Employee Relations and Workplace Governance Advisor

The Opportunity

Are you looking for a caring, collaborative, values-driven workplace with inspiring teammates and leaders? Do you have the ambition and desire to be the best and thrive at the most impactful global insurance provider in the world? Look no further than Zurich Canada. If you have experience in Employee Relations and are looking for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.

As part of our continued evolution and growth in Canada, we are introducing the Employee Relations and Governance Advisor role. This is a newly created opportunity designed to strengthen our Employee Relations bench strength, enhance governance and risk oversight, and build scalable ER capabilities that support a healthy, compliant, and high performing workplace.

 
Working very closely with the Employee Relations Leader for Canada, this role sits at the intersection of employee relations, governance, risk, data insights, and health & safety. You will provide hands-on ER advisory support while also helping to build the infrastructure, insights, and governance frameworks that enable proactive risk management and consistent employee experience across Canada. 

This role is ideal for an experienced ER professional who is comfortable working with data, curious about trends and insights, and motivated by building sustainable HR capabilities in a regulated P&C insurance environment. This is a unique opportunity to build your knowledge and experience for the future in a supportive environment where your voice matters. This posting is for an existing vacancy. 

Zurich Canada uses artificial intelligence–enabled tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment process, including the initial review and screening of applications. Artificial intelligence is not the sole basis for candidate shortlisting or selection. All hiring decisions are reviewed and made by qualified hiring professionals.

Zurich follows a hybrid work model requiring three days per week of in-person presence, which may include time in the office or market-facing engagements.

What you will do:

Employee Relations Advisory & Case Management 

•    Manage the intake, triage, and resolution of employee relations cases, including low-to-moderate complexity investigations related to performance management, conduct, workplace concerns, and policy interpretation. 
•    Provide day-to-day ER advisory support to HR Business Partners and leaders, ensuring consistent, fair, and legally sound application of ER practices and policies across Canada. 
•    Prepare clear, defensible ER documentation, including investigation summaries, findings, and outcome recommendations, in partnership with HR, Legal, and relevant Centres of Expertise. 
•    Act as bench strength and continuity support for the Employee Relations Advisor, ensuring coverage and consistency during peak periods or absences. 
•    Partner closely with the Employee Relations Leader, Canada, aligning on case strategy, emerging risks, and continuous improvement opportunities. 

 
Governance, Risk & Compliance Leadership 

•    Act as the HR governance, risk, and policy designate for Canada, supporting alignment with internal standards, regulatory expectations, and employment legislation. 
•    Monitor and support HR compliance, including data privacy and information governance (IG), in partnership with Legal, Privacy, Risk, and HR Operations. 
•    Track legal, regulatory, and policy updates, assess implications for the business, and support updates to HR policies, standards, and leader guidance. 

 
Health & Safety (H&S) – Canada 

•    Take a leadership role, in partnership with HR Operations and business leaders, on Health & Safety initiatives across Canada. 
•    Support effective H&S committee governance and composition, ensuring compliance with Canadian legislative requirements and adoption of best practices. 
•    Stay current on H&S legislative updates and emerging trends, bringing forward practical, risk based recommendations to strengthen workplace safety. 

 
Data, Insights & ER Infrastructure 

•    Track and analyze ER trends, themes, and risk indicators to identify systemic issues and support proactive, preventative interventions. 
•    Lead the effort to source, evaluate, and implement an ER tracking tool, enabling consistent case tracking, reporting, and risk visibility. 
•    Partner closely with the HR analytics team to translate ER data into meaningful insights, trends, and recommendations that inform leadership decision making and support a healthy work environment. 
•    Contribute to the design and continuous improvement of ER processes, governance frameworks, and tools, supporting scalability as the organization evolves. 

What you bring to the table:

Required Qualifications:

•    Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of experience in employee relations, HR advisory, or a closely related HR discipline (or equivalent combination of education and experience). 
•    Demonstrated experience managing employee relations issues and investigations with sound judgment, discretion, and strong documentation practices. 
•    Strong working knowledge of Canadian employment legislation and ER best practices. 
•    Strong data and analytics capability — comfortable working with ER data, identifying patterns and trends, and partnering with analytics teams to generate insights, recommendations, and risk based interventions. 
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft high quality investigation summaries, recommendations, and governance materials. 

 
Preferred Qualifications: 

•    HR certification (e.g., CHRP). 
•    Experience within financial services, P&C insurance, or another regulated industry. 
•    Prior experience sourcing, implementing, or working with an ER or HR case management / tracking tool, including partnering with technology, operations, or analytics teams. 
•    Strong consulting skills with the ability to influence leaders, navigate sensitive issues, and balance employee experience with business and risk considerations. 
•    Highly organized, comfortable managing competing priorities, and motivated by building new capabilities rather than operating only in established models. 

At Zurich Canada, we are committed to pay equity. We determine compensation based on objective criteria such as skills, experience, and internal equity. The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $110,000. This range reflects the expected pay for the role across Canada and may vary depending on factors like office location, specific responsibilities, and individual qualifications. As required by local law, Zurich provides in good faith a reasonable compensation range, but starting salaries may exceed this range based on a candidate’s skills and experience.

Our Culture

•   At Zurich, we are proud of our culture. We are passionate about Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB). We want you to bring your whole self to work, and we want our employees to be reflective of the communities in which we live and work. Our DIEB initiatives are creating an environment where everyone feels welcome. 
 
•    We have a collaborative culture where diversity of thought is valued. We value your input and strive to give our employees the tools they need to make an impact.  
 
•    We care about our employees’ well-being and offer a comprehensive health/benefits plan with varying levels of coverage to suit your specific needs and a competitive total compensation package. 
 
•    We understand how important it is to rest, recharge and do the things you love. At Zurich, all employees receive a minimum of four weeks of vacation per year to do just that. 
 
•    We also understand that employees require time off for personal reasons. Maybe you have an appointment during a workday, a cultural or religious holiday you would like to observe, or you need time off to focus on your mental health. Zurich employees receive four personal days per year to be used at their discretion.  
 
•    We are committed to continuous improvement and offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities.  
 
•    We care about our communities. Our communities are where our customers, people, and shareholders live and work. While we can be proud of the contribution to society Zurich makes through our core business of insurance, we must also give back to our communities through our talent, time and resources. 
 
•    We have won numerous awards for our workplace culture. We are proud to be one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and to have received Insurance Business Canada’s 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.    

 
Make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us. 

About Us

Zurich Canada is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a multi-line insurer with approximately 55,000 employees worldwide serving customers in global and local markets. Zurich Canada has been a leading insurance provider serving mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in the Canadian commercial market for 100 years. With over 650 employees in offices across the country, Zurich offers the global strength of a top insurance provider combined with in-depth knowledge of industries and local markets. Zurich Canada aspires to be risk management professionals’ first choice as their premier partner to help meet the risk challenges of today and tomorrow. Read more at www.zurichcanada.com.