Education Labour Relations Officer

Are you ready for a new challenge that allows you to make a meaningful impact on the Ontario K-12 education sector? We're seeking a motivated individual with a strong background in labour relations to help us drive strategy development, negotiations, and implementation of sector-wide collective agreements.

About Us:

At the Labour Relations Operations Branch within the Education Labour and Finance Division, we are a close-knit, dedicated team committed to enriching the education landscape in Ontario. Our work directly influences the lives of educators and students alike. We provide advice on education policy, lead mediation/arbitration of grievances & complaints, implement collective agreements, facilitate collaborative committees with unions and stakeholders, conduct research, develop bargaining strategies, and negotiate central collective agreements.

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 "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this Education Labour Relations Officer role, you will:

• Conduct research and jurisdictional scans to inform bargaining positions
• Participate as a representative of the Crown in the negotiation of sector-wide central collective agreements
• Facilitate working groups and committee meetings with unions and stakeholders
• Represent the Ministry and provide advice in matters relating to labour relations such as grievances
• Develop and maintain critical relationships with school boards, trustees associations, unions and other stakeholders

How do I qualify?

Labour Relations Skills:

• You have experience as a union or management representative in collective bargaining with experience in developing bargaining mandates and crafting collective agreement proposals.
• You have expert knowledge of labour relations jurisprudence and current issues and trends in jurisprudence that may have an impact on collective bargaining and labour relations in the education sector.
• You have experience facilitating working groups and participating in grievance processes/procedures, including providing advice on grievance management.
• You have a thorough understanding of labour case law, relevant statutes, and current policies, practices and procedures.

Project Leadership, Judgement and Research Skills

• You have the ability to research and analyze issues in order to formulate appropriate recommendations.
• You have excellent organizational and project management/leadership skills to provide effective management of project teams
• You have excellent judgement to represent the government at sector central bargaining tables and determine the appropriate direction/action/response at the table and when advising senior management.
• You possess proven strategic ability to translate bargaining proposals into operational and financial impacts on the short and long-term outcomes.

Communication, Interpersonal and Relationship Management Skills:

• You have superior communication skills to represent the government at central bargaining tables.
• You have strong relationship building skills to develop and nurture effective partnerships and working relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholder groups.
• You have excellent written communication skills to prepare mandate proposals, briefing /issue notes and correspondence on behalf of the ADM, DM and MO.

Technical Expertise:

• You have the ability to acquire and apply knowledge of the education sector, including the unique characteristics of the four Ontario school systems for the development of bargaining strategies and approaches.
• You have the ability to acquire and apply knowledge of the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, the Education Act, the Ontario College Of Teachers' Act, the Ontario Labour Relations Act, the Human Rights Code, the Employment Standards Act, Pay Equity Act, and other related statutes as they relate to labour relations matters.