Position Title: HRBP - Labour Relations Lead

Department: Human Resources

Location: Niagara Region or Hamilton

Target Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000 per year

Position Summary The HRBP - Labour Relations Lead serves as the primary strategic and operational subject matter expert for all labour relations, collective bargaining, and positive employee relations across multi-site operations.

In this role, you will oversee four distinct collective agreements, drive non-confrontational union-management relations, lead bargaining strategy, and deploy proactive union avoidance strategies across non-union sites. As a trusted business partner to operations leadership, you will align labour strategies with operational and financial goals while maintaining high visibility on the production floor.

Key Responsibilities

Labour Relations & Collective Bargaining Strategy

- Act as strategic lead for four distinct collective agreements, overseeing end-to-end preparation, bargaining execution, and counterproposal strategies.
- Maintain constructive, non-confrontational relationships with union representatives while balancing operational and financial requirements and targets.
- Manage contract expiration timelines across facilities and establish standardized bargaining frameworks and process procedures.
- Oversee grievance management processes, prepare complex grievances for arbitration, and coach plant management on floor-level dispute resolution to minimize escalation.

Union Avoidance & Positive Employee Relations

- Design and execute proactive Positive Employee Relations strategies across non-union sites to maintain a direct, transparent employee relations model.




- Conduct union vulnerability assessments and equip frontline leadership with training on statutory compliance, unfair labour practices, and open-door communication.
- Execute workplace initiatives environments to build trust, morale, and organizational culture.

Strategic HR Business Partnering & Operations Support

- Partner closely with Operations Leaders to align HR/LR strategies with operational productivity, schedule overhauls, and organizational changes.
- Build trust and influence key decision-makers across multi-site environments without direct supervisory authority.
- Regularly visit production floors to stay visible, accessible, and grounded in daily operational reality.

Talent Management & HR Operations

- Support talent review, succession planning, and leadership development programs tailored to labor-intensive operational teams.
- Utilize HRIS systems and workforce analytics to streamline administrative workflows, track grievances, and inform strategic decisions.

Qualifications & Experience

- Candidates should bring a minimum of 5 plus years of deep Labour Relations and HR Generalist experience gained within a multi-site manufacturing or operational setting.
- A proven track record in negotiation is required,



including experience leading collective bargaining, drafting proposal strategies, and managing multi-union environments.
- Success in this role requires solid influence and autonomy to operate as an individual contributor who can manage strategic initiatives alongside administrative execution while driving change without direct authority.
- Demonstrated expertise in union avoidance strategies is essential, specifically with non-union employee engagement, vulnerability mapping, and frontline supervisor training.
- The ideal candidate maintains a collaborative, calm, and non-confrontational dispute resolution style when managing unions and handling grievances.
- Flexibility for travel and mobility is necessary, including a willingness and ability to drive frequently between sites and be comfortable spending time directly on the production floor.
- Strong dedication to knowledge sharing and learning is key, demonstrated through actively sharing expertise, mentoring peers, proactively learning from others, and taking personal ownership of growth to build overall organizational capabilities.

Salit Steel is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified individuals. Every candidate will be valued and considered solely based on their merits, qualifications, and ability to perform the requirements of the role. We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

AI will not be used in the screening of applicants for this position.

📌 HRBP - Labour Relations Lead (Grimsby)
🏢 Salit Steel
📍 Grimsby