Associate Vice President, Human Resources

For 40 years, Redeemer University has stood out across Canada for its commitment to a Christian undergraduate liberal arts and sciences education that develops the whole person.  Rooted in a Reformed Biblical worldview, and including a diverse community representing over 50 Christian denominations, Redeemer seeks to answer the fundamental questions about where we fit into God’s story while it prepares students to engage in society’s biggest challenges.  A rigorous academic program with an interdisciplinary core is supported by a vibrant community characterized by caring discipleship.  The result is an enriching and transformational educational experience integrating faith, learning and service.  

 

 

Redeemer offers 34 majors and streams that lead to either a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Kinesiology or Bachelor of Business Administration degree.  Redeemer currently serves nearly 1,100 students and its faculty are engaged in teaching, service to the community, and research, some of which is supported in part by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and other funding agencies and donors.  

 

 

A privately funded and publicly chartered institution, Redeemer offers excellent Christ-centred undergraduate teaching, strong investments in research, rich student-faculty interaction, and unique opportunities for experiential and holistic learning.  As a member of Universities Canada, Redeemer produces graduates who are accepted into graduate programs across the continent and beyond.  In recent national surveys, Redeemer students have ranked the school as one of the top universities in Canada for overall student satisfaction, especially for providing a nurturing and challenging academic environment along with its warm on-campus community.  

 

 

Located on a beautiful 86-acre campus in Hamilton, Ontario, Redeemer operates under a charter from the Government of Ontario and is a member of Universities Canada (UC), the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and the Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC).

 

 

The Position:

 

Reporting to the Vice-President, Administration & Finance, the Associate Vice-President, Human Resources (“AVP, HR”) is a member of Redeemer’s President’s Council and leads the HR function,  helping to shape the institution by developing HR strategies and programs that will develop and enhance organizational culture and employee engagement.   The AVP, HR leads key people and culture initiatives in Redeemer’s Strategic Plan, oversees payroll and benefits, and manages the day-to-day operational HR needs of the university. This includes talent acquisition, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, professional/skills development, leadership coaching, employee engagement, governance and development of HR policies and procedures, organizational structure and job design, job evaluation, governance and interpretation of employment legislation and employment standards, Employee Wellness and Mental Health, Health and Safety, HR metrics and analysis, and retention,  terminations and offboarding.  The AVP, HR also provides support to faculty recruitment, orientation, and retention. 

 

 

Brief Description of day-to-day responsibilities:

 

 

Talent Acquisition and Onboarding - 

 

 

• Manage recruitment strategies to enable the University to attract qualified employees that align with the mission and Christian identity of the University

   

  Oversee new employee orientation programs

   

 

Governance and Policies and Procedures - 

 

 

• Review and update a variety of HR policies and procedures

   

  Provide advice and recommendations to senior university administrators

   

 

Performance Appraisal Process and Performance Management - 

 

 

• Maintain an effective performance appraisal process that aligns with the University’s people strategy and creates a positive and productive means of evaluating performance, developing talent, and rewards and recognizes employees for their contributions  

   

  Conduct periodic reviews of the process and evaluation tools to determine their continued effectiveness 

   

  Provide advice to, and consults with supervisors regarding employee performance issues

   

 

Job Evaluation/Job Design/Org Design - 

 

 

• Provide advice and guidance to department/division heads on the effectiveness of organizational/department structures.  

   

  Assist supervisors with the development of Job Information Statements (job descriptions)

   

  Provide leadership as the Chair of the Administrative Status Committee and advises on improvements to strengthen the job evaluation process

   

  Formulate and present job evaluation recommendations and decisions to managers

   

 

Networking & Relationship Management - 

 

 

• Engage in on-going contact and discussion with colleagues and peers from other organizations, professional associations, and post-secondary institutions regarding the sharing of information and best practices

   

  Build strong, trusting relationships with managers and employees across the institution, maintaining open lines of communication and an open door for employee feedback and recommendations

   

  Provide advice, guidance, coaching, interpretation, and assistance to employees on a range of employee relations issues including, application of University policies and procedures, grievance resolution, negotiation, mediation, job satisfaction, labour and employment standards, professional development, health and wellness, Job Information Statements, and exit interview follow-up

   

 

Payroll & Benefits - 

 

 

• Ensure that all employee compensation systems and programs support the University’s mission, goals and strategic objectives

   

• Oversee compliance with all statutory regulations and requirements

   

  Monitor drivers of turnover and develop proactive risk mitigation recommendations and strategies

   

  Responsible for the planning and analysis of regular market surveys.   
   

   

Leadership - 

 

• Provide strategic leadership and consulting support to University leaders around policy development, regulatory compliance and resource allocation to ensure strategic goals and operational requirements of the University are met 

   

  Collaborate with senior administrators (President’s Council) to understand long-term HR institutional objectives and implement programs needed to support these initiatives

   

  Consult with department/division leaders, cultivating relationships institutionally to gain better insight into HR needs, and create an environment for positive employee relations

   

  Champion initiatives that empower staff and build leadership capacity, and execute best human resource practices that inspire a culture committed to continuous improvement and service excellence

   

 

Other - 

 

 

• Prepare regular reports for employees and the Board of Governors

   

  Maintain modern, progressive human resource management and employee development tools and techniques that support the growth of the University and its employees

   

  Promote and contribute to developing a healthier organizational culture through supporting Redeemer’s Respectful Campus initiatives (i.e., via promoting equitable programs and services).

   

  Identify opportunities to advance employee health and wellness support

   

  Prepare HR analytics and metrics around recruitment and retention, turnover, performance, employee recognition, demographics, etc.

   

  Prepare and implement operating budgets, systems, and procedures for the HR Department and participates in the overall institutional decision making as a senior leader in the institution

   

 

Preferred Skills and Attributes:

 

• Minimum of seven years of progressive HR work experience in a small to medium size workplace. This job requires a person who has successfully led HR in a multi-stakeholder environment, and has the ability to foster a successful and progressive people culture 

   

  Member of the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)/the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPA)

   

  Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills required

   

  Must be change-oriented and possess an attitude of continuous improvement

   

  Experience in the education sector is an asset

   

 

Other Requirements:

 

• Understanding of Redeemer University  (mission, values, and Reformed Christian identity) 

   

 

Education/Training:

 

• A Bachelor's degree plus a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation or equivalent is a minimum requirement 

   

 

Position Reports to: Vice-President, Administration & Finance 

 

Submit Applications to: HR@redeemer.ca (please quote Position Title in Subject line)

 

Expiry Date:  March 3, 2023  Candidates are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

 

 

Please note:  Applicants are requested to email their application materials (cover letter, resume, and statement of faith) in one combined pdf document.  The statement of faith should articulate your faith perspective and its relation to the mission of Redeemer University. A range of qualifications will be evaluated including distinguishing characteristics that demonstrate congruence with Redeemer’s identity as a university in the Protestant and Reformed Christian tradition. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.