Labour Relations & Disability Management Senior Advisor

Labour Relations & Disability Management Senior Advisor
Job TitleLabour Relations & Disability Management Senior AdvisorCompetition Number2026-00224Posting Open Date11-02-2026Posting Close Date11-23-2026Job LocationCity HallDepartment/DivisionHuman Resources AdministrationJob FamilyExcluded/ManagementJob CategoryHuman ResourcesJob Description
LABOURRELATIONS AND DISABILITY MANAGEMENT SENIOR ADVISORRegularFull Time (Exempt)About UsOne of BC's Top Employers, the City of Coquitlam offers meaningfulcareer opportunities to make a difference within the local community. As one of British Columbia's largest and most dynamic municipalities, Coquitlam is hometo a diverse and rapidly evolving community of more than 170,000 residents.Located in the heart of Metro Vancouver, Coquitlam combines establishedneighbourhoods, emerging urban centres, rapid-transit connectivity andsignificant new community development with extensive parks, trails and naturalareas. The City is experiencing substantial growth and transformation whilecontinuing to focus on thoughtful city building, sustainable service deliveryand an exceptional quality of life.Our brand is built on managing our resources in a responsible andsustainable manner while supporting a vibrant, growing regional urban centre.We envision a bright future in Coquitlam that we hope includes you.About You / What WeAre Looking ForThe City of Coquitlam is seeking anexperienced and relationship-focused labour relations professional to join ourHuman Resources team as Labour Relations and Disability Management SeniorAdvisor.Reporting to the Manager, LabourRelations and HR Strategy, you will provide practical advice and hands-onsupport on workplace investigations, collective agreement interpretation andsensitive employee matters. Working closely with managers, HR colleagues andunion representatives, you will help resolve concerns, support consistentdecisions and build constructive working relationships across the organization.You bring experience in labourrelations, navigating workplace issues in a unionized environment, assessinginformation carefully and helping leaders understand their options. You arecomfortable conducting investigations, preparing clear documentation andrecommendations, and following matters through to resolution.Alongside this work, you willcontribute to the City's disability management activities, supporting medicalleave, accommodation and return-to-work processes in collaboration with HRcolleagues. Experience in this area is an asset, and we also welcome stronglabour relations practitioners who are ready to broaden their expertise.This is an opportunity to deepenyour labour relations practice, take on meaningful responsibility and expandyour skills within a collaborative municipal HR team.Main ResponsibilitiesProvideadvice and guidance to managers and HR colleagues on collective agreementinterpretation and administration, employee relations, discipline, performancemanagement and workplace conflict.Conductworkplace investigations, including planning interviews, gathering andassessing information, documenting findings and preparing clearrecommendations.Supportgrievance handling and dispute resolution through research, file preparation,meetings and recommended responses, working with the Manager on complex orsensitive matters.Buildand maintain constructive relationships with union representatives, operationalleaders and HR colleagues, helping address concerns early and identify workableresolutions.Researchlabour relations issues, relevant decisions and established practices tosupport consistent advice and well-supported recommendations.Prepareinvestigation reports, correspondence, meeting summaries and otherdocumentation, maintaining accurate and confidential case records.Supportdisability management activities related to medical leaves, workplaceaccommodations and return-to-work planning, working collaboratively withemployees, managers and HR colleagues.Helpaddress labour relations questions arising from attendance, leave andaccommodation matters, recognizing when additional expertise or direction isrequired.Supportmanagers in applying collective agreements, HR policies and establishedprocedures, explaining requirements clearly and helping build confidence inworkplace decision-making.Identifyrecurring issues and opportunities to improve case administration,documentation and labour relations processes, contributing to policy andprocedure updates as required.MinimumQualificationsA university degree in LabourRelations, Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration or arelated discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education,training and experience.Approximately five years ofprogressive human resources experience, including substantial hands-on labourrelations responsibility in a complex unionized environment.Demonstrated experienceinterpreting and administering collective agreements and advising managers onemployee relations, discipline, performance management and workplace concerns.Experience conducting workplaceinvestigations, assessing information objectively and preparing findings andrecommendations.Working knowledge of applicablelabour relations, employment and human rights legislation, with the ability toapply that knowledge to practical workplace situations.Strong research, analytical andwritten communication skills, including the ability to prepare clearcorrespondence, reports and confidential case documentation.Demonstrated ability