Senior Employee & Labour Relations Partner

Job Description: Who We Are: At Arterra Wines Canada, we aim to inspire the simple joys of life, and we come to work every day with a shared passion to build wine brands people love. As a pioneer in the Canadian wine industry with 150 years of experience, our success is driven by our people. We work together with integrity and pride, striving to reach our fullest potential every day, and we’re looking for people who do the same.

We are undergoing a pivotal transformation, actively in search of dynamic individuals poised to make a substantial impact within our ever-evolving organization. Are you someone who embraces change and excels in diverse roles that span across various functions? If so, we look forward to hearing from you! Role Summary: The Senior Employee & Labour Relations Partner is responsible for providing day-to-day HR leadership and strategic partnership to Ontario Production and Estates operations, with a strong focus on employee and labour relations.

Based in Niagara Falls and reporting to the Manager, People & Culture Business Partner, this role provides trusted advice and coaching to leaders and employees across both unionized and non-unionized environments. The Senior Employee & Labour Relations Partner will use sound judgement, HR expertise and knowledge of Ontario employment and labour legislation to manage complex people matters, strengthen labour-management relationships, mitigate organizational risk and support a positive employee experience.

Key Responsibilities: Employee & Labour Relations / HR Operations: Build and maintain constructive relationships with union representatives, employees and business leaders, balancing employee advocacy with business requirements, collective agreement provisions and organizational policies. Act as an escalation point for complex employee and labour relations matters. Provide expert guidance and counsel on employment legislation, case law, corporate policies and collective agreements.

Advise leaders on matters including disability and accommodation, attendance management, performance, progressive discipline, grievances, conflict resolution, terminations and return-to-work. Interpret and apply multiple collective agreements, policies and procedures, ensuring consistent and appropriate application across employee groups. Manage and resolve grievances in partnership with leaders and union representatives, ensuring timely responses, appropriate documentation and consistency with collective agreement requirements.

Participate in labour management meetings and support the preparation, documentation and follow-up of labour relations issues and action items. Conduct fair, thorough and well documented workplace investigations, including matters involving employee misconduct, workplace conflict, policy violations, harassment and other sensitive concerns. Develop appropriate action plans and corrective measures following investigations to resolve issues, mitigate risk and support a respectful workplace.

Support arbitration matters, including preparation of documentation, evidence gathering, case development and coordination with Legal and/or external counsel as required. Support the collective bargaining process by providing labour relations expertise, analysis and counsel throughout preparation, negotiations and implementation. Monitor labour relations trends, including grievances, absenteeism, turnover, discipline and other workforce indicators, and recommend proactive interventions.

Identify opportunities to strengthen labour-management relationships and address workplace issues before they escalate. Maintain appropriate documentation and records related to employee and labour relations matters. Ensure employee and labour relations practices comply with applicable Ontario legislation, including the Employment Standards Act, Labour Relations Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Human Rights Code.

Integrated Business Partnership: Act as a trusted advisor a