Manager, Human Resources and Labour Relations

Job Description

Join the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre and be part of a passionate team dedicated to improving lives, while making a tangible impact on your community. WOCRC values the diversity of its employees and the knowledge, skills and contributions that each brings to the organization. Our work is meaningful, fulfilling, and can be demanding, so we are committed to offering our staff compensation that is fair and competitive for our industry along with a comprehensive suite of benefits to support staff health, wellness, and financial security. Subject to status of position, we offer generous paid time off policies, including 4-weeks annual vacation, 3-weeks annual sick leave, salary top-up plans, a superb Employee Assistance Program, Health, Dental and Disability Insurance, a world-class Pension Plan (HOOPP), discounted gym memberships and a flexible, supportive work environment. We believe in providing what staff need to thrive, grow, and feel connected and included in our mission.

ABOUT WOCRC

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) is a not-for-profit organization that brings care and community together by providing and coordinating accessible health and social services for individuals and families of all ages in far west Ottawa. Since 1986, WOCRC has worked alongside community members, partners, volunteers, and staff to help build a stronger, more connected community—one where people can access timely supports, feel a sense of belonging, and thrive.

WOCRC takes a community-based, person-centred approach to service delivery, supporting residents through a wide range of health and social programs and connecting people to the right resources at the right time. We collaborate closely with local partners to reduce barriers, strengthen community wellbeing, and respond to evolving needs across Western Ottawa.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an opportunity to join WOCRC’s Management Team and lead people practices that support the delivery of high-quality programs and services across Western Ottawa. As Manager, Human Resources and Labour Relations, you will be a key strategic partner to the management team—strengthening organizational culture and advancing initiatives, systems, and best practices that attract, engage, and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce in alignment with WOCRC’s mission, vision, and guiding beliefs.

Working in a unionized environment, you will provide expert, strategic advice and hands-on support on all matters related to negotiated agreements, including collective bargaining, collective agreement interpretation and administration, compliance, grievances, and arbitration. This posting is for an existing position that has recently become vacant. The role is in-person, based out of WOCRC’s offices, and the selected candidate will be expected to work on-site five (5) days per week.

WHAT YOU’LL ACCOMPLISH

• Be a strategic HR leader who directly shapes WOCRC’s people practices—partnering with the Management Team to strengthen organizational capacity and support excellent community service delivery.
• Build trusted, influence-based relationships with leaders, employees, and union partners to foster a respectful, solutions-oriented workplace and strong labour-management collaboration.
• Modernize and strengthen the employee lifecycle—enhancing hiring, onboarding, engagement, and retention practices that attract and support a diverse, high-performing workforce.
• Lead proactive, fair, and compliant labour relations by guiding interpretation and application of the collective agreement, supporting investigations and grievance resolution, and contributing to bargaining readiness and outcomes.
• Advance a competitive and equitable total rewards framework, including pay equity, job classification, and benefits administration, grounded in transparency, compliance, and operational sustainability.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Recruitment, Hiring, and Onboarding

• Lead talent strategy and workforce planning by developing recruitment approaches, partnering with leadership to understand capability needs, and building pipelines that support retention and succession.
• Manage end-to-end recruitment for key roles (including managerial, exempt, and professional)—from sourcing and interviewing through selection and hiring—in collaboration with hiring managers.
• Own onboarding and orientation, ensuring a consistent, welcoming, and effective experience across departments and programs.

Employee Programs

• Ensure employee programs align with WOCRC’s strategic direction, mission, and values, and strengthen a culture grounded in Equity, Empowerment, Partnership, and Innovation.
• Develop, review, and improve programs and initiatives that attract, engage, and retain talent, including employee engagement activities and internal surveys; analyze feedback and drive organizational improvements.
• Stay current on HR trends, best practices, legislation, regulatory changes, and emerging tools/technology in HR and talent management.
• Develop and communicate staff training opportunities and lead Pay Equity initiatives.

Total Rewards and Job Classification

• Monitor compensation and benefits trends and recommend competitive and compliant total rewards programs to support attraction, retention, and engagement.
• Coordinate and evaluate benefits programs to ensure alignment with policy and legislation, and recommend changes as needed.
• Manage disability and injury claims, liaising with internal and external partners and supporting return-to-work planning.
• Partner with managers to update job descriptions across the organization and implement a system for regular review and revision.

