teams, known as the Waterloo Warriors, compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the U Sports.
Learn more about University of Waterloo

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