Description

Manager, Employee and Labour Relations

Winnipeg, MB

Manitoba Hydro is consistently recognized as one of Manitoba's Top Employers! We are a leader among energy companies in North America, recognized for providing highly reliable service and exceptional customer satisfaction. Join our team of Manitoba's best as we continue to build a company that champions safety, supports innovation, and delivers on our commitment to customer service - while actively fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace reflective of the communities we serve.

At Manitoba Hydro our greatest source of energy is our people. Our foundational values guide our work (Reconciliation, Environmental Stewardship, Safety and Security) and define how we work together (Collaborate, Align, Reimagine and Empower) to achieve our Vision of empowering Manitoba's future with affordable and reliable energy and carry out our mission of meeting the energy needs of our customers.

Great Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Defined-benefit pension plan for long-term financial security.
• Nine-day work cycle, typically resulting in every other Monday off to support a balanced approach to work, family life and community.
• Flex-time and partially remote work schedule (providing the option to work remotely 3 days per 2-week period), depending on nature of work, operational requirements and work location.

Position Overview:

The Manager, Employee & Labour Relations is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for delivering integrated human resource and labour relations leadership to the organization.

Operating in a complex, unionized utility environment, this role serves as the organization's primary subject-matter expert on collective agreement administration, labour relations strategy, and the resolution of complex workplace issues.

At the intersection of business operations and unionized labour, the Manager leads a team of human resource professionals and partners closely with senior leaders to ensure sound labour relations practices support operational continuity, strong safety culture, financial health, and serve the long-term interest of the organization. The role balances risk management, fairness, and compliance with the organization's mandate, values, and legislative obligations.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee all labour relations activities for assigned bargaining units in a highly unionized environment.
• Interpret, apply, and advise on collective agreements, letters of understanding, memoranda, and past practice.
• Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership for grievance management, including investigations, responses, settlements, mediations, and arbitrations aligned with employment legislation, collective agreements, and industry standards.
• Support and participate in collective bargaining, including preparation of bargaining strategies, costing, proposals, and negotiation activities.
• Advise senior leaders on labour relations risks, trends, and emerging issues, recommending proactive and defensible solutions.
• Lead the resolution of complex and sensitive employee relations matters, including discipline, just cause analysis, investigations, accommodation, attendance management, and return-to-work planning
• Contribute to the development, interpretation, and ongoing improvement of HR and labour relations policies, practices, and frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with applicable employment legislation, labour law, and Crown governance requirements.
• Foster a collaborative relationship with union leaders and effectively handle the balance between management and union representatives.
• Provide coaching and guidance to human resource professionals and leaders on managing performance and conduct within a unionized framework.
• Develop and sustain a high-performance culture and environment where multiple perspectives are sought out, the ‘voice' of all interested parties is heard and reflected in plans, programs and services, risk is mitigated, innovation is encouraged, and all employees are committed to excellence in service delivery.
• Model and reinforce a strong safety culture, engaging with employees and supporting safety initiatives through a Labour Relations lens.

Safety Culture

• Model and reinforce a strong safety culture, engaging with employees and supporting safety initiatives through an LR lens.

Policy, Governance & Compliance

• Contribute to the development, interpretation, and ongoing improvement of HR and labour relations policies, practices, and frameworks.
  Ensure compliance with applicable employment legislation, labour law, and Crown governance requirements.

Organizational and People Leadership

• Develop and sustain a high-performance culture and environment where multiple perspectives are sought out, the ‘voice' of all interested parties is heard and reflected in plans, programs and services, risk is mitigated, innovation is encouraged, and all employees are committed to excellence in service delivery.
  Foster a collaborative relationship with union leaders and effectively handle the balance between management and union representatives.

Qualifications:

• Completion of a four-year Degree from an institute of recognized standing in an applicable discipline plus nine years of directly related experience, demonstrating progressively greater responsibility in a supervisory/leadership capacity;
  OR
• An equivalent combination of related education and experience.
• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation would be an asset.
• In depth understanding of, and experience administering, grievances, workplace investigations, progressive corrective discipline, and collective bargaining processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Labour Laws, Employment Standards, Human Rights Code.
• Demonstrated understanding of the strategic, legal, and political implications and influences on labour relations practices, processes, and policies.
• Specialized knowledge and demonstrated expertise in interpreting and applying collective agreements, organizational policies, precedent, and past practice gained through experience in comparable unionized environments.
• Proven integrity and ability to build effective working relationships with bargaining unit representatives, HR colleagues and all levels of management.
• Demonstrated success prioritizing and multi-tasking complex and diverse workload in a challenging and fast-paced environment.
• Possess initiative and sound judgement with corresponding ability to make, justify, and implement decisions in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to research, analyze, and formulate recommendations, bargaining proposals, and collective agreement language that protect the interests of the corporation.
• Committed to remaining current with labour relations issues through activities such as membership in human resource associations, attendance at conferences and seminars, and regularly reviewing arbitration, labour board, and human rights decisions.

Salary Range

Starting salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The range for the classification is $62.82-$86.07 Hourly, $120,372.72-$164,936.72 Annually.

Apply Now!

Ready to join a team that energizes Manitoba and puts safety, innovation, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do? Visit www.hydro.mb.ca/careers to learn more about this position and to apply online.

Application deadline: FEBRUARY 6, 2026.

We appreciate your interest in Manitoba Hydro and thank all applicants. Only those selected for the next stage of the selection process will be contacted.

If you require accommodations during the recruitment process or need this posting in an accessible format, please let us know - we're committed to a barrier-free experience for all candidates.