Director, Labour Relations

Porter Airlines

  • Toronto, ON
  • Permanent
  • Temps-plein
  • Il y a 9 jours
Job Summary:The Director, Labour Relations is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing and executing Porter’s labour relations strategy. Reporting to the executive vice president and chief people officer, this role acts as a key advisor to senior leaders on all matters relating to union relationships, collective bargaining, grievance management, arbitration, and labour compliance under Canadian federal law (Canada Labour Code).The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of the aviation sector, exceptional negotiation skills, and a proven track record of fostering collaborative labour-management relationships that support operational excellence and team member engagement. Duties & Responsibilities:Strategic Leadership & Labour Relations Planning
  • Develop and implement a long-term labour relations strategy aligned with business objectives and regulatory obligations.
  • Serve as the lead negotiator in collective bargaining with various bargaining units (e.g., pilots, flight attendants, customer service, and ground crew).
  • Provide expert advice to executives and managers on labour relations issues, including contract interpretation, discipline, and operational decisions.
Union & Stakeholder Relations
  • Build and maintain constructive relationships with union representatives across multiple bargaining units.
  • Act as the organization’s primary point of contact for union leadership during both routine engagement and during periods of conflict.
  • Lead regular labour-management meetings and joint consultation committees to proactively address workplace issues.
Grievance & Arbitration Management
  • Oversee the end-to-end grievance process, ensuring timely investigation, documentation, and resolution.
  • Represent the company at arbitration hearings or coordinate with external legal counsel as necessary.
  • Analyze trends and root causes of grievances to recommend policy or procedural improvements.
Collective Bargaining & Contract Administration
  • Develop bargaining mandates in collaboration with finance, operations, and legal.
  • Lead the preparation of proposals and counterproposals, manage negotiations, and oversee ratification processes.
  • Ensure accurate implementation of collective agreements and updates to People and Culture systems, payroll, and operations.
Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensure full compliance with the Canada Labour Code, Canadian Aviation Regulations, Occupational Health and Safety legislation, and other applicable federal labour standards.
  • Monitor changes in labour law and industry-specific regulations to mitigate risks and update policies accordingly.
  • Actively participate in Porter’s Security and Safety Management System (SMS), including reporting hazards and incidents encountered in daily operations; understand, comply and promote the Company Safety Policy.
Labour Analytics & Reporting
  • Provide regular reports to senior leadership on key labour metrics, risks, opportunities, and trends.
  • Use workforce and labour data to inform strategic decision-making and negotiations.
  • Lead labour relations audits and risk assessments.
Team Leadership & Development
  • Provide training and coaching to People and Culture Advisors and operational leaders on unionized workforce management.
Behavioural Competencies:Concern for Safety: Identifying hazardous or potentially hazardous situations and taking appropriate action to maintain a safe environment for self and others.Teamwork: Working collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals.Passenger/Customer Service: Providing service excellence to internal and/or external customers (passengers).Initiative: Dealing with situations and issues proactively and persistently, seizing opportunities that arise.Results Focus: Focusing efforts on achieving high quality results consistent with the organization’s standards.Fostering Communication: Listening and communicating openly, honestly, and respectfully with different audiences, promoting dialogue and building consensus.Exemplifying Integrity: Treating others fairly, honestly, and respectfully, furthering the integrity of the organization and its relationships of trust with team members and the broader community.Inspiring Others: Energizing and inspiring others to strive for excellence and commit to common goals and purposes, creating a sense of self-efficacy, resilience, and persistence in followers.People Leadership: Assuming a leadership role in helping others achieve excellent results.Leading Change: Recognizing the need for change, being open to new ideas and methods, and championing transformational change within the organization and beyond. Qualifications:Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Law, or a related field is required.
  • A Master’s degree or LLB/JD is an asset.
  • CPHR or CHRL designation is an asset.
Experience:
  • Minimum 10 years of progressive labour relations experience in a unionized environment, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
  • Experience in the aviation or transportation industry is strongly preferred.
  • Proven experience in leading complex collective bargaining negotiations and managing multiple union relationships.
Skills and Competencies:
  • Deep knowledge of Canadian federal labour law and collective agreement frameworks.
  • Excellent negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution skills.
  • Strong business acumen and understanding of operational demands in aviation.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and manage high-stakes situations with diplomacy.
  • Superior interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Proficiency in labour relations data systems, Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
Working Conditions:
  • Hybrid work environment with travel to airport and union locations as needed.
  • On-call availability during high-impact labour disruptions or operational incidents.
Company Description:Since 2006, Porter Airlines has been elevating the experience of economy air travel for every passenger, providing genuine hospitality with style, care and charm. Porter’s fleet of Embraer E195-E2 and De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft serves a North American network from Eastern Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, Porter is an Official 4 Star Airline® in the World Airline Star Rating®. Visit or follow @porterairlines on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Porter Airlines