Manager of Labor Relations (Home and Community Care)

SEIU Healthcare is a union of more than 60,000 members who are frontline healthcare workers in hospitals, Long term care facilities, and homecare agencies in communities throughout Ontario.  We advocate with our members by launching progressive member driven programs, adapting best practices, and encouraging new and innovative ideas. We strive to create a society where workers are valued and rewarded for their work. As a result, thriving workers have a greater opportunity to participate and lead in building healthy communities. We provide a strong voice through collective bargaining, labor relations, and political action to ensure frontline workers are heard and respected when decisions about healthcare are being made.

 If you have a desire to amplify the voice of workers and you are passionate about labor and social justice, share our values, and want to work toward changing the lives of workers, then a career with SEIU Healthcare is for you! For more information, visit www.seiuhealthcare.ca.     

POSITION DESCRIPTION: 

The Manager of Labor Relations (Home and Community Care) promotes the values, principles, and services of the SEIU and will champion a positive and inclusive workplace culture as they support managerial oversight to all aspects of the sector. The Manager will execute on the vision of the director for the sector and lead a team of home and community care (HCC) sector staff that will execute participatory and powerful campaigns to negotiate and win collective bargaining agreements, organize effective member leaders, defend contracts, and communicate to all members. These responsibilities include management of all labour relations initiatives within the sector in close collaboration with our Member Resource Centre. The position holder will report to the Director, home and community care, and work in close coordination with Union Reps, Clerical Staff, and other sector managers. 

This position is full-time working at our Head Office in Richmond Hill, Ontario. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Manages Union Representatives to move union programs and develop workplace leaders in their assigned units that advances the strategic plan of the organization to build a strong union that includes the HCC.
• Manages all aspects of labour relations in the sector and provides guidance and direction to Union Representatives to ensure outcomes are consistent with the approved service quality standards for the HCC.
• Resolves member complaints whenever necessary.
• Provides oversight and support for to Union Representatives on the HCC in contract negotiations. 
• Connects with key stakeholders to be informed on employer relationships to build and maintain productive relationships wherever possible.
• Facilitates continuous communication across the HCC that will allow them to develop, review, and assess the work within the sector.
• Coaches, mentors, motivates, and develops assigned staff, including overseeing new employee onboarding and providing career development planning and opportunities.
• Manages and motivates our HCC team with strong accountability frameworks that position our members and staff to be successful.  
• Ensures that staff on the HCC team follow organizational polices and that the sector is compliant with all knowledge management and data retention procedures. 
• Collects and analyzes information to evaluate the servicing model, workload issues with Union Representatives, and makes recommendations to the Director accordingly. 
• Manages all administrative functions for staff on the HCC team such as time off requests. 
• Participates in the development of the organization strategic and operational plans and ensure implementation through the department's role.
• Provide executive assistant support to the Director of HCC. 
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

At SEIU Healthcare, we understand that the best people do not always have the same access and opportunities to education, and while post-secondary education is always preferred, we want to make sure nothing stands in the way of finding the right person.  

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE 

• At least five (5) years’ experiences as a union representative (e.g., business agent) with responsibility for member representation, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and program implementation.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in a management role motivating, supervising, evaluating, and developing a team of staff and holding them accountable to a campaign and/or work plan. 
• In-depth working knowledge of HR related legislation, including but not limited to the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA); Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC), Ontario Labor Relations Act (OLRA) etc.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED: 

• High level of facilitation and leadership skills in collaborative work.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of union staff and member leaders and lead in such a way to advance equity and inclusion of everyone in the union.
• Exemplary proficiency in interpersonal communication, listening, conflict resolution, consensus building, and organizing persuasion with union members, staff, and allies.
• Exercises high level of autonomous decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Strong planning skills, ability to discern priorities, and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Emotional intelligence and professional self-management under pressure.
• Knowledge of union history, organization, and strategy.
• Proficiency in oral and written communication skills. 
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours, including weekends and evenings and holidays as required
• Ability to maintain a high degree of ethical conduct.
• Strong interpersonal skills, excellent writing, and verbal skills
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Building and maintaining trust relationships with all stakeholders.
• Maintain valid driver's license and car. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORKING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENT 

• Office work can include prolonged periods of sitting at a workstation and certain repetitive movements associated with such work.
• Using a computer for long periods of time.
• Frequent use of telephone. 
• Driving, travelling by air, across borders, and attending off-site meetings 
• Must be able to lift and transport boxes of various materials to various meetings
• Work evenings and weekends. Work hours will vary to meet the needs of the operation.
• Motor vehicle travel for long distances and on a frequent basis.
• Travel by air and across borders.
• Exposure to medical, healthcare and office facilities.

How to Apply 

Written applications that detail your qualifications and experience should be submitted on our career portal. 

WHY SEIU HEALTHCARE? 

At SEIU Healthcare, you will find a dynamic and inclusive environment where employees are valued and rewarded for their work. Here are a few things that set us apart: 

• Inclusive workplace culture
• Excellent health, dental and insurance benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees
• Generous vacation and sick leave benefits, inclusive supplemental unemployment benefits
• Fully sponsored employer pension plan
• Investment in employee growth — personal and professional development options 
• Working towards a common goal by making a real difference in the lives of people 

SEIU Healthcare thanks all applicants for their interest. We are committed to diversity in our workplace and encourage applications from all visible minority groups, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities among other self-identified diverse groups. We also provide accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). If you require accommodation for a disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify Human Resources. Please note that only individuals who are selected for interviews will be contacted.