Assistant Human Resources Manager / HR Business Partner – Destination Auto Group

Destination Auto Group; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Destination Auto Group is seeking an experienced Assistant Human Resources Manager in Burnaby to lead day-to-day employee matters, build trusted relationships across our multi‑location dealerships, and support the HR Manager with strategic coverage. The role blends senior HR generalist responsibilities with leadership and business partnership.

You’ll guide managers through performance concerns, support investigations, and help manage leaves, accommodations, and return‑to‑work planning while

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive HR generalist or HRBP experience.
• Broad experience in employee relations, performance management, recruitment, disability management, policy and compliance.
• Strong knowledge of BC employment standards, human rights, privacy, OH&S, and accommodation requirements.
• Experience supporting progressive discipline, workplace investigations, leaves, and return‑to‑work planning.
• Ability to research unfamiliar issues, assess risk, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization, prioritization, judgment, discretion, and diplomacy.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical HR guidance on employee relations, attendance, performance, conduct, leaves, accommodation, compensation, policy, and compliance.
• Coach managers through performance concerns and difficult conversations.
• Support workplace complaints, investigations, respectful workplace matters, and other sensitive issues.
• Manage routine-to-moderately complex HR matters and escalate when needed.
• Provide HR coverage when the HR Manager is unavailable.
• Support unionized employee matters and collective agreement interpretation.
• Manage leaves, accommodations, WorkSafeBC claims, and return‑to‑work planning.
• Provide backup support for recruitment, group benefits, and disability administration.
• Assist with compensation reviews and HR reporting on turnover, headcount, tenure, leaves, and vacancies.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR policies, processes, systems, templates, and manager resources.

Skills

HR Generalist experience

Employee relations

Performance management

Recruitment

Disability management

Policy & compliance

HRIS / HR software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

Payworks

Breezy HR

Microsoft 365

Job description

Recognized as the 2019 and 2022 Canadian Automotive Dealers Association (CADA) Laureate Award Winner for Business Innovation and one of Canada’s Best Employers for Recent Graduates for 2024, Destination Auto Group is looking for an experienced Assistant Human Resources Manager to join our team.

This is a senior, hands‑on role for an HR professional who can confidently manage day‑to‑day employee matters, build trusted relationships across our dealerships, and provide effective support and coverage to the Human Resources Manager. The position combines the broad operational responsibilities of a Senior HR Generalist with the judgment, initiative, leadership, and business partnership expected of an Assistant HR Manager.

We are looking for someone who is curious, resourceful, practical, and comfortable taking ownership. You do not need to know every answer immediately, but you know how to find it. You gather the facts, consult the appropriate legislation, policies, collective agreements, documentation, and past practices, assess risk, and bring forward thoughtful recommendations.

What we can provide you:

• A broad senior HR role with exposure to employee relations, labour relations, health and safety, disability management, recruitment, compensation, engagement, and organizational development.
• Competitive compensation and a group health benefits program.
• A friendly, respectful, and collaborative HR team.
• A fast‑paced and evolving environment where your ideas and contributions can make a meaningful impact.
• A workplace that recognizes its people are central to its success.

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide practical HR guidance on employee relations, attendance, performance, workplace conduct, leaves, accommodation, compensation, policy, and compliance.
• Coach managers through performance concerns, conflict resolution, progressive discipline, performance improvement plans, and difficult employee conversations.
• Support workplace complaints, investigations, respectful workplace matters, and other sensitive employee relations issues.
• Independently manage routine and moderately complex HR matters, recognizing when legal, financial, safety, labour relations, or reputational risk requires escalation.
• Provide effective HR coverage and support when the Human Resources Manager is unavailable.
• Support unionized employee matters, including collective agreement interpretation, grievances, and research.
• Manage leaves, accommodations, WorkSafeBC claims, and recovery‑at‑work/return-to-work planning, including functional abilities information requests.
• Provide backup support for recruitment, group benefits, and short‑term and long‑term disability administration.
• Support compensation and salary reviews and prepare HR reporting related to turnover, headcount, tenure, leaves, vacancies, union status, and workforce trends.
• Prepare employee documentation and identify opportunities to improve HR policies, processes, systems, training, templates, and manager resources.

What we need from you:

Required

• 5 to 7 years of progressive HR generalist, HR business partner, or similar experience.
• Broad experience in employee relations, performance management, recruitment, disability management, workplace accommodation, policy, and compliance.
• Strong working knowledge of British Columbia employment standards, human rights, privacy, occupational health and safety, and accommodation requirements.
• Experience supporting progressive discipline, workplace complaints/investigations, leaves, and return-to-work planning.
• Demonstrated ability to research unfamiliar issues, assess risk, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization, prioritization, judgment, discretion, and diplomacy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and HR, payroll, applicant tracking, and reporting systems.

Strongly Preferred

• Direct WorkSafeBC claims-management and disability/accommodation experience.
• Experience supporting unionized employees and collective agreement administration.
• Experience guiding or supporting other HR team members.
• Experience in automotive retail, multi‑location retail, hospitality, logistics, or another fast‑paced operational environment.
• Experience with Payworks, Canada Life Group Administration, Breezy HR, or comparable systems.

The Person We’re Looking For

You are an approachable and trusted person who combines emotional intelligence with sound judgment and practical problem-solving. You take ownership, ask thoughtful questions, research what you do not know, and keep matters moving forward.

You know when to act independently, when to seek approval, and when an issue requires immediate escalation. You are comfortable respectfully challenging a manager when necessary, sharing knowledge with the HR team, and stepping in wherever support is needed.

Just as importantly, you look beyond the immediate issue. You recognize patterns, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and look for better ways to support our employees, managers, and business.

Destination Auto Group is committed to employment equity and to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, identities and abilities. Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please feel free to reach out to us.