How will you CONTRIBUTE and GROW?

Air Liquide/Airgas is hiring a Canada Employee and Labor Relations Manager

• This position will be located at our offices at 1250 René-Lévesque Blvd. W., 18th floor, Montréal

Job Summary:  As part of our Employee and Labour Relations CoE team, the Manager is a key team member responsible for implementing our labour and employee strategies across Canada, maintaining and enhancing positive work environments, and championing a respectful employment experience for our associates and leaders. The Manager has extensive experience in providing expert advice to HRBPs and people leaders on complex employee relations and labour related issues and in ensuring employment policies compliance with all applicable provincial laws and regulations.

The Manager manages end-to-end union contract negotiations, supports grievances and arbitration processes, and partners with local teams to deliver conflict resolution, performance management, and compliance training. This role also oversees a minimal, highly sensitive caseload of internal investigations, requiring a deep understanding of legal, regulatory, and ethical standards. The position reports to the Director of Employee & Labour Relations and partners very closely with the respective internal/external legal teams to help execute Air Liquide’s compliance, labour relations strategy, and employee relations initiatives. 

Key Responsibilities

• Act as Lead negotiator by leading the rhythm, strategy, and union relationships at the bargaining table for a designated portfolio of negotiations. Working under minimal supervision, direct the development of comprehensive collective bargaining mandates, including complex economic modeling and financial costing of proposals

• Act as a senior coach, providing real-time guidance to HRBPs and managers on complex employee & labour relations issues—including disciplinary actions, PIPs, and workplace conflicts and drive organizational ER/LR capability building through targeted training and self-serve toolkits that foster autonomy in day-to-day management.

• Guide and coach Management and Human Resources teams in the interpretation and administration of multiple union contracts across all business lines and multiple geographies  including the grievance steps process and review or prepare written responses/communications to union officials.  

• In collaboration with the investigations team, conduct objective and thorough internal investigations on an as-needed basis—including preparing required documentation and presenting findings/recommendations to HRBPs and leaders.  

• Partner with the HR Compliance team to provide guidance on HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with all applicable Canadian laws and internal standards.  

• Regularly evaluate workplace dynamics and develop proactive employee relations strategies to foster a supportive, engaging work environment.

• Represent the organization and partner with internal/external legal counsel during mediations, grievance arbitrations, and provincial Labour Relations Board hearings.

• Maintain strong working knowledge of Canadian labour and employment laws, best practices, and current trends and developments in the field.  

• Monitor and maintain key LR/ER metrics, utilizing data and analytics tools to proactively address trends, identify risk areas, and pinpoint training opportunities.  

• Participate in a variety of enterprise projects providing ER/LR expertise and support, mitigating potential legal risks through timely and thorough handling of cases. 

• All other duties assigned.

#LI-DNI

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Required Qualifications

• Maintain strong working knowledge of Canadian labour and employment laws, best practices, and current trends and developments in the field.  

• Monitor and maintain key LR/ER metrics, utilizing data and analytics tools to proactively address trends, identify risk areas, and pinpoint training opportunities.  

• Participate in a variety of enterprise projects providing ER/LR expertise and support, mitigating potential legal risks through timely and thorough handling of cases. 

• All other duties assigned.

• 10+ years of employee & labour relations, human resources and workplace investigations experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations and/or Human Resources Management, or equivalent experience.

• Provincial HR Professional certification, an asset.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations

• Negotiation, impacting, influencing and conflict management Skills

• Business & Finance savvy

• Ability to relate to and communicate with all levels of leadership, executive management, hourly employees and Union representatives, and influence these stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Facilitation/Coaching/Consulting skills

• Self-Starting; Proactive Strategic Thinking/Acting

• Comfortable dealing with ambiguity; creative problem solving

• Ability and comfort in navigating a complex organization structure with multiple business lines, leadership and Human Resources groups.

• Must be a strategic, solutions-oriented thinker who thrives in a team-oriented, matrix  environment across multiple geographies

• Strong project management skills, ability to work independently and pro-actively manage time and work.

• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally (up to 15-20%) within Canada or the US for planned (e.g. union negotiations) and unplanned situations (by car and/or plane).

• Proficiency in Google Suite, HRIS (Workday), Gemini (Google AI) an asset.

Our Differences make our Performance

At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.

We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.