to buildproductive relationships with managers, union representatives, employees and HRcolleagues, using sound judgment and effective conflict resolution skills.Ability to manage competingpriorities and sensitive files with discretion, accuracy and consistentfollow-through.Ability and willingness todevelop further expertise in disability management, workplace accommodation andreturn-to-work processes.Preferred QualificationsExperience in municipal government, the broader publicsector or a similarly complex environment with multiple collective agreements.Experience supporting grievance resolution and preparingfiles for mediation, arbitration or other formal proceedings.Experience with disability management, medical leaveadministration, workplace accommodations or return-to-work coordination.A Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR)designation, or progress toward the designation.Additional training in workplace investigations, labourrelations, conflict resolution or disability management.Experience coaching managers or delivering practicalguidance and training on labour relations topics.TheIdeal CandidateThe ideal candidate combinesstrong labour relations skills with curiosity, sound judgment and a practicalapproach to resolving workplace issues.You listen carefully, askthoughtful questions and distinguish between assumptions and evidence. Whenconducting an investigation or reviewing a sensitive matter, you bringstructure, objectivity and care to the process. Your recommendations are clear,balanced and grounded in the information available.You build credibilitythrough reliable advice and follow-through. Managers trust you to understandtheir operational needs, and union representatives recognize your willingnessto engage respectfully and work through difficult issues. You can have directconversations while remaining composed and professional.You take ownership of yourwork and recognize when a matter calls for the Manager’s involvement oradditional expertise. You work well with colleagues, share informationappropriately and help ensure that connected workplace issues receive acoordinated response.You are also motivated toexpand your practice. You bring a strong labour relations foundation and aninterest in developing the disability management knowledge needed to supportemployees and the organization effectively.Why Work With UsApplyyour labour relations expertise. Take on meaningful work involvinginvestigations, collective agreement administration and sensitive workplacematters.Broadenyour professional practice. Build experience in disability management,accommodation and return-to-work processes alongside your labour relationsportfolio.Workin partnership with leaders. Help managers navigate challenging situations andmake thoughtful, consistent workplace decisions.Buildrelationships with lasting value. Work constructively with HR colleagues,operational teams and union representatives across a diverse municipalorganization.Contributeto better HR services. Help strengthen the tools, documentation and processesthat support effective advice and timely resolution.Makea public service contribution. Support the people whose work makes Coquitlam awelcoming, connected and thriving community.Joina recognized employer. Be part of an organization recognized as one of BC's TopEmployers, with opportunities for professional growth and meaningfulcontribution.What We Offer:This is an excludedposition with an annual salary range of (Band 5) $131,057 - $147,420 (2026Rates). The rate of pay will be determined based on a variety of factorsincluding qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills.This is an opportunityto join a progressive and growing municipality and an accomplished executiveteam committed to serving a diverse and evolving community. The City supportscontinuous learning and leadership development and provides opportunities foremployees at all levels of the organization to grow professionally andcontribute meaningfully to public service.The City offers acomprehensive total rewards package, including an attractive vacation andextended benefits program and participation in the Municipal Pension Plan.There is also an opportunity to participate in the City's earned day off/flexday program. The position is based in Coquitlam, with flexible and hybrid workoptions available in alignment with the responsibilities and operationalrequirements of this senior leadership role.Accessibility / Equal Opportunity EmployerThe City of Coquitlamis proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer working towards enhancing equitable practices in our recruitment and retention processes. As an organization we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment to support our growing and diverse work force. To learn more about what equity, diversity, and inclusion means, and the City's efforts in support of these principles, please visit coquitlam.Ca/edi for more information.If at any time during the application or recruitment process you require additional assistance or an accommodation, please contact our team for confidential support. Staff can also provide in-person support if required.Applicants under consideration may be required to undergo and submit an acceptable police information check.Good people make Coquitlam great, sign up for career alerts through our recruitment portal to stay up to date about opportunities within our team, orfollow us on LinkedIn to learn more abouthow #YouCouldWorkHere too!
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