Associate Director, Human Resources

Associate Director, Human Resources

 Position: Associate Director, Human Resources

Location: London, Ontario

Position Type: Full-time, temporary contract of 14 months with a target start date of June 2025

Hiring Range: $85,309 - $106,636. 

Application Deadline: April 2nd, 2025, at 11:59PM.

About Ivey Business School:

Ivey Business School acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lunaapéewak, and Attawandaron peoples, where Western University and Ivey Business School are located. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples, whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of the community.

Ivey Business School (www.ivey.ca) at Western University (www.uwo.ca) is Canada’s leading provider of real-world, case-based business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey’s faculty provides the best classroom experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to confidently take on today’s leadership challenges and opportunities through Case-Method Learning. Ivey offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as Executive Education at campuses in London, Toronto, and Hong Kong. At Ivey Business School, the Human Resources Department is dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and growth. We are committed to redefining the employee experience, embracing a forward-thinking approach that transforms how we support and develop our talented community of staff and faculty.

Our team goes beyond traditional HR functions, providing innovative solutions and strategic partnerships to drive business outcomes. We cultivate a work environment that empowers employees to thrive, innovate, and make a meaningful impact. By leveraging data-driven insights and best practices, we ensure our policies, programs, and services align with the evolving needs of our employees and the school's strategic objectives.

Through collaborative relationships with academic and administrative units, we facilitate a culture of collaboration, diversity, and inclusion. Our goal is to position Ivey as an employer of choice, attracting and retaining top talent who share our passion for excellence and our commitment to shaping the future of business education.

Position Overview:

The Associate Director, Human Resources is an accomplished Human Resources (HR) operational leader whose depth of knowledge, proficiency, and dedication propel the daily HR operations in alignment with Ivey's overarching vision and objectives. 

Thriving within a dynamic and motivated setting, they collaborate closely with the Director of Human Resources to guide and bolster a team responsible for retention and engagement, compensation and benefits, employee/labour relations, and health & safety. Serving as a reliable advisor to leaders and staff throughout the organization, they excel at fostering genuine connections with employees, continually seeking avenues to enhance satisfaction and retention by advocating for adjustments in policies, procedures, and practices that directly impact the work environment and employee engagement. They prioritize diversity and inclusion, actively contributing to the advancement of institutional equity goals.

Responsibilities:

1. Planning and Execution of HR strategies 

• Elicit feedback on HR programs and offerings through staff focus groups, pulse surveys, meetings, etc.; seek consensus on new HR initiatives through group meetings with department leaders and the management committee.
• Lead the execution of the performance management strategy in alignment with the strategic goals and values of the school.
• Work closely with both the Director of HR, Ivey Academy, and Western HR to support the development of our leaders and staff.
• Work closely with the Director, Culture & Inclusion on supporting and executing initiatives associated with equity, diversity, and inclusion for staff.
• Lead the engagement strategy for Ivey including working closely with Western HR to understand the timing and outputs from the annual engagement strategy and work closely with the internal HR team to execute on the multi-stepped implementation plan.

2. Leadership of HR functions 

• Develop, coach, train, and mentor human resources professionals to deliver a high level of excellence and Human Resources best practices.
• Provide guidance on escalated situations.
• Ensure a high level of service and quality in the delivery of HR products and services to the organization. 

3. Talent Acquisition and Talent Management 

• Consult on and determine/approve offers of employment, including appropriate salary levels and latitude of negotiations for contracts for contract offers within the context of Ivey. 
• Oversee the development, creation, and implementation of employment branding and recruitment strategies aligned with the strategic priorities of the school, in collaboration with the Talent Acquisition Manager. 
• Lead Talent Management initiatives and support coming from individual and team needs including performance management, succession planning, development planning, leadership and management development and employee development.
• Provide counsel to leaders on talent retention and development, encouraging and supporting employee development through formal training and promotional opportunities within the organization.

4. Advisor to Leadership on HR Related Matters 

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with leaders and staff to understand their business requirements to effectively assist them with their human resources needs.
• Promote practices and policies contributing to an environment which supports and rewards employees and generates a high-performance culture aligned with Ivey’s strategic goals and values.  
• Support leaders/staff by consulting and advising on employee relations matters and complaints, interpreting and applying applicable provincial legislation, internal policies, best practices, and Ivey’s values.
• Manage Occupational Health and Safety for the Ivey Foundation in partnership with the Facilities leadership team at Ivey.
• Spearhead workforce planning initiatives and strategy with leaders across the school ensuring we have the right talent and performance strategy now and for the future of the school.

Qualifications: 

Education & Experience

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Development, Business; ideally combined with or working towards a Human Resources designation.

• Minimum 7 years of progressive human resources management experience as a generalist in a knowledge industry.

Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge and application of the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Legislation, employment law, Occupational Health and Safety Act, relevant Employment Equity law.   
• Excellent oral and written communications skills. 
• Thorough knowledge of HR best practices, trends and developments for professional staff.   
• Specialized knowledge and a high level of judgement and decision making is required in staffing and recruitment, job evaluation, pay and benefit administration, labour relations, dispute resolution, and negotiation techniques.
• Experience with recruitment and selection, Leadership and employee development, performance management programs, succession planning and best practices. 
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and work collaboratively with leaders and staff in a high-performing environment.
• Effective interpersonal skills along with proven ability to exercise sound judgment, tact and discretion; coach employees and leaders through difficult situations, influence others in a positive manner, successfully promote sound human resources management programs and practices.
• Effective leadership ability to oversee staff and a strong commitment to providing quality service in a high performing environment. 
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strick adherence to confidentiality and professionalism when dealing with difficult and sensitive situations.
• Planning and project management experience, including the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• A strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience working in organizational environments with highly educated professional staff as well as with unionized staff; working knowledge of the application of collective agreements, grievance and arbitration procedures.
• Innovative thinker and problem solver; the ability to see how all the pieces fit together and contribute to the achievement of broader institutional objectives. 
• An open, inviting and approachable personality that allows the opportunity to build meaningful, trusting relationships.

What We Offer:

• A bright, inclusive, and modern eco-friendly working environment
• Flexible or hybrid work plans for many roles
• A collaborative and engaging work culture
• Opportunity to join a community of people-focused professionals
• Market competitive compensation 
• Benefits package with employer-paid premiums and no waiting period
• Enhanced mental health benefits coverage and resources
• 15 days per year vacation plus 2 paid Ivey Personal Days
• Paid time off during the School’s December holiday closure
• Numerous campus-wide arts, culture, and sport events
• Employee Assistance Program with family coverage

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Ivey

Ivey Business School is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Please explore Ivey’s EDI homepage for more information on Ivey's commitment to EDI, to read about Ivey’s progress in the EDI Update, and to meet Ivey’s EDI Advisory Council members.

Ivey Business School invites applications from all qualified individuals. Ivey is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace, and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodation
Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Please contact us at careers@ivey.ca to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application, and/or throughout the recruitment process.

Application:

If you're excited about joining Canada's leading business school and meet the qualifications, please submit your resume and cover letter via the Ivey Careers page by the application deadline.

*Please note only selected candidates will be contacted.

Learn more and apply