HR Manager, Architecture

Outhire Inc; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP

Flexible Hours

Job summary

Outhire Inc is seeking a hands-on HR manager to run the people function for a growing multi-office architecture firm, manage office support, and serve as the steady link between staff and partners.

You will own the HR lifecycle from performance reviews and recruitment to onboarding/offboarding, benefits, and policies. The role requires in-office presence in downtown Toronto 2–3 days a week, with a strong emphasis on practical, non-corporate people leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in a full-cycle HR role.
• Hands-on, operational HR approach.
• Experience with Humi HR software.
• In-person presence in downtown Toronto 2–3 days/week.
• Experience in architecture/engineering/consulting is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Handle day-to-day people and performance issues and staff questions.
• Enforce company policies, manage time-off and sick-day use.
• Oversee annual performance reviews and onboarding processes.
• Coordinate recruitment and first-round interviews, aiming to hire ~6 people/year.
• Manage onboarding and offboarding, benefits administration, and plan note updates.
• Collaborate with leadership on budgets, HR initiatives, and policy updates.

Skills

People leadership

HR policies

Conflict resolution

Employee relations

Communication

Tools

Humi

Job description

At Outhire, we believe in revolutionizing the hiring process to make it more equitable and enjoyable for everyone involved. Our innovative approach puts candidates front and center, offering in-depth looks at open positions, personalized advice, and interview preparation. But we don't stop there - our Visual Resume feature ensures that hiring managers see the complete picture of who you are and what you bring to the table while eliminating biases you may face with traditional hiring practices. With Outhire, you can trust that we'll work tirelessly to match you with the role that truly fits your skills, experience, and aspirations. Join us in our mission to create a better hiring experience

TITLE

SALARY RANGE

$80,000 – $110,000

CASH BONUS

Strictly discretionary, tied to individual and company performance

THE PERKS

• RRSP
• Flexible Hours

LOCATION

Toronto, ON

THE OFFICE

Hybrid (2 to 3 days in office)

TEAM SIZE

Approximately 50 people (firm-wide)

THE ROLE

A hands-on, standalone HR manager and key contributor who runs the people function for a growing multi-office architecture firm, manages its office support, and acts as a steady point between staff and the partners.

THE TASKS

People & Culture Management

Handle day-to-day people and performance issues, interpersonal conflicts, and employee questions, and be the person staff feel heard by

Make decisions and give direction even when they are not popular, instead of avoiding conflict or pushing every call back to the partners

Enforce company policies consistently, including time-off and sick-day use, and address misuse promptly

Make sensible judgment calls on time off, accommodations, and individual situations without escalating routine matters

Run employee recognition for onboarding, birthdays, and work anniversaries

Communicate HR-related updates to the team via Teams

Provide light coaching to junior staff on communication and writing, as an extension of onboarding

Give practical HR guidance that fits a mid-sized firm rather than a large-corporate benchmark

Performance, Recruitment & HR Cycle

Maintain and run the annual performance review cycle and semi-annual mid-year reflection, improving consistency and efficiency rather than rebuilding them

Maintain and run the new employee probation program

Maintain the existing compensation matrix and pay bands

Help hire around six people a year, including screening and first-round interviews, once familiar with the culture

Manage onboarding and offboarding for new and departing staff

Office & Operations Management

Support the office manager and regional leads in the procurement and management of supplies and costs across all four offices

Coordinate IT and equipment logistics such as computers, chairs, and seating for new hires, without taking on the technical IT work

Administer benefits and insurance, including enrolment, forms, staff questions, semi-annual plan updates, and year-end renewals, reviewing market options with the broker when the plan goes to market (payments and accounting stay with the finance team)

Update the office manual and define new policies when needed

New Initiatives & Strategic Partnering

Run one or two improvement projects a year, such as refining an existing process

Work alongside the controller and marketing director on shared initiatives

Partner with the leadership team on strategic items, including planning for the annual budget cycle

Get full use out of the firm’s existing HR software (Humi), making sure contracts are executed and the tool is used well

Support the firm’s move toward an employee ownership program by helping manage the questions and concerns it raises

THE COMPANY

A full-service architecture firm that focuses on community-based work in areas like residential care and aging, healthcare, life sciences, education, and wellness. It runs several offices, is unifying into a single practice, and pairs the depth of a larger firm with the hands-on, partner-led service of a boutique studio, built on a friendly culture of listening, consensus, and practical design.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a standalone role with the room to own the entire people function and shape how it runs, at a firm that is bringing its offices together and aiming to double in size over the next five years. It suits an experienced, hands-on HR generalist with a small-business or entrepreneurial streak who wants to become a senior leader on the team, with a real path toward equity ownership as the firm grows.

THE EXPECTATIONS TIMELINE PREVIEW

By Month 1

Get to know the team, the people, and the culture deeply across all four offices

Take ownership of existing HR documentation, processes, and the current software

Learn how each office runs day to day, including its regular cycle

Focus on discovery rather than projects, and become the contact staff trust to listen

By Month 3

Plan and begin running the annual performance review process, reporting progress instead of asking for decisions

Work with the controller and marketing director on shared initiatives and event logistics

Review the office assistant role for workload and fit, and take over managing it

Handle routine people questions and issues without escalating to the partners each time

By Month 6

Deliver the performance review cycle with staff satisfied with how it ran

Take over recruiting, including screening and first-round interviews

Take over maintaining the pay bands and compensation matrix

By Month 12

Run the people function with little partner involvement, sending short regular updates and flagging only the decisions that need them

Make culture-aligned judgment calls independently and raise recommendations proactively, including when to bring in the firm’s lawyer

Own the operating cycle, working with leadership on the annual budget and on office, facilities, and IT coordination

Be ready to manage a small team and help onboard and integrate new staff as the firm grows

THE SKILL SET

A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a full-cycle HR role, with a hands-on, operational approach rather than a purely strategic one

Demonstrated, hands-on experience with Humi

Able to work in person from the downtown office 2 to 3 days per week; this is not a remote role

Experience within the architecture, engineering, or construction sector, or a comparable professional-services firm, is a strong asset.

ONLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.