Bilingual Employee & Labor Relations Manager

Job description

Job Title: Bilingual Employee & Labor Relations Manager Location: Toronto, ON UNIQLO is a leading brand of the Fast Retailing Group, one of the largest apparel retailers in the world. UNIQLO respects the individuality and lifestyle of all customers and takes pride in creating high-quality, long-lasting, innovative clothing at an affordable price. Position Overview : Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Bilingual Employee & Labor Relations Manager will lead the development and execution of employee relations strategies, policies, and programs across UNIQLO Canada. This role acts as a strategic business partner within the organization, collaborating closely with the Director of HR and the Heads of Departments to ensure alignment of HR practices with both global and local business objectives. The incumbent will provide expert guidance on workplace concerns, employee performance evaluations, and organizational effectiveness, and will also support the development and implementation of organizational strategic plans. The successful candidate will proactively identify and mitigate employee relations risks, foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture, and ensure consistent application of policies and employment legislation. This individual will play a crucial role in supporting and developing leaders across a multi-unit retail environment, enabling effective decision-making, driving employment engagement initiatives, and building leadership bench strength for future organizational needs. Key Responsibilities: Labor Management Leadership: Develop and implement comprehensive internal communication strategies to foster transparency, engagement, and alignment across the organization. Partner with leadership and department heads to ensure consistent messaging and effective communication of key initiatives, policies, and organizational changes. Oversee the creation, delivery, and continuous improvement of internal communications content, channels, and campaigns to support business goals and drive organizational culture. Work closely with Global Labor Management and coordinating with both the North America Legal team and Global Legal Team. Submit weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports to both Local Management and the Global Team Facilitate the Global and North America Training and Survey, including annual training on the Code of Conduct, Anti-Harassment, Employee Engagement, and other topics related to Employee Relations. Employee Relations Leadership & Strategy: Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of employee relations policies, programs, and best practices. Partner with leadership to proactively identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and develop action plans to enhance the employee experience and mitigate potential issues. Serve as a strategic business partner to management, aligning employee relations and HR initiatives with global, regional, and local business objectives and long-term organizational strategy. Workplace Investigations & Issue Resolution: Lead and manage complex employee relations matters, including investigations, grievances, and workplace concerns. Oversee robust, fair, and objective fact-finding processes, championing best practices that ensure adherence to company policies, legal requirements, and support a culture of accountability and trust. Provide recommendations and oversee appropriate resolutions, including corrective and disciplinary actions. Deliver recommendations and guide leadership through resolution strategies, including corrective and disciplinary actions that strengthen organizational integrity. Coaching & Advisory Support: Provide expert coaching and guidance to managers at all levels on employee performance, behavior, and conflict resolution. Support leaders in delivering effective feedback, managing performance improvement plans (PIPs), and navigating sensitive workplace situations. Build leadership capability through training and ongoing support in employee relations best practices that support long-term business success. Compliance & Risk Management: Interpret and apply employment legislation and company policies to ensure compliance and mitigate organizational risk. Maintain accurate, confidential documentation of all employee relations matters and investigations. Monitor organizational changes and proactively address potential employee relations implications. Employee Engagement & Organizational Effectiveness: Lead initiatives to enhance employee engagement, retention, and the overall associate experience across retail locations. Support the design, execution, and analysis of global and local employee engagement surveys, translating insights into actionable strategies and presenting recommendations to organizational leadership. Track and analyze exit interview data and workforce trends to inform continuous improvement efforts. HR Operations & Collaboration: Collaborate with the broader HR team to support key functions, including payroll, benefits, compliance, and records management. Contribute to cross-functional HR initiatives and projects that support organizational growth, operational excellence, and the achievement of strategic business goals. Deliver training on key topics, including workplace harassment prevention, diversity and inclusion, unconscious bias, and equitable practices. What You Bring: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. Minimum of 7 years of progressive HR experience, with a strong focus on employee relations in a multi-unit, high-volume retail environment. Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations issues, including workplace investigations and performance management processes. Strong knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practices, particularly within Canada. Proven ability to influence and coach leaders across all levels of the organization. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills. High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in handling confidential information. Experience supporting new market or store openings is an asset. Bilingual proficiency (French/English) is required. Willingness and ability to travel across Canada as needed. What We Offer: Competitive salary, performance bonus, and comprehensive benefits. A high-visibility role with collaboration across global and regional executive teams. Career growth in a company that values ambition, innovation, integrity, and performance. A results-driven, entrepreneurial culture where your decisions drive real business impact. Work in a modern office that is easily accessible by public transportation. Please note: All job postings at UNIQLO Canada Inc. are to fill existing vacancies within our organization. Annual Salary: $112,000 CAD. The salary range is based on several factors, including, but not limited to, overall experience, relevant experience, education level, certifications, applicable skills and expertise, and location of the position. AI Usage: As part of our recruitment process, we may use technology-assisted tools, including automated systems, to support the review and assessment of applications. These tools do not make the final decisions. All decisions related to screening, interviewing, and selection are made by our Talent Acquisition and hiring teams. UNIQLO Canada is an equal opportunity employer. As an equal opportunity employer, UNIQLO Canada Inc. does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, ancestry, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, place of origin, criminal conviction, family status, gender identity or expression, Indigenous identity, marital status, mental disability, physical disability, political belief, source of income or because of any other status or condition protected by applicable law. We sincerely appreciate the interest and enthusiasm of all applicants. While every application is carefully reviewed, only candidates whose qualifications closely match the position requirements will be contacted.