Human Resources Business Partner

Position Summary

The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) –is a strategic and hands-on HR leader responsible for supporting a designated client group within a unionized, safety-sensitive manufacturing environment. This role partners closely with plant leadership and supervisors to drive operational performance through disciplined people management, effective labour relations, and proactive workforce risk management.

The HRBP holds direct accountability for WCB claims management, disability and accommodation processes, attendance and sick leave management, labour relations, and leader capability development. The role requires strong shop-floor knowledge and experience and the ability to balance empathy with consistency, compliance, and business needs.

KEY OBJECTIVES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Partnering

• Act as the primary HR advisor to plant, production, and maintenance leadership teams.
• Align people strategies with operational goals including safety, productivity, quality, uptime, and cost control.
• Provide real-time coaching to supervisors and managers on effective people management in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Use operational and workforce data (WCB costs, attendance, overtime, grievances, turnover, training compliance) to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Align people strategies with operational goals including safety, productivity, quality, uptime, and cost control.
• Provide real-time coaching to supervisors and managers on effective people management in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Use operational and workforce data (WCB costs, attendance, overtime, grievances, turnover, training compliance) to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.

Labour Relations – Manufacturing & Maintenance (Unionized)

• Lead and support all labour relations activities within the manufacturing and maintenance workforce.
• Interpret and apply collective agreement provisions related to:
  • Scheduling, overtime, shift premiums, and call-outs
  • Job postings, job classifications, and seniority
  • Discipline, investigations, and terminations
  • Attendance management and sick leave
• Manage grievances from initial response through resolution, including preparation for arbitration where required.
• Support constructive day-to-day relationships with union representatives while protecting operational and business interests.
• Train supervisors and maintenance leads on contract administration and effective unionized people management.

WCB Claims Management & Return to Work

• Own end-to-end WCB claims management for manufacturing and maintenance employees, including:
  • Incident reporting and claim submission
  • Claim adjudication support and appeals
  • Coordination with WCB case managers, healthcare providers, and safety teams
• Lead early and safe return-to-work (RTW) planning aligned with operational capabilities and maintenance tasks.
• Develop and maintain a maintenance- and production-specific modified duties bank.
• Analyze WCB trends (injury type, department, trade, shift) and partner with Safety and Operations to reduce injuries and claim duration.

Disability Management, Sick Leave & Accommodation

• Lead attendance and sick leave management programs within the plant, ensuring fair, consistent, and defensible application.
• Manage short-term and long-term disability cases, including non-occupational and occupational injuries.
• Coordinate and implement workplace accommodations in compliance with human rights legislation, including:
  • Functional abilities review
  • Identification of productive modified work within production or maintenance
  • Monitoring and adjustment of accommodation plans
• Coach supervisors on managing attendance and disability cases with both operational discipline and empathy.

Training & Supervisor Capability Development

• Identify skill gaps and training needs specific to manufacturing and maintenance leadership.
• Design and deliver practical, operations-focused training on:
  • Labour relations and collective agreement application
  • Conducting investigations and issuing discipline
  • Attendance and disability management
  • WCB responsibilities and RTW processes
  • Respectful workplace and performance management
• Ensure training is practical, legally sound, and directly applicable to shop-floor realities.
• Reinforce training through ongoing coaching and case-based learning.

Compliance, Safety & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, labour law, WCB requirements, and occupational health and safety obligations.
• Partner closely with EHS to support injury prevention, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
• Support audits, inspections, and regulatory inquiries related to people management and labour relations.
• Proactively identify people-related risks that could impact safety, uptime, or labour stability.

This is a fully on-site position; hybrid or remote work arrangements are not available.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business or a related discipline required.
• 5+ years’ experience in Human Resources with exposure to a cross-section of HR activity required.
• Experience and proficiency with HRIS or HCM related systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of various Provincial Legislation (Employment Standards, Human Rights, Occupational Health & Safety, WCB, etc.) 
• Experience and proficiency in Microsoft suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Manufacturing or related industry experience preferred.
• Prior experience in a unionized environment, with ability to interpret a CBA is a definite asset.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

• Cornerstone Building Brands (CBB) Values and Behaviors & Mindsets – Act consistently with CBB’s Values (Safety, Integrity, & Inclusion) and Behaviors & Mindsets (Customer-Centricity, Interconnectedness, Continuous Improvement).
• Accountable – Accepts personal responsibility for actions and performance. Demonstrates sound judgment and owns problems and solutions. Holds others accountable to expectations.
• Collaborative – Emotionally intelligent, listens, builds trust, and maintains strong relationships with others.
• Communication – Communicates effectively in both oral and written format and understands varying viewpoints.
• Critical Thinking/ Critical Thinking – Leverages facts and data to draw conclusions. Ability to analyze complex situations and identify solutions to achieve intended objectives.
• Time Management & Organizational Skills – Effectively structures and organizes work and efficiently manages time.
• Results Driven – Makes a positive business impact; Demonstrates self-motivation and executes intended outcomes.

Additional Information

Ply Gem Canada is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. We will accommodate applicants’ needs, upon request, throughout all stages of the recruitment process. Please inform us of the accommodation(s) that you may require. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially

About the Company

Who We Are

One Company. Hundreds of Products. Endless Possibilities. Ply Gem is North America's leading manufacturer of exterior building materials, including windows, siding, stone, and 40 other categories. At Ply Gem, we provide the nation's residential builders, remodelers and architects with access to a comprehensive range of building products. From new construction to repair, remodel and replacement, our full line of building products provide quality and value for all types of projects.

Ply Gem Canada is a growing company in the building products industry backed by Cornerstone Building Brands, providing us with stability and strength in the North American market. Cornerstone Building Brands is the largest manufacturer of vinyl windows in North America with brands you’ve come to know and trust. We have endless building product options from standard to specialty to customized to whatever you’re looking for. But it’s our service capabilities that sets us apart.

At Ply Gem Canada, we strive to produce a continuous stream of market leading products and services. We are creative and seek to recognize, embrace and apply new ideas and commercialize them more quickly than our competitors. We relentlessly seek to raise the bar on our products and services. We establish a reputation for innovation, quality and service that differentiates us from our competitors and enables us to tailor products and services to be the market leader.

Our building solutions are the cornerstone of the communities we serve. We believe every building we create, and every part of that building, positively contributes to communities where people live, work and play.

Why Join Our Team

Our employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact on our success while pursuing a wide range of opportunities to meet your personal aspirations for development and advancement within a stable, growing Canadian industry leader.

What You Can Expect from our Company

• You will be Part of a Winning Team

• You Can Capitalize on Your Opportunities and Make an Impact

• You Will Be Well Rewarded for Your Contributions to our Success

• You’ll work for a growing company with an excellent reputation in our sector for providing great products and customer service

• Competitive and tangible rewards that provide fair compensation relative to expectations and effort including base earnings, benefits for you and your family, and contributions toward your retirement savings

• Competitive vacation time and flexibility in work schedules and location consistent with your role

• Resources and support to help you manage your personal wellness

What the Company Expects of our Team

• Bring yourself fully to work each day

• Playing your role on the team so together we Win as One

• Welcoming and Driving Change to support our continued evolution

• Help drive the success of our Canadian Business through living our universal core values