Director, Employee Relations

What is the opportunity?

As an Employee Relations Director, you will perform a critical role in helping to strengthen the relationships that exist amongst employees and reinforce RBC's strong values-based culture that champions client first, collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and integrity.

You will make a difference by helping to lead and direct Employee Relations team members who support executives, people managers and employees with a range of workplace issues including employee communications, employee engagement and performance, dispute resolution and investigations, and the application of RBC's Code of Conduct and policies.

What will you do?

Employee conduct & risk culture

• Develop, implement and manage HR processes and systems to monitor employee conduct, aligning with business conduct monitoring processes to provide integrated insights and identify proactive strategies to prevent misconduct.
• Provide expert advice to ensure the consistent application of RBC's Code of Conduct and compliance with all policy, regulatory requirements and applicable federal and provincial employment and human rights legislation.
• Oversee investigations under RBC's Respectful Workplace Policy and Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Standard.
• Identify and report on trends and emerging issues, including understanding the root cause of misconduct.

Individual and collective high performance

• Provide expert advice on performance and attendance management to support a highly engaged and effective workforce.
• Identify issues and mitigants to address people impacts arising from operating model changes and organizational redesign to support exceptional client experiences and operational excellence.

Relationship management

• Manage highly complex cases and act as a point of escalation for Employee Relations Advisors and Senior Advisors on complex matters arising in their portfolio.
• Build and maintain key relationships with businesses and functions, influencing and negotiating while being viewed as a true partner.
• Work closely with the Employee Relations Senior Director on complex and sensitive matters and broader business-related initiatives and projects.

Operational excellence

• Support Employee Relations senior management with the development of resources, guidelines, processes and tools to facilitate Employee Relations' ability to provide advice at scale through consistent case management
• Manage risk and improve manager and employee experience through well informed, fair and transparent decisions which place employees at the centre and focus on RBC Values while making recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Champion HR-led initiatives that strengthen the relationship between RBC and its employees.

People Leadership

• Develop employee goals that align to team vision and demonstrates commitment to RBC Leadership Model, Collective Ambition and Values.
• Provide real-time, constructive performance & behaviour coaching that strengthens employee engagement and enablement.
• Support & monitor employee development/career management to build/grow professional capabilities.
• Foster an open environment that drives a high-performance culture.

What do you need to succeed?

Must-have

• Minimum of 8 years direct experience in Employee Relations/Human Resources/Dispute Resolution (ER/HR) and/or employment law.
• Post-secondary education or equivalent experience (preferred focus in human resources.)
• Strong knowledge of Canadian employment law and regulations (both federal & provincial.)
• People management / leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience in aligning and integrating risk management with business and HR strategy.
• Exceptional ability in establishing and managing relationships with senior level stakeholders.
• Proven ability to drive execution and achieve business results.
• Thought leadership, strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent collaboration capabilities and ability to engage others to work towards a shared vision and common goals.

Strong preference:

• Experience in an in-house legal department or law firm.
• Called to the Bar of a Canadian province (or equivalent.)
• Experience managing a team of at least 3 direct reports.
• Significant Experience in conducting and/or managing workplace investigations.
• Bilingual (English/French.)

What's in it for you?

We thrive on the challenge to be our best and work together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation.
• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities.
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact.
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team.
• Opportunities to do challenging work and take on progressively greater scopes of work.

Job Skills

Additional Job Details

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment

At RBC, we believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.