Administrator, Employee Relations

OPSEU/SEFPO represents approximately 180,000 members across Ontario. They are full-and part-time workers, as diverse a group as you could imagine. OPSEU/SEFPO’s members work for the Ontario government, inside community colleges, for the LCBO, in the health care and education sectors, and they are employed in a wide range of community agencies within the broader public sector.

OPSEU/SEFPO has an incredibly talented, knowledgeable and dedicated workforce that provides the highest level of service to its diverse membership. OPSEU/SEFPO’s approximately 350 employees believe in the labour movement and stand at the frontlines to support and fight for what is right for the working people of Ontario. OPSEU/SEFPO's  exceptional team works across Ontario to organize new members, engage and represent the rights of its members in their workplaces and communities, negotiate collective agreements, advance health and safety, attend mediations and arbitrations, plan conferences and events, provide educational sessions, promote anti-harassment and anti-discrimination, address equity-related matters, draft communications, plan and execute campaigns, and the internal work that ensures the organization runs smoothly and efficiently so that OPSEU/SEFPO can service the membership. OPSEU/SEFPO’s employees belong to two internal staff unions, the Ontario Public Service Staff Union (OPSSU) and the Administrative Staff Union (ASU). OPSEU/SEFPO also have a small group of non-unionized employees that work in the Legal Services and Employee Relations Divisions, as well as in the senior leadership domain.

It is within this context that OPSEU/SEFPO welcomes applications and nominations for the appointment of its Administrator, Employee Relations (“Administrator”).

Reporting to the President, the Administrator is a member of the senior leadership team and provides sound advice to the President’s Office; represents OPSEU/SEFPO in all aspects of labour relations and human resources, including being the key voice in communicating to and connecting with the workforce; and is a role model for professional, kind and caring service for all staff and members. The Administrator will lead and oversee the accommodation/return-to-work process, hiring process, training and development, benefits and pension administration, collective bargaining, performance development and management, onboarding and orientation, career development, mentorship, staff-related programs and initiatives, policy development and implementation, workplace investigations, succession planning and collective agreement interpretation. The Administrator is also involved in defining and implementing the organization’s strategic vision and goals across the organization. The Administrator will work with the President’s Office and the Administrators across the organization to plan and direct organizational and systemic change, delivering results and meeting the goals of OPSEU/SEFPO, both as a union and as an employer who leads by example. The Administrator will lead consultation and provide direction on organizational design and change management initiatives that position the Union and the Employee Relations Division to improve operational effectiveness, and maintain a high-performing, diverse, inclusive, and engaged workforce.

The Administrator will lead a team of Employee Relations/Labour Relations and Human Resource professionals. The Administrator will also work collaboratively with the two internal staff unions, establishing strong relationships with their leadership and the bargaining units as a whole, and ensuring strong and positive relations between senior management and staff with the goal to minimize use of the grievance/arbitration process. With OPSEU/SEFPO’s people at the heart of every decision, the Administrator will be invested in developing the staff of the union and will create and maintain a workplace where every employee feels a sense of belonging, can thrive, develop and succeed, translating into the highest level of service for OPSEU/SEFPO members. The Administrator will take a ‘whole-person’ approach to working with employees, and to all aspects of Employee Relations and Human Resources, and put employees first while designing, planning and implementing organizational workplace change initiatives through an equity lens.

The ideal candidate has proven leadership experience, preferably in a not-for-profit organization, coupled with depth of experience in Employee Relations, Labour Relations and/or Human Resources. You have experience in complex unionized work environments, and experience with the collective bargaining process and negotiations, mediation, problem-solving and collaboration, and conflict management and resolution. You also have experience in change management, and knowledge relating to accommodations, return-to-work principles, collective agreement interpretation, workplace investigations, union principles and labour laws and jurisprudence. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility; the ability to foster an inclusive union culture; and recognize equity as an essential and core value. You have the ability to operationalize anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and employment equity practices, and advance equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility programs, strategies and principles into all aspects of Employee Relations. You have sound judgement, strong people leadership, and communication and relationship building skills. A CHRP designation or an equivalent combination of experience and/or education is an asset. French-English bilingualism is also considered an asset.

While qualifications are important, OPSEU/SEFPO also recognizes that lived experience and other experiences that are unique to the individual and are not reflected in formal education or work experience, may render a candidate qualified for the position.  If you do not meet the requirements outlined but feel that you have the experience and skills to excel in this position, please apply and share with us why you feel you are the ideal candidate for the position.

To learn more about this significant leadership opportunity with OPSEU/SEFPO, please submit a comprehensive resume along with a cover letter in confidence to Sam Walton (sam@griffithgroup.ca) and Noshina Choudhary (noshina@griffithgroup.ca).

OPSEU/SEFPO supports employment equity. Racialized workers, women, Indigenous workers, 2SLGBTQ+ workers and workers with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants are strongly encouraged to voluntarily self-identify. OPSEU/SEFPO’s diverse workplace also supports Francophone workers and young workers. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply; however, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

OPSEU/SEFPO and Griffith Group are committed to an inclusive, accessible and welcoming hiring process that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants. Please advise Sam Walton (sam@griffithgroup.ca) should you require any accommodation to participate in this posting, recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes.