Labour Relations Specialist

Labour Relations Specialist

Oakville, ON Full-time $70000.00-$80000.00/year

Who We Are

Emterra Group is a dynamic, growth-oriented, and safety-focused group of companies. Our organization have been deemed to be an “essential service” by providing collection and processing for recycling, organics, and waste that keep our communities clean and safe. With customer service and safety as our focus, we are looking for an energetic and driven employee to support our growing company and play a crucial role in waste diversion and the circular economy. Emterra is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, a certified diverse supplier of the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) and the Canadian Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBE)

Job Summary

As a Labour Relations Specialist, you will serve as a strategic partner to operational leaders, employees, and union representatives across Emterra's Ontario operations. This role is responsible for supporting labour and employee relations initiatives in both unionized and non-unionized environments, ensuring compliance with collective agreements, employment legislation, company policies, and best practices.

The successful candidate will provide expert guidance on grievance management, collective agreement interpretation, workplace investigations, dispute resolution, attendance management, performance management, labour relations strategy, and collective bargaining support. This is a hands-on, onsite role that requires consistent presence with operational teams, strong visibility in the field, and the ability to act as a trusted Labour Relations business partner to Operations by understanding operational realities, identifying practical solutions, and supporting timely decision-making.

If you are passionate about fostering productive labour-management relationships, supporting operational excellence, and contributing to an organization committed to environmental sustainability and essential community services, we'd love to hear from you.

Position Description

• Provide guidance and recommendations regarding collective agreement interpretation, administration, and application.
• Manage and coordinate grievance processes, including investigations, fact-finding, documentation, meetings, responses, settlements, and follow-up actions.
• Conduct thorough workplace investigations involving employee misconduct, harassment, discrimination, workplace conflict, policy violations, and other employee relations matters.
• Partner with operational leaders to address attendance management, performance management, progressive discipline, accommodations, return-to-work programs, and workplace conflict resolution.
• Develop and maintain positive labour-management relationships through regular communication and collaboration with union representatives and operational leadership teams.
• Participate in labour-management meetings and committees, preparing documentation, recommendations, and action plans as required.
• Support collective bargaining activities, including research, benchmarking, proposal development, costing analysis, bargaining preparation, and implementation of negotiated agreements.
• Monitor labour relations trends, grievance activity, arbitration outcomes, and legislative developments, providing proactive recommendations to mitigate risk and improve workplace effectiveness.
• Provide coaching and training to leaders on labour relations best practices, collective agreement administration, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, and employment law compliance.
• Conduct regular site visits to operational facilities to build relationships with frontline employees, support leadership teams, and ensure consistent application of labour relations practices.
• Act as an embedded Labour Relations business partner to Operations by maintaining a regular onsite presence, understanding day-to-day operational pressures, providing practical and timely advice, and helping leaders resolve issues before they escalate.
• Collaborate with Human Resources, Operations, Health and Safety, and external legal counsel on complex employee and labour relations matters.
• Support the implementation and ongoing use of HR systems, reporting tools, AI-enabled technologies, and process improvements that enhance efficiency and employee experience.
• Identify and drive process improvement opportunities, using AI-enabled tools responsibly to streamline workflows, reduce administrative burden, improve consistency, and support data-informed labour relations decisions.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records, case files, investigation reports, grievance documentation, and labour relations metrics.
• Prepare reports, analyze workforce and labour relations data, and provide recommendations that support strategic decision-making and operational objectives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation including the Ontario Labour Relations Act, Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA), and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
• Participate in special projects and continuous improvement initiatives that support employee engagement, operational excellence, and positive workplace culture.
• Travel Required: Regular travel to operational sites across Ontario is required

Skills & Qualifications

• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Labour Studies, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive labour relations and employee relations experience.
• Experience working in both unionized and non-unionized environments is required.
• Demonstrated experience managing grievances, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, and collective agreement administration.
• Experience supporting collective bargaining processes and labour-management committees is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Ontario labour and employment legislation.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, mediation, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to influence and coach leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to work onsite with operational leaders and frontline teams, build credibility in the field, and provide business-minded Labour Relations support that aligns with operational needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and HR information systems.
• Experience utilizing AI-enabled technologies and data analytics tools is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to identify process gaps, recommend improvements, and leverage AI-enabled tools to enhance efficiency, accuracy, reporting, and service delivery.
• Bilingual (English/French) is considered an asset.
• Valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle.
• Ability to travel throughout Ontario (approximately 30-40%).
• Experience in waste management, environmental services, transportation, logistics, manufacturing, or other operationally focused industries is considered an asset.

Salary - $70,000 - $80,000

Reasons to Apply, Stay and Grow with Emterra Group:

• Opportunity to be part of one of Canada’s Greenest Employers!
• Competitive wages!
• Comprehensive health benefits (health, dental, and more depending on what you choose)!
• Employee Assistance Program, paid for by the company!
• Tuition reimbursement program and professional development support!
• Be part of an entrepreneurial organization that wants to continue to learn and grow!
• Ability to have an impact and make change!

Are you ready to jumpstart your career by joining one of Canada’s Greenest Employers and become part of the environmental solution? If so, apply now! We appreciate all applicants who apply however only those who are qualified, will be contacted.

Emterra Group is committed to maintaining an equitable, fair, and diverse environment. Any applicants who have a disability or require reasonable accommodation may speak directly with our Human Resources Department. Reasonable accommodations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Please note that AI may be used to support the application review process; however, all applications are reviewed by our Human Resources Team.

This posting is for an immediate vacancy, and we are actively hiring for this position.

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.