Director HR in Oakville

Reporting to the Vice President, Human Resources, the Director, Human Resources – Canada leads the national delivery of core HR programs and people operations across a multi-site, multi-province organization. Leading a regional team of HR Managers, this role acts as the national anchor for complex employee relations, legal compliance, compensation and benefits, workforce planning, and M&A integration. This role is built for a grounded, technically deep HR leader who thrives in a collaborative, mid-to-large corporate environment, balances sound risk management with operational realities, and takes genuine pride in team coaching and functional execution.

Key Accountabilities

• HR Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead, mentor, and coach a team of three Regional HR Managers supporting branch operations across Canada;
  • Foster high team cohesion, accountability, and operational consistency across provinces while respecting regional nuances;
  • Act as a trusted sounding board and escalation partner for regional team members facing high-stakes operational issues;
  • Drive a collaborative, service-oriented culture that partners seamlessly with field operations.
• Employee Relations, Employment Law & Compliance
  • Serve as the national subject-matter expert on complex employee relations, workplace investigations, human rights matters, and accommodations across Canadian jurisdictions;
  • Provide pragmatic, legally sound guidance to senior leaders and regional teams on disciplinary actions, performance management, and separations;
  • Assess workforce issues through a clear risk-and-probability lens, balancing statutory obligations with business goals;
  • Standardize workplace practices and documentation to mitigate organizational liability across growing branch operations.
• M&A Integration & Change Management
  • Direct the HR integration workstreams for newly acquired businesses across Canada;
  • Partner closely with operational leaders to align workforce structures, cultural transitions, and people processes;
  • Lead the harmonization and rollout of national HR policies, compensation bands, benefits programs, and onboarding for acquired teams;
  • Monitor integration milestones, proactively mitigating friction to ensure a stable and positive employee experience throughout transitions.
• Compensation, Benefits & Workforce Planning
  • Direct annual compensation reviews, salary band administration, and market benchmarking;
  • Oversee national benefits programs and vendor relationships, evaluating plan performance and cost effectiveness;
  • Collaborate with executive and operational leadership on workforce planning, headcount budgeting, and structural design;
  • Prepare data-grounded business cases and executive recommendations regarding organizational investments and restructuring.
• HR Operations & Continuous Improvement
  • Leverage workforce analytics, retention metrics, and turnover trends to inform people strategies;
  • Partner collaboratively with Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Health & Safety, and Training teams to streamline operational workflows;
  • Continuously evaluate and modernize HR service delivery to reduce administrative drag across field operations.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, or a related field;
• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including multi-site or national operational support in Canada;
• 3+ years in a people-leadership capacity directly managing HR Business Partners or HR Managers;
• Deep technical mastery of Canadian employment standards, human rights legislation, and employee relations practices across multiple provinces (Ontario, Quebec, and Western Canada);
• Demonstrated hands-on experience leading HR integration activities for mergers and acquisitions;
• CHRL, CPHR, or equivalent professional designation is strongly preferred.

Key Behavioural Competencies

• Capable of balancing statutory compliance with commercial reality, evaluating issues on probability and business impact.
• Approaches operational leaders as a true problem-solving partner rather than a rigid policy gatekeeper.
• Results-driven and self-directed, with a strong focus on functional delivery, cross-regional impact, and high-quality operational support.
• Demonstrated operational ownership, thriving in hands-on execution and team enablement.
• Open to feedback, curious about differing perspectives, and receptive to evolving approaches.
• Able to model composure, manage high workloads sustainably, and maintain clear perspective during demanding integration periods.

Performance Indicators (What Success Looks Like)

• HR practices, policies, and employee relations workflows operate consistently across all three Canadian regions.
• Acquired businesses integrate on schedule with clear HR roadmaps, minimal voluntary turnover, and stable operational continuity.
• Complex workplace matters are investigated thoroughly, documented cleanly, and resolved in compliance with provincial standards.
• Regional HR Managers demonstrate increased autonomy, sound judgment, and strong operational relationships within their territories.

Compensation Range: $145,000 – $165,000, commensurate with experience.