Contract, HR Advisor

Covenant House Vancouver; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 59,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization supporting youth in Vancouver is seeking an HR Advisor. In this meaningful role, you will provide guidance on employee relations, manage benefits, and lead onboarding initiatives. The ideal candidate has a degree in Human Resources and at least three years of relevant experience. A commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential. Competitive salary and benefits are offered, alongside opportunities for training and career growth.

Benefits

Extended health and dental benefits

Generous counselling benefits

Career advancement opportunities

Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Human Resources or equivalent.
• 3 years of HR experience in progressively responsible roles.
• Strong understanding of employment legislation.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to employees and managers on HR policies.
• Coach supervisors on performance management.
• Lead onboarding and offboarding activities.

Skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Coaching experience

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Confidentiality

Education

Degree/Diploma in Human Resources or equivalent

3 years of HR experience

Tools

HRIS

Job description

As we serve vulnerable youth, all employees working for Covenant House Vancouver must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required prior to your start date.

Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has provided relentless support for youth experiencing, or at‑risk of experiencing, homelessness. We provide support to young people age 16 to 24 who have experienced a wide range of early life and ongoing, complex trauma; including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Our purpose is to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all youth in need.

Working at Covenant House will be one of the most meaningful things that you’ll do in your life. However, you will be confronted with significant issues in this work and frankly, this work is not for everyone. In the course of doing your work, particularly for those doing frontline work, you will be exposed to the trauma of others. The youth we serve may also experience overdose, physical harm perpetuated by self or others and even death. Because we provide a relational model of care, the harms our youth experience can impact us in varying degrees.

While we provide training for youth workers on avoiding what we call vicarious trauma (namely, the trauma you can experience or take on by hearing other’s traumatic stories), and a generous allowance for counselling, it is still difficult work that can and does take its toll on many employees. Self‑awareness and self‑care are key. Some candidates and employees decide during the recruiting and probationary periods that this work isn’t for them, and that is totally fair.

We will provide more information on vicarious trauma during recruiting and on‑boarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.

The Impact the HR Advisor can make:

As an HR Advisor, you will play a key role in the people and culture team, providing expert guidance and support to employees, supervisors and managers on employee relations and talent management. You will play a key role in administering and driving benefit initiatives that enhance the employee experience, including extended benefit and pension programs. Working closely with leaders and staff, you will help deliver people and culture strategies that foster engaged, values‑driven and high performing workplace.

How you will contribute:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Employee Relations:

• Provide support and guidance to employees, supervisors and managers on CHV policies, procedures, including policy interpretation and employment legislation.
• Coach supervisors and managers in attendance and performance management.
• Provide coachingtomanagers for employee relations issues; conducting investigations and administrating progressive discipline.
• Answer manager and employee questions on P&C policies and practices and provide policy interpretation and guidance as required.

Talent Management:

• Coach leaders in performance management, including identifying and developing top talent, annual performance review process, career development and succession planning
• Coach managers through theprobationary and annual performance review process by training managers and employees on using the online system.
• Act as primary point of contact for benefit‑related inquiries and liaise with providers to resolve issues.
• Administer employee benefit programs, including health, dental, RPP, and wellness initiatives.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding benefit converge, eligibility, claims etc.
• Coordinate annual benefit enrollment for wellness enrollment and re‑enrollment period.
• Process benefit enrollment, benefit changes, and other status changes.
• Proactively review current benefit offerings and work with P&C members to recommend enhancements or cost‑saving adjustments based on employee needs and market trends.
• Partner with payroll to complete monthly benefit reconciliation.

Onboarding & Offboarding:

• Lead onboarding activities for all new hires, including coordination of new hire check‑ins
• Support leaders in onboarding activities for their team members to ensure each new hire has a positive onboarding experience.
• Analyze and report on themes from new hire check‑ins and recommend changes to continuously improve the onboarding experience for new hires.
• Conduct exit interviews and stay interviews, reporting regularly on themes and trends to identify areas of improvement for departments

Data and analytics:

• Use HR metrics, including data from onboarding check‑ins and exit interviews, to inform decision making and measure impact of HR initiatives

Other:

• Provide coverage for other HR Advisor as needed
• Provide recruitment support as needed
• Facilitate P&C related training sessions
• Other duties as assigned

This position is offered as a fixed‑term contract for a duration of 1 year from the date of signing.

This position has the opportunity to work a 9‑day fortnight schedule most months of the year, where you’ll work longer days for 9 days and earn every other Friday off.

Who are we looking for?

Education and Experience:

• Degree/Diploma Human Resources or equivalent education and experience
• 3 years of HR experience in progressively more responsible roles
• Strong understanding and knowledge of employment legislation
• CPHR designation (or working towards designation) is an asset
• Knowledge of HR best practices and principles
• Strong analytical, attention to detail and problem solving skills
• Confidentiality and integrity
• Interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Coaching and consultation experience
• Knowledge of employee legislation
• Skilled in using HRIS
• A positive, solution‑based attitude and customer focused approach
• Self‑motivated individual who works well in both teams and individually
• Commitment to continuous learning and development

Compensation

The successful candidate can expect a starting annual salary of between $59,914.40and $74,893.00 depending on factors such as internal equity, experience, competencies, and education. Once hired, the hourly rates are reviewed annually following the annual performance review and successful employees have the opportunity for their hourly rate to increase, over time, up to the maximum of the pay band, currently $89,871.60.

Total Rewards

Beginning immediately, this position has extended health and dental benefits for you, your spouse, and your children, including generous counselling benefits.

We were recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers in 2024!

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Covenant House Vancouver is a secular organization that welcomes and serves young people from all backgrounds. While the international federation to which we belong was founded in the 1970s by members of the Catholic Church, we are not aligned with any specific faith traditions.

CHV is committed to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:

• Persons from groups marginalized due to race, ancestry, colour, religion/spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
• Persons with visible (physical) and/or invisible (mental) disabilities;
• Persons who identify as women;
• Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; and

We recognize that many of these identities intersect and that therefore, diversity, equity, and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions that each person brings and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all at Covenant House Vancouver.

We love what we do and try to make a difference every day. Covenant House Vancouver offers a competitive salary with a great benefits package and excellent opportunity for training and career advancement. If you are looking to join a place where we have a purpose and aim to achieve positive outcomes, please join us by applying.

If our recruitment process does not work for you, let us know. Let’s see how we can work together to get to know you and see what might be a great fit!