Senior Manager, Employee Relations

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to set the standard for employee relations across a fast-moving, science-led Canadian biopharmaceuticals hub? Can you translate complex legislation into clear, practical guidance that prevents issues before they arise and strengthens a high-performance culture?

In this role, you will be the specialist and subject matter expert for Employee Relations across our Canadian enterprise, supporting multiple business units and global functions. Working closely with HR Business Partners and the broader HR team, you will advise leaders, shape a fair and consistent employee experience, and ensure our practices align with Canadian legislation and global standards. You will also partner with global HR centers of excellence to pull through enterprise approaches and resources, ensuring consistent execution of the AstraZeneca way in Canada.

Our environment is non-union and highly professional, making experience in large multinationals especially relevant. You will serve as both a center of excellence for HR and a visible, frontline advisor to the business—helping leaders drive performance, avoid escalations, and resolve issues decisively and ethically to keep our teams focused on delivering medicines that change patients’ lives.

Accountabilities:

• Policy Leadership: Set, interpret and uphold HR policies; ensure practical, consistent application aligned to Canadian legislation and global standards.
• ER Case Management: Lead all increased ER matters to robust, timely conclusions, including fact-finding, investigations, performance improvement plans, written warnings and involuntary terminations; engage internal or external legal counsel as needed.
• Performance Framework Stewardship: Maintain performance management playbooks, templates and training; uphold consistent standards that improve outcomes for employees, teams and the organization.
• Severance and Exit Management: Maintain severance policy and oversee end-to-end processes for individual terminations and reorganizations, coordinating with support services to manage risk and experience.
• Organizational Change Counsel: Advise HR Business Partners and leaders on change initiatives to ensure compliance with policies and legislation and to enable smooth transitions with strong risk oversight.
• Ethics Case Governance: Own intake, triage and resolution of cases reported via AZEthics and those originating outside the system; document and track outcomes.
• Demand Letter Resolution: Lead the response strategy for demand letters, partnering with legal counsel to resolve effectively while managing precedent and risk.
• Policy Governance: Conduct regular policy reviews; update and align with global frameworks and evolving local legislation.
• Metrics and Insights: Report and monitor ER metrics; build and maintain a repository of ER case history and records to identify trends and drive prevention.
• Legal Collaboration: Partner with internal and external counsel to ensure defensible decisions and effective risk mitigation.
• Sensitive Exit Interviews: Serve as the escalation point for sensitive exits to diagnose root causes and inform continuous improvement.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree, specialty in Human Resources is an asset
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant Employee Relations/Policy experience with experience in Pharma an asset
• Advanced communication, presentation and project management skills, as well as demonstrated report writing skills
• Excellent problem solving skills with ability to apply sound judgement
• Strong relationship building and relationship management skills, high integrity orientation
• Demonstrated business acumen, expertise in global corporate professional workforce settings an asset
• Comprehensive knowledge of Canadian legislation and regulations regarding employment topics
• Excellent ability to navigate difficult situations by building empathy and objectivity, excellent people skills and ability to navigate tension

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Experience in Pharma industry
• Expertise in global corporate professional workforce settings
• Bilingual in English and French
• Experience in large, non-union, multinational corporate environments

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca:

Here, your expertise powers a high-performing, connected community that enables science to reach patients faster. You will work with forward-thinking colleagues who blend data, technology and practical judgment to solve complex challenges, while being recognized for the impact you deliver. We bring unexpected teams together to spark new ideas, learn quickly and scale what works—always with ethics and patient benefit at the center. We value kindness alongside ambition, giving you the support to push boundaries, grow your reputation and see the tangible results of your work across Canada and beyond.

Call to Action:

Shape a performance-driven, fair and future-ready people culture in Canada—take the next step in your career and apply your ER leadership where it will make a measurable difference for teams and patients.

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Annual base salary for this position ranges from 134,227.20 to 176,173.20.

AstraZeneca is committed to providing fair and equitable compensation opportunities to all colleagues. Our compensation policies and practices have been designed to allow colleagues to progress through the salary range over time as they progress in their role. The range provided in this posting represents an offer pay range used in a majority of situations. The base pay offered will vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including the candidate's skills and experience, job-related knowledge, and other specific business and organizational needs.  In some cases, offers outside the range may also be considered to address unique circumstances.

In addition, our permanent positions offer an annual Variable Pay Bonus/Short Term Incentive opportunity as well as eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (if applicable to role).  Benefits offered for permanent roles include a competitive Flex Benefits & Retirement Savings Program, 4 weeks’ paid vacation, and annual Personal Days. Fixed Term Contract/Temporary positions (excluding students) are offered a Contract Benefits Program.

We are using AI as part of the recruitment process.

This advertisement relates to a current vacancy.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.