Senior Director, Bargaining & Member Services

Job Title:

Senior Director, Bargaining & Member Services

Reports to:

Managing Director Operations

Status:
Full-Time, Exempt

Working closely with the Managing Director, the Senior Director, Bargaining and Services is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for member representation advocacy and servicing, labour relations, collective bargaining and related programs.
This position ensures the effective delivery of high-quality services to members while advancing the objectives and priorities of UFCW 1518.

• Balancing operational requirements with long-term organizational priorities, provide insight into the development of departmental short-term and long-term planning
• Monitor emerging trends, legislative developments, and industry best practices affecting unionized workplaces and collective bargaining
• Provide expert advice and recommendations to senior leadership and elected officers on bargaining, labour relations, and member services matters
• Interpret collective agreements with high levels of care and precision, ensuring consistent, risk-informed application across all member representation activities
• Manage labour relations and engagement with employer representatives and key interest holders, influencing outcomes through credibility, expertise, and strategic communication
• Oversee complex grievance files, settlements, arbitrations, investigations, and workplace disputes to ensure strong representation and timely resolution
• Attend arbitrations, mediations, investigations and fact-finding meetings to ensure matters are properly advanced and documented.
• Represent and engage with a variety of members, ensuring the employer’s standards and policies are upheld
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, operational effectiveness, and member engagement

• Lead and oversee your team through the collective bargaining cycle, intervening at
  critical stages to achieve positive outcomes.

• Fosters a culture of collaboration, responsiveness, accountability, and inclusion.
• Provide strategic leadership to a high performing team of Union Representatives, setting clear expectations, encouraging accountability, and fostering a culture of inclusion
• Support staff navigating challenging workplace situations, member concerns, high pressure files, and day-to-day operational issues
• Respond to complaints and performance concerns, where necessary
• Conduct performance management, coaching, and discipline processes when necessary, while fostering a respectful and positive team culture

• Assist with the development and oversight of departmental operational plans, budgets and resource requirements
• Monitor performance metrics and ensure objectives related to service quality, volume, timelines, and outcomes are achieved
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, collective agreements, legislation, and departmental standards
• Recommend operational improvements to support organizational goals Stakeholder Relations
• Build and maintain effective relationships with elected leaders, members, employers, legal counsel, and other internal and external stakeholders
• Represent UFCW in meetings, negotiations, committees, conferences, and public forums as required

• 5–7+ years of experience in labour relations, including managing complex grievance files, bargaining, workplace investigations, mediations, and arbitrations, with precision and a risk-informed approach.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent, with advanced studies in collective bargaining, labour law, labour/industrial relations, arbitration, employment law, and/or HR.
• Demonstrated senior-level experience as a lead negotiator, with the ability to oversee a team through the full bargaining cycle and intervene effectively at critical stages.
• Ability to contribute to operational planning and budgets, to monitor performance metrics, and to ensure compliance with policies and legislation.
• Skilled at building effective relationships with key stakeholders and comfortable representing the organization in negotiations and other…