Director, Advocacy and Bargaining

APPLICATIONS ARE HEREWITH INVITED FOR:

POSITION: Director, Advocacy and Bargaining – Full Time Regular

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Advocacy and Bargaining is a leadership role responsible for directing the organization’s collective bargaining strategies and workplace advocacy functions. Reporting to the President, the Director will lead and provide expert advice to a multidisciplinary team of approximately 35 bargaining unit workers responsible for collective bargaining, grievances, arbitrations/mediations, investigations, workplace advocacy, job evaluation, health and safety, compensation appeals and administration support while ensuring the highest standards of service to our members.

The Director will work collaboratively with elected leadership, the management team and staff to develop and advance long-term strategies that will strengthen the union’s bargaining power, advance members’ workplace rights and support the union’s strategic priorities.

The Director will be accountable for operational excellence, financial stewardship, leadership development, and continuous improvement while fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and accountability, along with other duties, as assigned by the President or their delegate(s).

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES/CRITICAL TASKS:

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership

- Work collaboratively with the elected leadership team to develop and implement the union’s advocacy and bargaining strategies to be in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan.
- Lead departmental planning, budgeting, goal setting, and performance measurements.




- Provide expert advice to elected officers on complex member labour relations issues.
- Analyze grievance trends and bargaining outcomes.
- Recommend operational improvements that will help grow the local and ensure continued excellent care of our members.
- Lead change initiatives within the department.
- Anticipate emerging labour relations trends, legislative developments, economic conditions, and political issues affecting members.
Foster collaborative relationships across all operational departments.
Generate regular reports for the President or their delegates(s), as needed.

Collective Bargaining, Advocacy and Member Labour Relations

Provide operational strategic guidance, oversight, and ensure compliance in the following areas:

- Grievance handling from initial filing through to arbitrations/mediations.
- Ensure consistent interpretation and application of all collective agreements.
- Direct the planning, preparation, and execution of collective bargaining strategies, and ensure that bargaining priorities reflect member needs and organizational objectives.
- Evaluate bargaining outcomes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Ensure members receive timely, effective, and qualified representation.




- Develop service standards for advocacy and representation.
- Monitor member satisfaction and identify opportunities to improve service delivery.
- Review legal risks surrounding complex grievance issues, arbitrations/mediations, and significant workplace disputes ensuring advocacy positions are legally sound and strategically appropriate.

Legal and Legislative Compliance and Policy Development

- Ensure compliance with applicable provincial and federal legislation, including, but not limited to the BC Labour Relations Board, Canada Labour Code, WorkSafeBC, Employment Standards Branch, BC Human Rights Tribunal, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC and other regulatory bodies.
- Develop and maintain member labour relations policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Recommend changes to internal policies based on legislative developments and arbitration decisions.
- Ensure consistency in advocacy practices across the organization.
- Monitor developments in labour law and provide recommendations regarding organizational impacts.

Staff Leadership

- Coach, mentor, and supervise a high performing team of work leaders, union representatives, specialists, and administrative staff.
- Provide support to work leaders and their staff in navigating and resolving complex workplace issues, member concerns, high pressure files/deadlines, and day-to-day operational issues.
- Conduct or support performance reviews and support employee development.
- Promote leadership development, training, and succession planning.
- Manage departmental workloads and resource allocation.
- Foster a culture of accountability,

📌 Director, Advocacy and Bargaining (Canada)
🏢 Canadian Association of Labour Media
📍 Canada