Human Resources Advisor

McGill University; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 73,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Defined contribution pension plan

Group RRSP and TFSA

Competitive vacation policy

Two personal days

Two floating holidays

Nine Summer Fridays (paid)

Remote work up to two days per week

Job summary

McGill University in Canada seeks an HR Advisor to deliver full HR services to Enrollment Services within the Office of the Provost. You will act as a trusted adviser to managers and staff, guiding on policies, labour relations, recruitment, planning, and organizational effectiveness.

Collaborating across faculties, you will support training, performance management, and employee engagement while ensuring compliance with legislation and collective agreements.

Qualifications

• English and French communication required for staff at all levels.
• Experience in a complex unionized environment with labor legislation knowledge.
• Client-focused with ability to work autonomously and think critically.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with sound judgment.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines with multiple demands.
• Strong interpersonal skills and capacity to handle difficult conversations.
• Experience addressing emotionally charged interactions with empathy.
• Maintain confidential personnel files with attention to detail.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and familiar with HR systems such as Workday.

Responsibilities

• Advise and guide managers and employees on HR policies and employment laws.
• Support employee and labour relations, including performance and attendance management.
• Coordinate workforce planning, recruitment, and staffing activities.
• Analyze workforce data to inform planning and decision-making.
• Develop initiatives for employee engagement, retention, and development.
• Identify learning and development needs and coordinate training.
• Assist with job assessments, classifications, and compensation reviews.
• Support organizational changes and process improvements.
• Provide guidance on disability, leaves, and accommodations as per policies.

Skills

Client-focused

Strong interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Ability to handle difficult chats

Bilingual English/French

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Administration, HR, or related field

CHRA certification (asset)

Tools

Workday

Microsoft Office

HRIS systems

Job description

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Director, Administration and Finance, the Human Resources (HR) Advisor provides a full range of HR services to Enrollment Services within the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic). The incumbent acts as a trusted advisor to managers and employees, providing professional guidance and support on a comprehensive range of HR matters, aligning with Enrolment Services' mission and objectives The HR Advisor serves as a knowledgeable and reliable point of contact, offering guidance on matters of labour and employee relations, training, benefits performance management, workforce planning, compensation, organizational effectiveness, talent development, and employee engagement initiatives and other core areas of HR, while actively contributing to the development and implementation of personnel policies and procedures and new initiatives that align with the unit's strategic direction. Working collaboratively with stakeholders across the University, the incumbent promotes a positive, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture and supports the achievement of departmental and institutional goals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Advise and guide managers and employees on the interpretation and application of human resources policies, procedures, collective agreements, and employment legislation, ensuring consistent and effective HR practices across the unit.
• Advise and support managers on employee and labour relations matters, including performance and attendance management, workplace accommodations, disciplinary matters, conflict resolution, investigations, grievance administration, and other complex employee relations issues.
• Liaise with Labour Relations, as appropriate, on matters involving collective agreements, disciplinary action, grievances, and arbitration.
• Partner with managers and HR colleagues to support workforce planning, recruitment and staffing activities, including identifying workforce needs, developing job postings, participating in candidate assessment and interviews, and supporting hiring recommendations.
• Leverage workforce data and trends to anticipate staffing requirements and inform workforce planning.
• Partner with managers to develop and implement initiatives that support employee engagement, retention, professional development, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness.
• Identify learning and development needs and coordinate or facilitate appropriate training and development opportunities.
• Conduct job assessments and audits and contribute to organizational reviews, position classification, compensation recommendations, job abolitions, and organizational structure changes.
• Support the implementation of organizational changes and continuous improvement initiatives, working collaboratively with managers, HR colleagues, and stakeholders to enhance service delivery, operational effectiveness, and the employee experience.
• Provide advice and support related to disability management, short- and long-term disability, parental and other leaves, attendance management, workplace accommodations, and leave entitlements, ensuring appropriate application of policies, legislation, and collective agreement provisions.
• Use HR systems, including Workday and other HR tools, to manage HR requests, maintain accurate employee information, generate reports, and analyze workforce data.
• Identify trends and provide insights and recommendations to support evidence-based decision-making and proactive people management.
• Contribute to the development, maintenance, and communication of HR policies and practices in accordance with current legislation, collective agreements, and organizational requirements, and proactively communicate relevant changes to managers and employees.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues, Talent Acquisition, Labour Relations, and stakeholders across administrative units to ensure integrated, consistent, and effective HR service delivery.
• Participate in HR projects, committees, and special initiatives in support of departmental and institutional priorities, bringing HR expertise to organizational and strategic initiatives.

Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities

• Undergrad degreein Administration, Human Resources, or a related field
• CHRA certification a strong asset.
• Proven experience in working in a complex unionized environment and in-depth understanding of labor legislation.
• Client-focused with demonstrated ability to work autonomously and think critically.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information, solve problems, and provide recommendations and solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines while managing multiple, often conflicting, demands.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to handle challenging situations and difficult conversations.
• Experience in addressing emotionally charged interactions with empathy, diplomacy, calm demeanour, and sound judgment.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to maintain confidential personnel files.
• Proficient with Microsoft suite (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint and Outlook).
• Experience with HR Information Systems like Workday is an asset.
• Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills in English and French when working with staff at all levels.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance)
• Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%)
• Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Competitive vacation policy
• Two (2) personal days
• Two (2) floating holidays
• Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
• Paid time off over the December holiday period
• Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
• Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits

Salary and Position Details

• Annual Salary: (MPEX Grade 05) $73,470.00 - $91,840.00 - $110,210.00
• Job Profile: MPEX-HRM2D - Human Resources Generalist - Professional
• 2 Hours per Week: 33.75 (Full time)
• Supervisor: Associate Director, Administration and Finance
• Deadline to Apply: 2026-09-25

Eligibility and Application Requirements

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing.

The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #3 on a scale of 0-4.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree 3 Years Related Experience

EEO and Diversity Statement

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail].

About McGill University

Located in one of the world’s great multicultural and multilingual cities, McGill University is internationally recognized for its excellence as a leading institution of higher education and research. For nearly 200 years, through the work of dedicated people, McGill has been breaking ground in diverse fields and contributing solutions to some of the world’s most significant issues. McGillians are proud to be part of a community that is both global and local, inspired by challenge and committed to shaping a better future. McGill received a Platinum STARS rating in sustainability, is among Canada’s greenest employers, and is a top Montreal Employer.