Director, Employee Relations, Job Evaluation and Return to Work

About Nunavut
Founded in 1999 and rooted in millennia of Inuit history and culture, the Government of Nunavut (GN) is shaping a strong future through investments in education, healthcare, culture, environmental stewardship, and sustainable economic growth. Named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Top Employer for Young People and Recent Graduates, Nunavut is home to one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in the country. Employees enjoy competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, a defined benefit pension, relocation support, and opportunities for learning and career growth.

About the opportunity

The Director, Employee Relations, Job Evaluation and Return to Work, should be well-versed in human resources and financial administration management. A deep understanding of laws relevant to arbitrators, mediators, labor, policy formulation, and return-to-work programs is essential. The candidate should be capable of analyzing national trends and economic factors for collective bargaining and labor compensation structures. Additionally, they must have expertise in program development, implementation, evaluation, and policy development.

The ideal candidate will possess strong verbal and written communication skills, with excellent interpersonal skills to lead, influence, facilitate, and reach consensus with teams. The candidate will employ innovative problem-solving approaches, including quantitative and analytical reasoning, and have the capability to analyze and evaluate problems, proposals, and submissions. Organizational skills and the ability to manage a high volume of information are essential, as is the ability to lead effectively in a cross-cultural environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategically plan, develop, and deliver programs to foster harmonious employee/employer relations across the GN.
• Develop legislation, policies, and programs that align with Inuit Societal Values and operational needs in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Direct collective bargaining activities including providing a chief negotiator and preparing strategic plans for successful negotiations.
• Provide guidance and facilitate conflict resolution and mediation in the workplace.
• Advise senior officials on complex employee/employer issues and legislative amendments.
• Develop communication procedures and deliver training on employee/employer relations to promote a respectful workplace.
• Conduct research, develop policies, and oversee the administration of GN’s Return-to-work program.
• Direct, monitor, and evaluate the job evaluation system for the GN.
• Develop the compensation philosophy and total compensation package for the GN.
• Control financial and personnel resources to ensure effective mandate execution.
• Evaluate staff performance, develop training plans, and set priorities to enhance professional capacity.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree from a recognized Canadian university in labour law, industrial relations, business administration or related field;
• Seven years of progressive managerial experience in a related human resource field; with preference given to employee and labour relations concentration.
• Experience in collective bargaining and administration of collective agreements, policies and legislation is required;
• Acceptable combinations of education and experience may be considered for this position. We encourage you to apply if you have equivalent years of education and/or experience equal to the education and experience requirements listed above.

Salary Range and Compensation: $142,582 to $203,688 per year, based on a 37.5-hour work week

In addition, a Northern Allowance of $16,328 per year is provided.  Subsidized staff housing is available.

Application Deadline: Monday, June 19, 2026 11:59pm EDT

This position is one of trust, and the successful candidate will be required to complete a satisfactory criminal record check.

All applications will be reviewed and assessed by experienced Phelps search professionals; we do not use artificial intelligence tools to screen candidates. 

To apply to the position please click here:

Director, Employee Relations and Job Evaluation – Government of Nunavut Recruitment Careers

The Government of Nunavut is committed to creating a representative workforce; therefore, priority will be given to Nunavut Inuit who self-identify as being enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement in accordance with the Priority Hiring Policy. The Official Languages of Nunavut are Inuktut, English and French. Applicants may submit their resume in any of the official languages of Nunavut. Fluency in more than one of Nunavut’s official languages would be considered an asset. Knowledge of Inuit communities, culture, land, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, Inuktut and experience working in a northern cross-cultural environment are also considered assets.