The Dispute Resolution Services Branch of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development seeks a bilingual individual with extensive experience in a lead role in collective agreement negotiations and administration, and with extensive experience in labour relations generally, to provide neutral, third-party assistance to employers and trade unions in the areas of collective bargaining, grievance mediation and proactive labour relations skills, training and development.
About the job
You will:
• provide neutral, third-party mediation services to employers and trade unions during collective bargaining to assist the parties in reaching a collective agreement and avoiding work stoppages
• assist employers and trade unions in resolving significant labour relations issues that may arise during collective bargaining and may have a serious economic impact in a sector or the economy as a whole
• explain to the parties the application of relevant labour relations legislation, the statutory purpose of conciliation and mediation processes, and the role of the mediator
• monitor work stoppages through ongoing communications with the parties in order to assess the appropriateness of further meetings to resolve the dispute
• provide preventive labour relations services, including labour relations training
• deliver programs such as conferences and facilitation
• provide mediation services to employers and trade unions to resolve grievances
• provide timely updates and reports to management, as required
• participate in special assignments upon request, which may include speaking engagements, professional development and training of new mediation staff
• manage a busy calendar, itinerary and a wide variety of travel arrangements, booking meeting rooms and accommodations
• ensure timely and accurate maintenance of files using an electronic file management system
• work closely with administrative staff to ensure prompt and effective case management
• prepare timely and accurate expense filing and related administrative processes
• step in to assist on a file, often on short notice
Please note the following:
• This position requires regular travel across the province.
• This position is headquartered at 400 University Avenue, Toronto. Work location may be accommodated based on the successful candidate's current address.
What you bring to the team
Mandatory requirements
• You are proficient in English and French at the Superior level.
Collective Agreement Negotiations:
• You have extensive experience in collective agreement negotiations and administration, in a leading role with either labour or management
• You demonstrate specialized knowledge of conciliation and mediation techniques and practices
• You have thorough knowledge of the structure and character of union and management organizations, the collective bargaining process, including multi-party and key industry negotiations, developing trends in industrial relations methods and guiding principles
• You understand various matters that may be at issue during collective bargaining such as compensation, pensions, benefits and contracting-out
Application of Legislation:
• You have thorough knowledge of the application of the Ontario Labour Relations Act (i.e. Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995) as applied to collective bargaining
• You understand other provincial labour legislation (i.e. the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act, Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, Ambulance Services Collective Bargaining Act, 2001, Colleges Collective Bargaining Act, 2008, and Toronto Transit Commission Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2011) as applied to collective bargaining
Administrative Skills:
• You have strong administrative and time management skills to organize and schedule busy workloads and competing deadlines, arrange meetings with potentially uncooperative parties, chair meetings, arrange travel and accommodation, file timely expense reports and provide prompt and effective case management
Interpersonal Skills and Judgment:
• You demonstrate proven integrity and credibility with a variety of stakeholders in the labour relations field
• You demonstrate excellent listening and communication skills
• You have a strong ability to work independently in the field
• You use strong interpersonal skills to work with client groups, fellow mediators and administrative support staff
• You have a strong ability to exercise significant independent judgment and make on-the-spot decisions with limited guidance
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 application instructions below if you require a disability-related accommodation.