Director, Labour Relations

Strategic Leadership & Labour Relations Planning

• Develop and implement a long-term labour relations strategy aligned with business objectives and regulatory obligations.
  
• Serve as the lead negotiator in collective bargaining with various bargaining units (e.g., pilots, flight attendants, customer service, and ground crew).
  
• Provide expert advice to executives and managers on labour relations issues, including contract interpretation, discipline, and operational decisions.
  

Union & Stakeholder Relations

• Build and maintain constructive relationships with union representatives across multiple bargaining units.
  
• Act as the organization’s primary point of contact for union leadership during both routine engagement and during periods of conflict.
  
• Lead regular labour-management meetings and joint consultation committees to proactively address workplace issues.
  

Grievance & Arbitration Management

• Oversee the end-to-end grievance process, ensuring timely investigation, documentation, and resolution.
  
• Represent the company at arbitration hearings or coordinate with external legal counsel as necessary.
  
• Analyze trends and root causes of grievances to recommend policy or procedural improvements.
  

Collective Bargaining & Contract Administration

• Develop bargaining mandates in collaboration with finance, operations, and legal.
  
• Lead the preparation of proposals and counterproposals, manage negotiations, and oversee ratification processes.
  
• Ensure accurate implementation of collective agreements and updates to People and Culture systems, payroll, and operations.
  

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with the Canada Labour Code, Canadian Aviation Regulations, Occupational Health and Safety legislation, and other applicable federal labour standards.
  
• Monitor changes in labour law and industry-specific regulations to mitigate risks and update policies accordingly.
  
• Actively participate in Porter’s Security and Safety Management System (SMS), including reporting hazards and incidents encountered in daily operations; understand, comply and promote the Company Safety Policy.

Labour Analytics & Reporting

• Provide regular reports to senior leadership on key labour metrics, risks, opportunities, and trends.
  
• Use workforce and labour data to inform strategic decision-making and negotiations.
  
• Lead labour relations audits and risk assessments.
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide training and coaching to People and Culture Advisors and operational leaders on unionized workforce management.

• Concern for Safety: Identifying hazardous or potentially hazardous situations and taking appropriate action to maintain a safe environment for self and others.
• Teamwork: Working collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals.
• Passenger/Customer Service: Providing service excellence to internal and/or external customers (passengers).
• Initiative: Dealing with situations and issues proactively and persistently, seizing opportunities that arise.
• Results Focus: Focusing efforts on achieving high quality results consistent with the organization’s standards.
• Fostering Communication: Listening and communicating openly, honestly, and respectfully with different audiences, promoting dialogue and building consensus.
• Exemplifying Integrity: Treating others fairly, honestly, and respectfully, furthering the integrity of the organization and its relationships of trust with team members and the broader community.
• Inspiring Others: Energizing and inspiring others to strive for excellence and commit to common goals and purposes, creating a sense of self-efficacy, resilience, and persistence in followers.
• People Leadership: Assuming a leadership role in helping others achieve excellent results.
• Leading Change: Recognizing the need for change, being open to new ideas and methods, and championing transformational change within the organization and beyond.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Law, or a related field is required.
  
• A Master’s degree or LLB/JD is an asset.
  
• CPHR or CHRL designation is an asset.
  

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive labour relations experience in a unionized environment, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
  
• Experience in the aviation or transportation industry is strongly preferred.
  
• Proven experience in leading complex collective bargaining negotiations and managing multiple union relationships.
  

Skills and Competencies:

• Deep knowledge of Canadian federal labour law and collective agreement frameworks.
  
• Excellent negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution skills.
  
• Strong business acumen and understanding of operational demands in aviation.
  
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage high-stakes situations with diplomacy.
  
• Superior interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
  
• Proficiency in labour relations data systems, Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
  

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid work environment with travel to airport and union locations as needed.
  
• On-call availability during high-impact labour disruptions or operational incidents.