Employment Lawyer

Description

The Shared Services Unit of The United Church of Canada is seeking an individual to fill the role of Employment Lawyer on a permanent full-time basis (35 hours / week).

The Shared Services Unit brings together all of the shared services offered nationally and includes : Human Resources, Payroll Services, the governance and administration of the Pension Plan of The United Church of Canada, Group Insurance administration, Archives, GCO Administration, Legal and Incorporated Ministries.

They ensure that policies established by the General Council are upheld and that applicable federal and provincial legislated standards are met.

Reporting to the Executive Officer, Shared Services, the Employment Lawyer provides guidance and practical solutions to the General Council Office and Regions on a full range of employment law issues, including addressing complaints, drafting employment agreements, managing investigations, developing policies and procedures, and drafting and preparing reports.

Primary Areas of Responsibility*

• Complaints and Investigation (50%) : provide support and advice to the General Council Staff system on complaints and investigations;
• provide support to the Office of Vocation through its Response and Remedial Committees on matters of oversight and discipline of ministry personnel and candidates;
• serve as resource in the interpretation and implementation of policies and procedures for the oversight and discipline of ministry personnel and candidates;

respond to complaints and oversee consultants and investigators; and acts as counsel for the Committees of the Office of Vocation in litigation proceedings before the internal courts of The United Church of Canada.

Counsel / Guidance General Council Office (GCO) and Regional Councils (RC) (50%) : provide guidance / advice to managers and the Personnel Ministry Committee on issues related to employment relationships and practices, interpretation of province employment law, employment standards, applicable federal and provincial laws, occupational health and safety and human rights and ensure compliance with applicable statutes.

Qualifications

• Active member of the Law Society of Ontario in good standing;
• 3 to 4 years experience practicing employment law;
• Knowledgeable in all aspects of employment law including with Employment Standards Act, 2000, Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1997, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Experience in addressing workplace complaints, including dispute resolution practices;
• Litigation experience;
• Alignment with the vision and values of The United Church of Canada respect, integrity, passion and diversity;
• Empathetic and able to exercise good judgment;
• Tact, discretion, confidentiality and patience; flexibility, adaptability to change;
• Critical thinker, passionate, independent, problem-solver with a pro-active approach; and
• A passion for workplace law and a willingness to learn and work as part of a dynamic team.

Working Conditions

The United Church of Canada has adopted a hybrid workplace model, providing flexibility for this position, working both off-site and in the General Council Office, currently located at 3250 Bloor Street West in Toronto, ON.

The incumbent will be provided, for work purposes, with secure devices to work remotely and interact via email, phone, and teams / zoom for 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Sitting and viewing a computer screen for long periods, keyboarding / using voice recognition assistive technologies software, intermittent physical activity including sitting, standing and attending virtual meetings frequently, will be required.

Occasional additional hours beyond the normal work week may be required.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Code, The United Church of Canada will provide reasonable accommodations to employees with human-rights related needs.

The United Church of Canada is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants, including those with disabilities.

If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please advise us of your accommodation needs at that time.

Compensation

The target hiring range for this position is $91,134 to $103,867 with the ability to progress to a maximum of $121,513. This is based on category 10 on our salary range.

Placement on the salary range will be based on factors such as market condition, internal equity, candidate experience skills and qualifications relevant to the role.

Pension and group benefit plans coverage and annual vacation round out this compensation package.