Director, Labour Relations

at  Coast Mountain Bus Company Ltd

MARKETING STATEMENT

As the largest operating company in the integrated TransLink enterprise, Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) operates a fleet of clean-fuel conventional and community shuttle buses, zero-emission trolley buses, and passenger ferry SeaBuses in Metro Vancouver, the largest single transit service area in Canada.
At CMBC, one of BC’s Top Employers, we’re committed to providing an innovative, healthy, and engaging workforce. This is reflected in our workforce of over 5,500 employees performing over 400 unique jobs, who are committed and empowered to deliver service that attracts nearly 1.1 million passengers daily and connects people, businesses, and communities in the Metro Vancouver region.
We have the important job of helping our passengers get to work, appointments, visiting with family and friends, and back again every day. Metro Vancouver relies on us, and we take that as a point of pride.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Acts as a member of the CMBC Senior Management Team, providing input to the review/development of CMBC strategy, performance, annual business plan targets, strategic objectives and key business initiatives.
Leads the Labour Relations function, including development of departmental goals, objectives, strategies, plans and budgets, ensuring alignment to CMBC goals and objectives.
Leads a team in a collaborative approach to effectively anticipate and manage conflict. Oversees development and delivery of labour relations advisory services and activities on such topics as policy/practice, contract interpretation, discipline/discharge, grievance/mediation/litigation.
Works closely with the Occupational Health and Safety teams to ensure collective agreement compliance when implementing Return to Work and/or Duty to Accommodate decisions and supports all stakeholders in strategic decisions when it comes to determining the undue hardship threshold and other employment related decisions when related to a medical absence.
Provides expert advice to the CMBC Board of Directors, President & GM, and all levels of management on critical labour relations matters and all aspects of collective bargaining. Alerts senior leaders to emerging issues and risks, and recommends corrective action. Also provides expert advice on projects, committees, and work teams.
Develops and maintains relationships with multiple stakeholders within CMBC and across the TransLink enterprise; representatives from the applicable local unions at all levels from President to Property Representatives and shop stewards; and other external organizations.
Prepares for collective bargaining by developing CMBC’s strategy and agenda, overseeing the costing model to determine the financial impact of proposals, and seeking direction and bargaining mandate from the CMBC Board of Directors.
Conducts collective bargaining, negotiating collective agreements with multiple local unions covering a diverse range of jobs groups, such as office, security, supervisory, bus/shuttle operation, marine, road service, and trolley overhead crews, trades and maintenance.
Oversees the application of privacy and information access laws, principles, and policies for CMBC, making decisions pertaining to analysis, redaction and release of information for FOI requests. Collaborates with TransLink privacy and information access functions, and ensures alignment with all related processes.
Continuously reviews department/labour relations processes, implementing enhancements to optimize services and outcomes. Implements the necessary controls to identify and mitigate risks and ensure compliance with policies and regulatory requirements.
Leads external research to maintain awareness of emerging trends and best practices in all aspects of labour relations, and determines potential application for CMBC. Ensures labour relations services and initiatives are effectively delivered through appropriate concepts, principles and best practices.
Manages a team of reporting labour relations practitioners, including selection, development, coaching, performance management, and all other people management practices.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

The requirements for this job would typically be acquired through a degree in labour relations and 10+ years of progressively responsible labour relations and management experience in a large, complex, unionized environment, preferably in the public sector.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Expert knowledge of the concepts, principles, practices and techniques pertaining to all aspects of labour relations, with emphasis on collective bargaining, conflict management, and discipline/discharge/misconduct
Expert knowledge of the relevant BC legislation: Labour Code, Employment Standards, Human Rights Code, BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, various administrative tribunals (EI, Employment Standards, etc), the principles related to health and welfare benefits; and multiple collective agreements
Expert interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to address the sensitivity of labour relations issues; to provide expert advice on labour relations matters at the executive and Board levels; to conduct negotiations throughout the collective bargaining process; and to write labour contract language
Expert planning and organizational skills to develop and implement labour relations strategies, services and initiatives
Expert people leadership skills with the ability to manage reporting LR practitioners; and to direct, coach, develop, and manage performance of direct reports
Advanced leadership skills to provide leadership to CMBC on diverse and complex labour relations issues as they pertain to multiple unions covering a diverse range of job groups
Advanced problem solving and decision-making skills to provide a senior level of counsel in the resolution of sensitive labour relations issues
Knowledge of the public transportation industry is an asset

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Leads development of labour relations strategy, and delivery of related advice, services and initiatives for CMBC, including all collective bargaining, grievance, discipline/discharge processes, and union relationship management. Also leads all activities and decisions pertaining to freedom of information access requests, privacy issues, and the application of related laws, principles and policies within CMBC.