Employee and Labour Relations

• Train, coach, and support managers on performance management, training, promotion, discipline, termination, and other employee relations matters, including participation in performance improvement plans.
• Prepare for and oversee investigations, disciplinary meetings, and terminations, providing guidance and resources to leaders and employees at all levels.
• Periodically review recruitment, onboarding, and HR processes to ensure alignment with legislative requirements and legal precedent, and provide training/guidance that supports a positive workplace and effective relationships with the union and stakeholders.

Collective Bargaining and Negotiating

• Provide advice on the interpretation, application, and administration of the collective agreement, employment legislation, and WOCRC policies.
• Lead and serve as the primary contact for contract negotiations and collective bargaining, assessing impacts of legislative/collective agreement changes and recommending proactive solutions.
• Prepare reports and communications related to bargaining outcomes.

Grievances and Labour Dispute Resolution

• Develop negotiating strategies and provide consulting support on policy/contract interpretation and bargaining unit disputes.
• Respond to and investigate grievances, monitor grievance activity to identify underlying trends, and explore alternative dispute resolution and problem-solving approaches.
• Liaise with external experts as appropriate to support resolution and advise management on appropriate disciplinary and non-disciplinary actions.

Communications

• Develop HR-related organizational communications aligned with WOCRC’s guiding beliefs and lead/coordinate communications with internal staff and union representatives. This may include but not limited to policy updates, benefits and leave notices, organizational change announcements, training and compliance messaging, and joint memos/FAQs developed in consultation with others.

Organizational Management

• Contribute to overall Centre operations as a member of the Management Team and collaborate with other managers on Centre-wide initiatives (e.g., service delivery, administrative supports, proposals, policies, procedures).
• Participate in committees, action teams, and working groups as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience

• University degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Industrial Relations or Social Sciences or equivalent work experience in a related field.
• Designation as a Certified Human Resources Professional. (CHRP, CHRL, etc.).
• 5–10 years of progressive experience with a strong background in labour relations and managing in a unionized environment, with a strong preference for experience in the non-profit sector.
• Experience in using Dayforce (or similar HRIS/ATS) system is considered an asset.
• Excellent communication skills for negotiating and resolving conflict with high levels of tact and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a diverse team that fosters equity and inclusion and positive workplace culture
• Demonstrated ability in the areas of labour management, collective bargaining, arbitration and labour disputes.
• Significant exposure to conflict and human rights, dispute resolution, policy development.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills
• Ability to build and foster relationships with union representatives and management stakeholders.
• Knowledge of grievance and arbitration processes
• Strong critical analysis, problem solving, planning, decision-making, leadership, organizational and change management skills.
• Promote teamwork.
• Excellent computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, and HR software.

Language Competencies

• Ability to communicate fluently in English, spoken and written.
• Ability to communicate fluently in French, spoken and written is an asset.

Work Environment and Benefits

• WOCRC offers a collaborative, mission-driven work environment grounded in equity, respect and inclusion.
• Collaborative, mission-driven workplace grounded in equity, respect, and inclusion
• Strong emphasis on teamwork, shared accountability, and supporting community impact
• Relationship-focused role partnering closely with management, employees, and union representatives
• Fast-paced environment with periods of multiple, competing priorities and shifting deadlines
• Requires clear communication, sound judgment, discretion, and a service-oriented approach

Why join WOCRC?

• Competitive non-profit compensation, plus total rewards including a defined benefit pension plan, health and dental coverage, LTD, and four weeks’ vacation, designed to support your wellbeing and work–life balance.
• Make a meaningful impact by supporting a community organization that delivers barrier-free programs, resources, and supports for children, youth, adults, and seniors in far west Ottawa.
• Join a purpose-driven team of passionate staff and volunteers, and contribute to a culture grounded in empowerment, equity, partnership, and innovation.
• Step into a leadership role where your expertise strengthens organizational health, supports positive labour relations, and helps build a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and able to do their best work.
• Professional development and growth opportunities, including access to learning, training, and initiatives that build leadership capacity and support career progression.

Job Details

Starting Salary Range: $86,710-$97,648/year

Preferred Start Date: ASAP

WOCRC has an accommodation process in place that provides accommodations for employees with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation because of a disability or a medical need, please do not hesitate to let us know how we can best accommodate you.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on business and job requirements. All qualified applicants will receive considerations for employment based on individual qualifications, without regard to age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status (including single status), gender identity, gender expression, record of offences (in employment only), sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding), sexual orientation or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in Ontario.

Note: WOCRC may use AI-enabled tools to support the recruitment process including application tracking and/or resume screening, etc.

This role represents an existing vacancy.