Human Resources Business Partner Human Resources

MacEwan University; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 84,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

MacEwan University seeks a collaborative Human Resources Business Partner to partner with senior leaders, navigate complex HR issues, and drive strategic workforce solutions. You will coach managers, ensure policy compliance, and support talent acquisition within a learning-focused environment.

The role emphasizes change leadership, stakeholder engagement, and delivering practical HR consulting to leadership teams, aligned with the institution’s Strategic Vision 2030.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Business, Human Resources, Labour/Industrial Relations, or other related discipline.
• 5+ years in a unionized workplace with more than 1 collective agreement.
• 2+ years in resolving labour relations issues and formal grievance handling.
• Experience in workplace investigations and reporting.
• Experience in talent acquisition and strategic HR consulting to senior management.
• Experience implementing complex, institution-wide plans and multi-disciplinary projects.

Responsibilities

• Forge trusted relationships with senior leaders and HR partners to guide strategic decisions.
• Provide consultation on strategic HR initiatives and complex challenges.
• Use systems-thinking to forecast workforce needs and align with objectives.
• Support leadership teams with HR lens on business decisions and goals.
• Ensure compliance with collective agreements, Handbooks, policies, and legislation.
• Coach managers on employee relations, performance, probation, and disciplinary actions.
• Act as change agent supporting transformation and organizational design.
• Conduct workplace investigations and support grievance processes.
• Support talent acquisition through guidance during recruitment and selection.

Skills

Consultative mindset

Stakeholder collaboration

Change leadership

Communication skills

Data interpretation

Project management

Policy interpretation

Discretion with sensitive issues

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Business, HR, Labour/Industrial Relations or related discipline

Job description

Full-Time Continuing (35 hours per week) $84,387 to $113,923 per annum September 25, 2026

About Us

MacEwan University is where caring faculty help people connect their passions to their future paths. Located in the heart of Edmonton's diverse and dynamic downtown community, and on the traditional lands of Treaty 6 First Nations and homelands of the Métis people, MacEwan is known for exceptional undergraduate learning. With its dedication to teaching excellence, informed by scholarly research, innovation, and creative activity, MacEwan provides an exceptional collaborative and supportive learning environment with a commitment to human rights, environmental sustainability, and opportunities for community engagement. We are committed to creating an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community for all peoples, cultures, and identities.

Our comprehensive undergraduate university offers 55 programs to more than 20,000 full- and part-time students in business, communications, community and human services, design, fine and performing arts, health, humanities, natural science, nursing, public safety, and social science. Through a wide array of experiential learning opportunities, and strategic relationships in the community, we partner with others to produce graduates of stature. Along with a robust grounding in their chosen disciplines, MacEwan students are given durable life skills that prepare them to take on the world.

We are seeking a collaborative and relationship-focused Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) to join our HR team. In this role, you will build trusted partnerships with leaders, foster open dialogue, navigate complex situations, and develop practical solutions with diverse stakeholders. You will embrace new challenges while bringing a thoughtful and innovative approach to addressing strategic, emerging people and organizational issues. Through your curiosity, sound judgment, and adaptability, you will help clients successfully navigate change and growth, in support of MacEwan University’s Teaching Greatness: Strategic Vision 2030.

Key responsibilities include:

• Forging trusted relationships with senior leaders, managers, subject matter experts, and HR shared services partners to provide strategic guidance, influence decision-making, and coordinate integrated approaches to complex people and organizational matters;
• Providing consultation and advice to leaders on a variety of strategic, operational, and complex HR initiatives, challenges, and solutions;
• Using a systems-thinking approach to identify current and future workforce needs, understand operational priorities, and develop or broker strategies and initiatives that support organizational objectives;
• Serving as a valued member of assigned leadership teams; applying an HR lens to business decisions and contributing to the achievement of departmental and institutional goals;
• Interpreting, applying, and ensuring compliance with collective agreements (MacEwan Staff Union and Grant MacEwan Faculty Association), the Out-of-Scope Handbook, University policies, and relevant legislation;
• Providing coaching, guidance, and support to managers on employee relations matters, including performance management, probationary reviews, and disciplinary processes;
• Acting as a change agent by supporting leaders through organizational change, including change management, transformation initiatives, and assisting with organizational design;
• Conducting workplace investigations and supporting grievance management processes, including facilitating investigations, preparing reports, providing recommendations, and supporting the implementation of outcomes; and
• Supporting talent acquisition activities by providing guidance and consultation throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Skills

You will have:

• Strong consultative mindset, able to ask insightful questions, understand business priorities, and translate organizational needs into practical and forward-thinking people solutions;
• The ability to effectively interact, communicate, influence, and collaborate with various partners and stakeholders, including senior management, staff at all levels, union representatives, and other organizations;
• The ability to create a culture of trust and transparency;
• Sound judgment and the ability to manage highly confidential and sensitive issues with solid business and political acumen;
• The ability to work within broad HR parameters and challenge the status quo in proposing strategies and programs to support sustained employee engagement;
• The proven ability to efficiently collect, analyze, integrate, and interpret complex information and data from diverse sources and viewpoints;
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to effectively manage and lead work groups;
• Proven project management, portfolio planning, change leadership and organizational skills; and
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and presentation skills.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Business, Human Resources, Labour/Industrial Relations, or other related discipline.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a unionized workplace with more than 1 collective agreement.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in resolving labour relations issues and formal grievance handling.
• Experience completing workplace investigations and preparing recommendations and reports.
• Experience in talent acquisition, including candidate sourcing.
• Experience in providing advice and strategic HR consulting services to senior-level management.
• Demonstrated experience implementing complex, strategic, institution-wide plans, programs, and initiatives.
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary projects that may be politically sensitive and complex.
• Experience developing and managing complex, multi-dimensional relationships.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

When you become part of the MacEwan University team, you will enjoy a competitive salary. Our total compensation package includes:

This position is included under the Out of Scope employee policy (D1015). Applications sourced through this process may be considered for similar opportunities within MacEwan University.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however,Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

MacEwan University is committed to fostering the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion within our community, and we are dedicated to removing barriers that have been historically encountered and are currently experienced by some members of our society. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, and members of all equity-deserving groups. We believe that the diversity of our students, staff, and faculty serves as a strength of our institution and benefit to society. We are committed to ensuring full and inclusive participation for all in our community.

Accessibility Statement

We strive to provide an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, beginning with the hiring process. If you require accommodation, we want to ensure you have the support you need to showcase your abilities. Please contact [e-mail] and we will support you to the best of our ability.

Personal Information Collection Notification
The personal information collected through MacEwan University’s application for employment and is used to determine your qualifications for employment. If your application progresses to the next stage of the hiring process, this information may be shared with non-HR members of the hiring committee and interview panel. This collection is authorized by section 4(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act. For questions about the collection of personal information, contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or phone [phone].