Introduction to role Are you ready to set the standard for employee relations across a fast‑moving, science‑led Canadian biopharmaceutical hub? Can you translate complex legislation into explicit, practical guidance that prevents issues before they arise and strengthens a high‑performance culture?
In this role, you will be the specialist and subject‑matter expert for Employee Relations across our Canadian enterprise, supporting multiple business units and global functions. Working closely with HR Business Partners and the broader HR team, you will advise leaders, shape a fair and consistent employee experience, and ensure our practices align with Canadian legislation and global standards.
You will also partner with global HR centers of excellence to pull through enterprise approaches and resources, ensuring consistent execution of the Astra Zeneca way in Canada. Our environment is non‑union and highly professional, making experience in large multinationals especially relevant.
You will serve as both a center of excellence for HR and a visible, frontline advisor to the business—helping leaders drive performance, avoid escalations, and resolve issues decisively and ethically to keep our teams focused on delivering medicines that change patients’ lives.
Accountabilities Policy Leadership: Set, interpret and uphold HR policies; ensure practical,consistent application aligned to Canadian legislation and global standards. ER Case Management: Lead all increased ER matters to robust, timely conclusions, including fact‑finding, investigations, performance improvement plans, written warnings and involuntary terminations; engage internal or external legal counsel as needed.
Performance Framework Stewardship: Maintain performance management playbooks, templates and training; uphold consistentstandards that improve outcomes for employees, teams and the organization. Severance and Exit Management:



Maintain severance policy and oversee end‑to‑end processes for individual terminations and reorganisations, coordinating with support services to manage risk and experience.
Organisational Change Counsel: Advise HR Business Partners and leaders on change initiatives to ensure compliance with policies and legislation and to enable smooth transitions with strong risk oversight. Ethics Case Governance: Own intake, triage and resolution of cases reported via AZEthics and those originating outside the system; document and track outcomes.
Demand Letter Resolution: Lead the response strategy for demand letters, partnering with legal counsel to resolve effectively while managing precedent and risk. Policy Governance: Conduct regular policy reviews; update and align with global frameworks and evolving local legislation.
Metrics and Insights: Report and monitor ER metrics; build and maintain a repository of ER case history and records to identify trends and drive prevention. Legal Collaboration: Partner with internal and external counsel to ensure defensible decisions and effective risk mitigation.
Sensitive Exit Interviews: Serve as the escalation point for sensitive exits to diagnose root causes and inform continuous improvement. Essential Skills/Experience Bachelor's Degree, specialty in Human Resources is an asset. Minimum of 5 years of relevant Employee Relations/Policy experience; experience in Pharma isan asset.
Advanced communication, presentation and project management skills, as well as demonstrated report writing skills. Excellent problem‑solving skills with the ability to apply sound judgement.



Strong relationship‑building and relationship‑management skills, high integrity orientation.
Demonstrated business acumen, expertise in global corporate skilled workforce settings is an asset. Comprehensive knowledge of Canadian legislation and regulations regarding employment topics. Excellent ability to navigate difficult situations by building empathy and objectivity, excellent people skills and ability to navigate tension.
Desirable Skills/Experience Experience in Pharma industry. Expertise in global corporate professional workforce settings. Bilingual in English and French. Experience in large, non‑union, multinational corporate environments. Compensation & Benefits Annual base salary for this position ranges from 134,227.20 to 176,173.20. Astra Zeneca is committed to providing fair and equitable compensation opportunities to all colleagues.
Our compensation policies and practices have been designed to allow colleagues to progress through the salary range over time as they progress in their role. The base pay offered will vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including the candidate’s skills and experience, job‑related knowledge, and other specific business and organisational needs.
In some cases, offers outside the range may also be considered to address unique circumstances. In addition, our permanent positions offer an annual variable pay bonus/short‑term incentive opportunity as well as eligibility to participate in our equity‑based long‑term incentive program (if applicable to role).
Benefits offered for permanent roles include a competitive flex benefits & retirement savings programme, four weeks’ paid vacation, and annual personal days. Fixed‑term contract/temporary positions (excluding students) are offered a contract benefits programme.

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📌 Senior Manager, Employee Relations - C$134,227.2 - C$176,173.2 A Year (Mississauga)
🏢 AstraZeneca
📍 Mississauga