Workplace Violence and Harassment Investigator

JOB SUMMARY

You are responsible for conducting an independent investigation of Workplace Violence and Harrassment complaints and breaches of the City’s Code of Conduct under delegated authority of the Program Manager, with autonomy over investigation methodology, credibility assessments, and factual findings. Provides findings and recommendations to management regarding policy application and risk mitigation strategies while maintaining procedural fairness.

You conduct your investigations in a procedurally fair manner and in line with legal precedent, and you adopt a trauma-informed approach throughout the investigation.  You provide expert advice and guidance to City management and staff on the City’s workplace violence and harassment complaint resolution processes.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum university degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Law or related field

Minimum 3 years of experience conducting in-depth investigations and investigative interviews

Experience managing labour relations issues and interpreting/administrating collective agreements, preferably in a municipal setting is desirable

Experience conducting investigations in a unionized setting is desirable

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

KNOWLEDGE

• Demonstrated knowledge with all applicable legislations such as Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Canada Labour Code, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Canadian Human Rights Act.
• Knowledge of relevant labour and employment-related legislation pertaining to investigations
• Expert knowledge of investigation best practices and rules of evidence
• Interpreting and applying policy, regulations, legislation, and applicable labour and employment-related legislation to investigations
• Legislation, trends, policies, regulations, issues, principles and procedures related to conducting workplace investigations in a unionized workplace
• Corporate or municipal Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy
• Dispute resolution techniques and processes
• Knowledge of investigative methods, techniques and practices
• Knowledge of interviewing processes and procedures
• Corporate or municipal, policies and procedures, political infrastructure
• Knowledge of function, objectives, principles and practices of public personnel and labour relations management and administration within unionized work environments is desirable
• Knowledge of standard and generally accepted human resource policies and procedures dealing with labour relations is desirable

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to work independently with minimal direction
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other investigators, HR, Labour Relations, Legal and departmental staff
• Possess organizational skills and flexibility to plan, organize and prioritize own work and to deal effectively with multiple demands, shifting/conflicting priorities, pressures and deadlines in an complex, unionized work environment
• Strong skills in the areas of conflict resolution, problem-solving, and interviewing
• Excellent written communication skills including experience writing a variety of documents including decision making documents and correspondent
• Excellent verbal communications skills with the experience to conduct interview in-person, over the phone, or virtual platforms
• Excellent critical thinking skills and judgment with demonstrated ability to analyze and apply legal and policy standards
• Demonstrated experience in planning and executing investigations, with the ability to remain impartial and neutral throughout the investigative process and in highly emotional situations
• Able to deal with difficult individuals and situations; effective at de-escalation
• Demonstrates tact, diplomacy, sound judgment and discretion in protecting the privacy, confidentiality and security of personal and proprietary information
• Thorough and attention to detail
• Must be able to travel to work locations as required by the job
• Ability and willingness to periodically work evenings and weekends as duties require

Core Behaviours
Core behaviours define the City's expectations of the behaviours employees should demonstrate in performing their work.  They are reflective of the City's culture and values and guide all our present and future activities.  Every employee is encouraged to learn, embody, and demonstrate these core behaviours.

Review the Core Behaviours.