Senior Associate, Employee Relations

Ford of Canada’s operations include a national headquarters, three vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing plants, three parts distribution centres, and three Connectivity and Innovation centres. Ford employs approximately 6,500 people in Canada, while an additional 20,000 people are employed in the approximately 430 Ford and Ford-Lincoln dealerships across the country. For more information on Ford Careers, please visit

The Senior Associate, Employee Relations, is responsible for applying existing organizational practices and procedures for the administration of resolutions to employee relations issues, including investigations into conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency in a timely manner. The role supports the administration of company policies and procedures related to employee relations, performance management, and workplace conduct. The role applies research, information gathering, analytical and interpretation skills to a variety of problems of moderate scope and complexity to foster a compliant and ethical work environment. The role also works with Specialists to maintain accurate and confidential employee records and data related to employee relations matters.

Employee Relations and Business Partnership

• Leverages knowledge of the business to develop rapport and relationships within their customer group to identify solutions that drive sustainable cultural change and support the achievement of business objectives.
• Supports the execution of human resources programs and services within their customer group to positively impact both the hourly and salaried employee life cycles.
• Fosters a positive and inclusive hourly and salary employee experience through proactive initiatives based on feedback through employee opinion surveys, suggestions, and open-door policies.
• Supports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, to boost engagement and address areas for improvement, and engages in employee recognition events, planning, etc.
• Conducts daily floor walks in designated customer areas to build positive relationships with employees, ensure Human Resources availability, and develop ability to detect early warning indicators.
• Leverages lean methodology in collaboration with internal departments, external vendors, auditors, and consultants to make decisions, problem solve and drive effective change management programs.
• Partners with local communications staff to implement roll out and execute relevant communications to foster an informed employee population and 2-way communication across all shifts.
• Ensures compliance with employment laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Supports interactions with local governmental agencies and coordinates charitable activities to support the plant's community engagement efforts.
• Monitors key workforce metrics to identify potential risks and mitigating actions that support recommendations for operating leaders that drive people decisions.
• Collaborates closely with customer group and relevant union representatives to ensure correct implementation and accurate interpretation of the collective agreement terms, addressing inquiries, grievances, and other union-related issues for consistent application. Resolves employee union issues, such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, ensuring fairness, consistency, and timeliness.
• Supports investigations within their assigned customer group, ensuring that all disciplinary issues, grievances, and arbitration matters are handled in a timely and effective manner. Assesses the severity of each case and escalates significant concerns to the Manager, Human Resources Generalist as required. Escalates all types of discrimination charges and complaints in partnership with legal counsel on lawsuit discovery and litigation preparation. Leverages conflict resolution and critical thinking skills to conduct investigations.
• Works closely with safety and occupational health leads to address employee health and wellness concerns, support safety audits, wellness programs.

Labour Relations

• Resolves union issues such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency in a timely manner. Actively participates in collective bargaining process and negotiations where support is needed. Ensures rep comp is completed accurately and timely within the constraints of the collective agreement.
• Effectively manages assigned cases and grievances within their customer group. Monitors volume for workload and emerging trends, responds to ethics and compliance hotline as necessary.
• Executes payroll and attendance tracking processes including attendance hearings, updating system codes, vacation usage, and running necessary reports. Applies knowledge of leaves of absences policies, Employment Standards Act and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
• Supports the talent management process for hourly employees within their customer group including: TPT placement and tracking, support skill trades hiring / apprenticeship program administration, outside contracting, internal and external hourly hiring processes, reskilling, transferring, retirement separation packages, tracking and processing, team leader 30/60/90-day review processes, and workforce reporting.

The Minimum Requirements We Seek

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or any other related discipline
• 5 + years of relevant work experience

Our Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development or any other related discipline
• CHRP/CHRL Professional Human Resources Certification
• In-depth experience in manufacturing processes
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team.
• Demonstrated conflict management skills
• Proven interpersonal skills
• Ability to effectively engage with all employees in the organization
• Proven communication and problem-solving skills, including Six Sigma
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, and organization skills

This posting is for an existing vacancy within our team.

The expected annual salary range for this position is $74,000 - $124,000 and individuals may be eligible to participate in our Annual Compensation bonus program.

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Successful candidates will be required to provide proof of degree completion for the highest level of education attained. If the degree was obtained from a school outside of Canada, an Education Credential Assessment report showing Canadian equivalency is also required.

Ford of Canada is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a culturally diverse workforce. Accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment, selection and / or assessment processes, where needed, are available upon request. Please inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require.

Candidates for this position must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited does not sponsor work permit applications.