Lead, Employee & Labour Relations

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Join a global workplace where employees thrive. One that embraces diversity of thought, expertise and experience. A place where you can personalize your employee journey to be — and deliver — your best.  

We are a purpose-driven, dynamic and sustainable pension plan. An industry leading global investor with teams in Toronto to London, New York, Singapore, Sydney and other major cities across North America and Europe. We embody the values of our 665,000 members, placing their best interests at the heart of everything we do.

Join us to accelerate your growth & development, prioritize wellness, build connections, and support the communities where we live and work.

Don’t just work anywhere — come build tomorrow together with us.

Know someone at OMERS or Oxford Properties? Great! If you're referred, have them submit your name through Workday first. Then, watch for a unique link in your email to apply.

Reporting to the Director, Employee and Labour Relations, the Lead, Employee & Labour Relations will support the delivery of core employee and labour relations processes across OMERS and Oxford. This role will independently manage routine to moderately complex ER/LR matters, including terminations, performance improvement processes, workplace investigations, accommodation matters, policy and project work, and related stakeholder support. The Lead will exercise sound judgment, apply relevant policies, processes, legislation and escalate or seek direction from the Director or Associate Director, Employee & Labour Relations, as appropriate.

Accountabilities:

• Provide practical advice and support to people leaders on employee and labour relations processes, including performance management, workplace concerns, accommodations, terminations, disciplinary matters, and collective agreement administration.

• Independently manage routine to moderately complex ER/LR files from intake through resolution, ensuring appropriate documentation, timely follow-up, and escalation to the Director or Associate Director where required.

• Execute on the full-cycle termination process, including preparing materials, coordinating with internal stakeholders, supporting leader preparation, negotiating severances and ensuring process consistency and risk mitigation.

• Support people leaders in developing and delivering performance improvement plans, coaching documentation, and performance-related communications.

• Conduct or support straightforward workplace investigations, including planning, information gathering, interview preparation, documentation, findings summaries, and recommended next steps.

• Support accommodation processes by partnering with leaders, HR colleagues, employees and other stakeholders to ensure timely, fair and well-documented outcomes.

• Build trusted relationships with people leaders and HR stakeholders by providing timely, balanced and practical guidance that aligns with business needs, employee experience, policy requirements and risk considerations.

• Support ER/LR projects, policy reviews, process improvements and training materials to strengthen consistency, awareness and application of employee and labour relations practices across the organization.

• Maintain accurate case notes, employee records and Workday case management information, and use data and trends to identify process gaps, opportunities and potential solutions.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 5+ years of HR experience, including 3+ years as HR Business Partner or equivalent

• General HR knowledge of policies and processes;

• Strong relationship management, effective listening, communication skills and interpersonal skills across all levels with commitment to providing timely responses;

• Sound judgment and problem-solving skills while mitigating risk to the organization;

• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to multi-task and prioritize multiple initiatives and deadlines while meeting service level agreements;

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and approach highly sensitive situations with professionalism and calm.

• Strong communication skills, ability to respond with tact and diplomacy in high stress situations.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Knowledge of employee data administration and end-to-end processes; experience with transaction processing and data management;

• Knowledge of union environment and collective bargaining agreements;

• Adaptable and ability to work in a high stress environment and learn quickly;   

• Completed post-secondary education, preferably in HR or Business Administration, working towards completion of HR designation

• Knowledge of HR system, and ability to leverage basic technology functionality (e.g., case management, knowledge management). Working knowledge of Workday an asset;

You may also be eligible to receive an annual Incentive Award pursuant to our Short-term Incentive plan and our Long-Term Incentive plan (if applicable), and to participate in our group benefits and retirement plans – details on these elements of compensation are included within OMERS & Oxford offer letters.

As one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans, our people-first culture is at its best when our workforce reflects the communities where we live and work — and the members we proudly serve.

From hire to retire, we are an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process that extends all the way through your employee experience. This sense of belonging and connection is cultivated up, down and across our global organization thanks to our vast network of Employee Resource Groups with executive leader sponsorship, our Purpose@Work committee and employee recognition programs.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are used to support certain stages of the OMERS recruitment process. While AI assists us in our process, human judgment and decision-making remain central to our candidate experience.