City of Red Deer - Human Resources Executive

Summary

As a vital member of the leadership team, the Human Resources Executive plays a crucial role in supporting the development and implementation of City-wide HR strategies aligned with the organization's strategic direction. Reporting to the General Manager of Corporate and Employee Services, the Human Resources Executive is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and management of all Human Resources functions. These functions include recruitment and retention, labour and employee relations, succession planning, employee development and learning, compensation and benefits, payroll, and occupational health, safety, security, and wellness.

Job Description

Reports to: General Manager, Corporate and Employee Services

Direct Reports: 4; HR Team Leader – Total Compensation; HR Team Leader – Talent and Consulting Services; HR Team Leader – Wellness, Safety and Security; Senior Administrative Assistant – HR

Location: Red Deer, Alberta.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of human resource and related policies and programs for the organization.
• Monitor strategic direction, external trends and legislation and determine where The City of Red Deer must introduce new or changed policies to respond to changed requirements or emerging trends.
• Align departmental priorities with the organization's Strategic Plan, making informed decisions on the prioritization of initiatives.
• Support collective bargaining processes by liaising with bargaining teams, senior leadership and Counsel for wage mandates and other collective bargaining processes.
• Formulate goals, objectives, strategies, and success metrics for the department, and report progress to the City Manager, Corporate Leadership Team, Council, and other stakeholders.
• Provide leadership and direction to the Human Resources team, ensuring effective deployment of resources to deliver comprehensive HR services across the organization. Ensure the department is structured and staffed appropriately to meet its goals.
• Foster a supportive environment for HR team members, enabling them to realize their potential and contribute to the City's mandate.
• Establish program direction and priorities based on a thorough assessment and interpretation of organizational needs and values, ensuring initiatives have a wide-reaching impact.
• Develop and uphold departmental policies and priorities to guide HR operations and align with organizational objectives.
• Establish objectives and associated costs within the annual business plan and budget to ensure financial alignment with organizational goals.
• Provide input to the hiring, evaluation, coaching and mentoring of senior City staff to maintain a high-performing leadership team.
• Identify opportunities to enhance service offerings and delivery, deciding on the appropriate balance between in-house and contracted resources.
• Lead the development and implementation of strategies that enhance employee safety and well-being, aligning with the corporate strategic direction.
• Foster a motivating and supportive work environment to retain employees, focusing on succession planning, staff development and training, and implementing effective compensation, benefits, and reward and recognition programs.
• Oversee the development and management of a performance review process that accurately reflects the competencies and attributes necessary for success.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of comprehensive compensation and benefits programs to ensure competitive and equitable offerings for all employees.
• Develop, recommend, and control the Departmental budget.
• Provide counsel to the General Manager of Corporate and Employee Services, City Manager, members of the Leadership Team and, from time to time, the Mayor and Council, on human resource issues.
• Act as City spokesperson on human resource issues, including announcements of changes to salaries or collective agreements, and other human resource issues.
• Engage in and support the City’s Health and Safety program by participating in training, inspections, and emergency drills, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations. As a supervisor, promote and enforce safety initiatives through leadership and participation in developing an effective Occupational Health and Safety management system.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a credible business partner who can build and retain a strong professional team to support the organization with substantial change. In addition, the candidate will have the following:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related discipline.
• CPHR certification preferred.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in progressively responsible Human Resources management functions within a unionized environment, preferably within the public sector.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in leading human resource initiatives and fostering strong stakeholder relationships.
• Comprehensive knowledge of labour relations, talent management, leadership development, organizational design and workforce planning.
• Working knowledge of all related legislation, including the Employment Standards Code, Labour Relations Code, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Occupational Health and Safety Code and Alberta Human Rights Regulations.
• An early adopter of process enhancements and demonstrated agility in service design, delivery and development of programs.
• An autonomous, self-starter with the ability to manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment to meet deadlines.
• Knows and understands legislative and regulatory processes and has an intuitive ability to understand political implications of recommendations and actions.