Human Resources (HR) & Labour Relations (LR) Assistant

Are you an organized and people-focused HR professional looking to grow your career in Human Resources and Labour Relations? Do you enjoy supporting employees, coordinating HR processes, and making a meaningful impact? Are you passionate about providing Peace of Mind to your client group? Are you looking to be a part of a growing team and company?

The Universal Group, recognized as one of  Canada's Best Managed companies in 2026 ,has exciting opportunity for a Human Resources (HR) & Labour Relations (LR) Assistant ! Reporting to the VP-Human Resources, you will supports the HR & LR functions through the delivery of employee relations, labour relations, recruitment, and workplace investigation services. Working closely with HR and LR Business Partners, this role provides operational and advisory support to managers and employees while ensuring compliance with collective agreements, employment legislation, company policies, and best practices. The position is primarily focused on conducting workplace investigations, supporting employee and labour relations matters, administering HR programs, and full-cycle recruitment activities. The Assistant works collaboratively with HR and operational leaders to ensure timely, consistent, and effective resolution of workplace issues while supporting organizational objectives.

What you will be responsible for:

Human Resources:

• Provide day-to-day HR guidance to managers and employees.


• Interpret and apply company policies, procedures, and employment legislation.


• Support performance management processes and employee relations matters.


• Assist managers with coaching, documentation, corrective action, and attendance management.


• Support employee engagement and retention initiatives.


• Maintain HR records and documentation.


• Assist with HR compliance requirements and audits.


• Support implementation of HR programs and initiatives across all entities in Canada and the US. 

Labour Relations:

• Conduct workplace investigations involving policy violations, misconduct, harassment, discrimination, and other employee concerns.


• Prepare investigation reports and recommendations.


• Support the administration of collective agreements and labour relations processes.


• Provide guidance to managers on employee performance, conduct, attendance, and corrective action.


• Assist with grievance administration, including research, fact gathering, documentation, and meeting preparation.


• Participate in grievance meetings and labour-management discussions as assigned.


• Interpret collective agreements and applicable legislation.


• Support arbitration and human rights case preparation.


• Maintain positive working relationships with union representatives and internal stakeholders.


• Assist with implementation of labour relations strategies developed by HR and Labour Relations Business Partners.

Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

• Support full-cycle recruitment for assigned positions, including job postings, sourcing, screening, interviewing, reference checks, offer preparation, and onboarding coordination.


• Support the Talent Acquisition Lead and Talent Acquisition Specialists with high volume recruitment needs


• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing requirements and recruitment timelines.


• Develop and implement sourcing strategies to attract qualified candidates.


• Conduct candidate screening and interviews and provide hiring recommendations.


• Coordinate pre-employment requirements and onboarding activities.


• Maintain recruitment records and reporting metrics.


• Support workforce planning initiatives by identifying recruitment trends and labour market conditions

Employee Communication and Support

• Respond to all daily employee emails and phone calls within 48 hours.


• Provide guidance to employees by answering questions or investigating concerns.

Record Keeping and Communication

• Updates employee files as necessary.


• Liaise with all stakeholders by responding to requests in a timely fashion.

What you get from us:

• This position is a 6-month contract.


• Extended Medical, Vision, and Dental benefits. 


• Competitive compensation package.


• Access to Employee Assistance Program. 


• Paid vacation.


• Access to a growing organization with lots of advancement opportunities.

What we need from you:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, or a related field.


• 1-2 years of progressive HR experience.


• Experience conducting workplace investigations required.


• Experience in a unionized environment is required.


• Experience with full-cycle recruitment required.


• Working knowledge of employment standards, labour relations, human rights, and privacy legislation.


• Experience with HRIS systems and Google Suite.
  

Why Universal Group?

The Universal Group is driven by our purpose to provide Peace of Mind to both our clients and team members. Our people embrace our core values of being ‘Passionate, Authentic, and Driven’ in everything we do and in every decision we make every day. They are the fabric of who we are and, without question, the reason for our success and continued growth.

The safety of our team members and the public drives us daily.

The Universal Group is an industry leader in traffic control services, traffic management planning, traffic equipment supply, landscaping, temporary labour and occupational health and safety training. We are a one-stop shop, as our full suite of services ensures that we can manage projects from conception to completion.

For more information about the company, please visit our  Indeed Profile ! 

Our Commitment to Diversity

The Universal Group is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic.

Apply today; we can’t wait to hear from you. Come grow with us!

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