Provides the Department with legal advice and direction for managing complex and sensitive matters related to employment and labour matters. Oversees investigations of employee/employer misconduct and recommends and assists in the implementation of appropriate courses of action. Interprets, implements and maintains working knowledge of current local and international labour legislative provisions and advises and makes recommendations to employers, unions and individual employees on employment policies, grievance procedures, labour relations, government policy and related matters to maximize cooperation and to establish sound, progressive industrial and employment practices in the workplace. Continued monitoring of employment trends and developments and provides reports, updates, guidance and training to direct reports. Assists the Director with representation of the Department's interests in claims and proceedings involving, but not limited to complaints, compensation and benefits issues, discrimination issues and worker's compensation claims. Provides strategic legal and policy guidance and recommendations for legislative reform to the Director regarding employment and labour matters including assistance with preparation with any matters proceeding to court. Manages and directs the overall activities of the Labour Relations Officers and Labour Inspectors by developing goals, objectives, policies, procedures and action plans. Communicates all policies, procedures and relevant legislation with all staff to ensure that standards of service are understood and met. Communicates with staff and encourages input regarding improvements to policies, procedures and legislation. May include planning, coordinating and leading weekly team meetings to discuss services, program objectives, evaluation of services and special cases. Attends the meetings of the Labour Advisory Council and collaborates and consults on developing and recommending the implementation of approved policy. Arranging meetings, seminars and workshops and keeping records of decisions reached at meetings. Oversees the provision of conciliation and mediation services by the Labour Relations Officers to employers and unions towards satisfactory settlement of disputes and grievances in keeping with terms and conditions of relevant collective agreements and towards avoidance of confrontation. Oversees the inspection and enforcement by the Labour Inspectors of the minimum hourly wage towards compliance with the relevant legislation by employers. Oversees the provision of advice, counsel, investigation, mediation and conciliation between individual employees and employers under the terms of the Employment Act 2000, Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 2021, Employment (Minimum Hourly Wage Entitlement) Act 2022 and the Employment (Minimum Hourly Wage) Order 2023 in respect of issues of dismissal, redundancy, leave, minimum wage, and other areas of employment affecting members of the workforce not covered by a collective agreement. Undertakes fact finding exercises in connection with unresolved negotiations and grievances and makes appropriate recommendations for their resolution. Mediates or conciliates disputes at the request of union or employers as a means of assisting the parties to reach settlement. Advises and consults with the Director and the Permanent Secretary responsible for employment and labour matters. Ensures all cases are properly vetted, all necessary avenues have been considered, and all attempts made to properly and effectively investigate, conciliate and mediate a case prior to referral to the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal.