Director of People and Culture

With over a hundred years of service and with an ever-changing environment the Durham Children’s Aid Society is a significant, regionally focused child welfare organization serving the needs of Durham Region.  It is a not-for-profit agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and funded by the Province of Ontario through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

Our legal mandate is to protect children from abuse and neglect. On an annual basis we help thousands of families and children.  Our Vision is to ensure that families receive the support and resources needed to thrive in their culture and communities. Our Mission is to work collaboratively with families, community members and service providers to overcome barriers to safe and healthy development of children and youth.

We actively work to recognize, challenge and dismantle systemic oppression and inequality against racialized and historically marginalized populations including the circumstances and needs of Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ communities, individuals with varying visible and invisible abilities and those facing the hardships of poverty.

In 2021 the organization completed a strategic planning process. The resulting strategic plan identified priorities and directions that will guide the organization in delivering high quality services in response to evolving community needs. Key resulting themes include supporting families to care for their children and youth within their cultures and communities, collaborating with diverse organizations, communities and agencies to build comprehensive networks and effective systems for families and ensuring that staff, volunteers and caregivers reflect our diverse communities. Our people are a key part of our vision, mission and our new strategic plan. As our new Director of People and Culture you will be an integral part of our continued evolution.

Inspire our Future

As a key member of our Leadership Team, you are an inspiring human resources (HR) leader who is committed to the vision and values of our organization. You have a unique ability to build collaborative relationships and engage our staff in support of our vision and strategic directions.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of People and Culture will be responsible for providing strategic leadership to the HR  functions and will guide our organization through proactive and innovative programs. These programs will align HR with the strategic needs of the organization. While your role is strategic in nature, you will avail yourself to our management, staff and board to provide HR leadership, expertise and advice.

In summary you will be accountable for all of the HR operations including planning, organizational design, labour relations, talent management, employee training and development, compensation and benefits, HR information systems, well-being, disability management programs, occupational health and safety and working collaboratively in relation to Anti-Oppressive Practice, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Ideal Professional Qualifications

• Management: Progressively responsible HR management experience, with significant experience in a unionized work setting. Human Resources Leadership: Significant experience leading a range of HR disciplines, as noted above Critical Thinking: Demonstrated superior advisory and consulting experience to educate and guide leaders and to recommend innovative, progressive and viable solutions to organizational issues related to human resources. People Leadership: Experience and ability to provide exceptional leadership to staff and to build enthusiastic, high performing staff teams. Employee/Labour Relations: Extensive practical staff relations knowledge and skills including negotiations; grievance handling; arbitration, performance management; in-depth applied knowledge of the implementation, interpretation and application of collective agreements. Talent Development Strategies: Extensive experience in talent development strategies in the areas of recruitment, employee coaching, leadership, training and development and succession planning. Service Excellence: Demonstrated ability to provide customer service excellence across the organization through effective delivery of innovative programs and services in time-sensitive and changing environments. Relationship Management: Effective human relations skills in dealing with executives, managers, staff and other stakeholders. HR Legislation: A broad knowledge of legislation relative to the Human Resource fields including the Employment Standards Act & Regulations, Ontario Human Rights Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations, labour relations and pay equity legislation. HR Modernization: A well-developed knowledge of and experience with a broad range of HR modernization methods, tools and technology to better serve the enterprise. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Strong organizational, analytical, communications and presentation skills. Education and Designations: Post-secondary education in Human Resources Management coupled with CHRL designation and extensive experience in a senior management role within a unionized environment. CHRE designation and/or Masters Degree would be considered an asset.

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity please apply via email by May 2^nd, 2022 or sooner to careers@waterhousesearch.ca quoting project DCAS-DHR. Should you wish to speak to our Executive Recruiter please contact Jon Stungevicius at 416-214-9299 x1, jon@waterhousesearch.com or Amy Oliveira at 416-214-9299 x4, amyoliveira@waterhousesearch.com.

The Durham Children’s Aid Society is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free selection process. If contacted regarding this competition, please advise the interview coordinator of accommodation measures you may require during our selection process. Information received relating to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.

We thank all applicants for their interest and wish to advise that only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Durham Children’s Aid Society hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. In support of a diverse and inclusive professional work environment, The Durham Children’s Aid Society welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and specifically those from under represented communities.