Employee, Labour Relations & Health and Safety Manager – Corrections Food Services (70306964)

Job Description

In your new role as Employee, Labour Relations & Health and Safety Manager – Corrections Food Services, you will support Sodexo food services across approximately 10 correctional units across Alberta.

The role is responsible for approximately:

• 70% Human Resources, Employee Relations and Labour Relations
• 30% Health, Safety, Food Safety and Compliance

The Manager acts as the primary HR partner to operational leaders, providing advice and support on employee relations, labour relations, workforce planning, performance management, recruitment, onboarding and employee development.

The position supports a unionized workforce and helps ensure consistent interpretation and application of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, company policies and applicable employment legislation.

The Manager also provides oversight and coordination of occupational health and safety, food safety, training compliance and quality assurance activities across the portfolio.

The role operates within a matrix environment and works in close partnership with Sodexo's Human Resources and Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) teams.

The role requires regular travel to the 10 Alberta locations. Travel of up to 50% is expected.

Human Resources, Employee Relations and Labour Relations — Approximately 70%

• Act as the primary HR advisor to operational leaders across the 10 Alberta units.
• Coach managers on employee relations, performance management, attendance, discipline and workplace conflict.
• Conduct or support workplace investigations and recommend appropriate actions.
• Provide labour relations guidance in a unionized environment.
• Interpret and support consistent application of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Support grievance management, including fact-finding, documentation, grievance meetings and resolution discussions.
• Identify and escalate significant labour relations risks to senior HR and Operations leadership.
• Support preparation for arbitration, mediation and collective bargaining activities, as required.
• Build productive working relationships with union representatives and site leadership.
• Support workforce planning, staffing strategies and succession planning across the portfolio.
• Coordinate recruitment activities, including job postings, interviews, selection and hiring documentation.
• Oversee employee onboarding and orientation, including company, union, safety, food safety and institutional requirements.
• Support employee development, cross-training and competency planning.
• Monitor completion of mandatory employee training and certification requirements.
• Advise leaders on company policies, employment standards, human rights, privacy and other applicable legislation.
• Promote employee engagement, retention and a respectful workplace culture.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee and labour relations documentation.
• Support organizational changes, operational transitions and other HR initiatives.
• Identify trends and provide HR reporting and recommendations to the Contract Manager and senior leadership.

Health, Safety, Food Safety and Compliance — Approximately 30%

• Support implementation of the occupational health and safety program across all locations.
• Promote compliance with Alberta Occupational Health and Safety legislation, institutional requirements and company standards.
• Support risk assessments, Job Hazard Analyses and Safe Operating Procedures.
• Lead or support investigations involving workplace incidents, injuries and near misses.
• Ensure root causes, corrective actions and follow-up requirements are documented and completed.
• Support Joint Health and Safety Committees and monitor completion of action items.
• Coordinate return-to-work and modified-work processes in partnership with employees, leaders, HR and disability management resources.
• Support compliance, personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness requirements.
• Coordinate required health, safety and food safety training.
• Support consistent implementation of HACCP, sanitation, allergen management and temperature-control procedures.
• Monitor completion of site inspections, audits and corrective action plans.
• Support preparation for internal, client, third-party, Public Health and regulatory audits.
• Review safety, food safety and compliance trends to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Support contingency planning for staffing shortages, lockdowns, food recalls and emergency feeding requirements.

Collaboration and Governance

• Partner closely with the Contract Manager, site leaders, Human Resources, Health and Safety, Operations and Alberta Corrections representatives.
• Work in close collaboration with Sodexo's Human Resources and Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) teams to ensure alignment with corporate policies, processes, tools, programs and best practices. Leverage corporate expertise and resources to support consistent implementation of HR, labour relations, health and safety and compliance initiatives across the portfolio.
• Work collaboratively with the Registered Dietitian, who retains professional accountability for nutrition standards, menu compliance and dietetic risk.
• Participate in operational and governance meetings and provide updates on HR, labour relations, safety, training and compliance matters.
• Promote consistent practices and communication across all 10 units.

Qualifications

Required

• Post-secondary education in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, Occupational Health and Safety or a related field.
• A minimum of five years of progressive Human Resources experience, preferably supporting multi-site operations.
• Demonstrated experience in Employee Relations and Labour Relations.
• Experience supporting a unionized workforce and interpreting Collective Bargaining Agreements.
• Experience managing or supporting grievances, workplace investigations, discipline, attendance and performance-management matters.
• Working knowledge of Alberta employment standards, labour relations, human rights and occupational health and safety legislation.
• Experience coaching and influencing operational leaders.
• Strong written, verbal, facilitation and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive employee matters with sound judgment.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage priorities across multiple locations.
• Valid driver’s licence and ability to travel throughout Alberta.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%.

Preferred

• CPHR designation, or progress toward obtaining the designation.
• Certificate or formal training in Labour Relations, Workplace Investigations, Occupational Health and Safety or Disability Management.
• Experience supporting grievance resolution, arbitration preparation or collective bargaining.
• Experience in food services, corrections, healthcare, long-term care or another regulated institutional environment.
• Knowledge of HACCP and food safety management systems.
• Food safety, HACCP, WHMIS or health and safety certification.
• Experience supporting return-to-work, accommodation and modified-duty programs.
• Experience working with geographically dispersed or remote operations.

Core Competencies

• Employee and labour relations expertise
• Business and operational understanding
• Coaching and influencing
• Conflict resolution and sound judgment
• Relationship building
• Investigation and problem-solving skills
• Risk and compliance management
• Change management
• Organization and prioritization
• Clear and professional communication
• Ability to work independently across multiple sites
• Commitment to respectful, safe and inclusive workplaces

Additional Information

What Makes Sodexo Different:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater because we believe our everyday actions have a big impact. You belong in a company that allows you to act with purpose and thrive in your own way. In addition, we offer:

• Flexible work environment
• Competitive compensation & great employee benefits
• Training and development programs
• Countless opportunities for growth
• Corporate responsibility & sustainability
• An award-winning employer for Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion, Corporate Social Responsibility, and much more. View Sodexo’s latest awards here
• And so much more!

Sodexo is committed to Employment Equity and Diversity. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of national origin, race, religion, ethnic group, age, disability, gender, sexual preference, sexual or gender identity, status as a veteran or any other federal, provincial or local protected class.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodation is available on request from candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Sodexo is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, customers, clients, contractors, business partners, guests, and members of the public with whom we regularly interact. We require that all new hires in hospitals, long term care facilities, and senior homes to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and may require any other new hires to be fully vaccinated based on the location and scope of their employment.

Thank you for your interest in Sodexo.

Please note that only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.

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