KIRAH Executive Search & Leadership Advisory has been retained by the Vancouver School Board to lead the search for its next Director, Labour Relations.

About the Vancouver School Board

The Vancouver School Board is one of Canada’s largest and most diverse public school systems.

VSB serves more than 50,000 students across approximately 110 schools and programs and is supported by more than 7,700 employees.

The District serves a highly diverse urban community and is committed to equity, inclusion, accountability, continuous improvement, and creating learning environments where every student can succeed and experience a strong sense of belonging.

Its work recognizes the importance of Indigenous ways of knowing and learning and takes place on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwimxw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).

As a large public‑sector employer operating within a highly unionized and publicly accountable environment, VSB requires sophisticated labour relations leadership capable of balancing organizational responsibilities, employee and union relationships, legislative obligations, operational realities, and broader public‑sector considerations.

The Leadership Opportunity

Reporting to the Executive Director, Employee Services, the Director, Labour Relations will provide strategic leadership and expert advice across VSB’s labour relations portfolio.

The role spans:

- collective bargaining
- collective agreement administration and interpretation
- grievances
- mediation and arbitration
- workplace investigations
- human rights matters
- legislative compliance




- labour‑management relationships
- labour relations strategy

VSB operates within a particularly complex labour relations environment involving 14 collective agreements.

The incoming Director will be expected to develop a strong understanding of the major terms, operating implications, and recurring issues across these agreements while ensuring that labour relations advice remains consistent, credible, practical, and aligned with the broader needs of the District.

This is both a strategic and hands‑on leadership role.

The Director will be expected to shape the direction of the portfolio while remaining sufficiently connected to significant matters to exercise judgement, provide confident advice, and support the team through complex files.

The Leadership Mandate

Strategic Labour Relations Leadership

The Director will:

- Establish and advance the strategic direction of VSB’s Labour Relations function.
- Provide trusted advice to the Executive Director, Employee Services and senior District leadership.
- Bring an enterprise perspective to significant labour relations matters.
- Assess legal, operational, organizational, reputational, and stakeholder implications when advising on complex issues.




- Strengthen consistency and quality across labour relations practices.
- Develop longer‑term priorities and operating plans for the function.

Collective Bargaining and Agreement Administration

The Director will:

- Provide leadership across collective bargaining strategy and negotiations.
- Support effective administration and interpretation of VSB’s collective agreements.
- Guide the organization through complex bargaining, grievance, mediation, and arbitration matters.
- Maintain credible and constructive working relationships with union partners.
- Ensure the employer position is represented confidently, professionally, and consistently.

Executive Advice and Judgement

The successful candidate will be expected to:

- Translate complex labour relations issues into concise and decision‑ready executive advice.
- Provide transparent recommendations where legal, labour, operational, and reputational considerations intersect.
- Anticipate emerging risks and identify appropriate courses of action.
- Exercise sound judgement in highly sensitive and visible matters.
- Keep senior leadership appropriately informed without over‑escalating routine issues.

Team Leadership and Capability Building

A significant part of the mandate is strengthening the capability of the Labour Relations team.

The Director will:

- Coach and mentor labour relations professionals.
- Expose team members to increasingly complex files, bargaining, mediation, and arbitration.
- Strengthen succession capability within the function.
- Promote accountability, professional standards, and sound judgement.

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