Role overview

Description

At CAMH, people are at the centre of what we do. As the largest academic mental health hospital in Canada, CAMH provides care and treatment to patients with mental health and addiction illness, while also being an advocate and leading globally renowned research. The work of the People & Experience department is central to advancing our mission and to supporting an engaged, high performing workforce that enables world-leading mental health care, research and education. People and Experience is responsible for labour relations, employee relations, health and safety, as well as talent acquisition, training and development, performance management, workforce planning, compliance and regulatory issues, succession planning, organization culture and change management, total rewards, and workforce mental health, amongst other things.

Responsibilities

Reporting into the Vice-President, People & Experience, the Director, Labour Relations & Occupational Health & Safety & Legal Counsel will be responsible for providing strategic leadership across labour relations, employee relations, occupational health and safety, disability management and labour and employment law compliance functions. CAMH has a high level of unionization, as is common in the hospital sector, with approximately 80% of our staff represented by one of two unions. This role will oversee complex employee and labour relations matters, including grievance and arbitration hearings, lead bargaining strategy and will be responsible for workplace safety strategy, claims and accommodation programs, and regulatory compliance while managing organizational risk as it relates to these issues. The Director, Labour Relations & Occupational Health & Safety & Legal Counsel will also lead multidisciplinary teams and cross-functional initiatives that support workforce effectiveness, organizational change, and a safe, inclusive and compliant workplace. The Director will work closely with other areas of the portfolio, and closely with the other two directors in the portfolio. The Director will play a critical role in ensuring the CAMH remains a safe, inclusive, and high-performing workplace aligned with CAMH’s mission and values.

Qualifications

What You Bring

You are a strategic, systems-minded leader with the ability to navigate complexity, influence at all levels (often where there is no direct authority), and deliver results in a highly unionized healthcare setting

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited institution is required
Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) is required
Minimum of 6–10 years of progressive experience in labour relations leadership, occupational health & safety and employment law as well as in-depth experience with unionized environments (healthcare is preferred), or equivalent experience practicing labour and employment law in private practice and/or in-house counsel roles.
Deep expertise in collective bargaining, grievance/arbitration management and related litigation, and labour strategy.
Demonstrated experience and understanding of occupational health and safety law and principles,
Proven ability to advise and influence senior leadership and manage multi-disciplinary teams.
Experience with OHS programs, disability management, and return-to-work initiatives.
You are a system-minded leaders who is able to balance organizational priorities through alignment of frontline teams, peer leadership, and executives to advance CAMH mission, goals and objectives, while ensuring alignment of your direct team’s activities are adding value to CAMH
Experience in a multi-unionized or public sector setting preferred.
You are a high performer, adept at building productive working relationships with multiple stakeholders.
You have experience conducting workplace investigations and preparing defensible reports that may be relied upon in arbitrations and civil actions articulating findings and recommendations.
You have experience in representing employers at arbitration hearings, as well as experience with various tribunals and courts.
Strong understanding of change management principles and experience in implementing change management with people related changes
Judgement, discretion, critical thinking and analytical skills at a superior level
Strong track record of building and sustaining collaborative, high-performing teams; you can lead with vision, set ambitious goals, as well as innovate, improve and promote accountability and excellence in managing a team
You are an expert in employment and labour legislation in the province of Ontario, and are familiar with employment and labour law across Canada, and have demonstrated ability to stay abreast of legal developments.
You have extensive experience preparing legal documents and responses to statements of claim, human rights complaints, matters before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Ministry of Labour, etc.
You are an excellent communicator with both exceptional oral and written communication skills.
You have excellent judgment, defensible decision-making and discretion.
Familiarity with the healthcare sector and an understanding of the unique challenges and regulations related to mental health care an asset.

What CAMH Offers

Compensation & Benefits: Salary is competitive and based on experience, with a hiring range of $147,698.95 – $184,623.68 per year. (based on leadership experience, qualifications, and organizational needs)

Full Salary Range: $147,698.95 – $221,548.42 per year (reflecting progressive growth and leadership tenure within the organization)

CAMH Advantage: Includes participation in HOOPP defined benefit pension plan, comprehensive extended health and wellness benefits, and opportunities to shape healthcare innovation and growth at CAMH and beyond its walls.

Please Note: This permanent position is not part of any Bargaining Unit.

CAMH is a fully affiliated teaching hospital and research institute of the University of Toronto. As a CAMH employee, you will contribute to our mission by supporting teaching, research, and clinical care across the hospital.

CAMH is dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our commitment is to foster a workplace, teaching, and learning environment that is inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination or harassment.

CAMH strongly encourages applications from candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples; Black and other racialized communities; LGBTQ2S+ communities; women; and people with disabilities, including those with lived experience of mental health and substance use challenges.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Thank you to all who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If you require accommodations during the application or recruitment process, please let us know.

Through its core values of Courage, Respect and Excellence, CAMH is implementing its Strategic Plan: Connected CAMH, to transform lives, ignite innovation and discovery, revolutionize education and drive social change. CAMH is more than a hospital, it is a cause. CAMH is on a mission to change the way society thinks about and responds to mental illness. They aim to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and shape a world where mental illness is central to our healthcare system – a world where Mental Health is Health.

To learn more about CAMH, please visit their website at:https://www.camh.ca/

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