Human Resources Manager

Think Strategic Talent (TST); Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

Think Strategic Talent Inc. is representing a Canadian food manufacturer seeking a Human Resources Manager for the Mississauga plant. This role is the on-site HR leader, owning the people agenda and serving as the trusted advisor to plant leadership and employees.

You will manage all HR functions, interpret the collective agreement, handle investigations, guide change, and partner with Talent Acquisition. This is a hands-on leadership role offering direct access to the plant leadership team and

Qualifications

• Minimum seven years of progressive Human Resources experience, including at least four years advising managers across employee relations, talent acquisition, performance management and labour relations.
• Demonstrated experience as the primary HR lead for unionized operation.
• Proven ability to interpret and administer collective agreements, manage grievances, support arbitrations and participate in bargaining.
• Experience leading complex employee relations matters including investigations, accommodations, disability management, discipline and involuntary terminations.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business Administration or a related field.
• CHRL or an equivalent professional designation, strongly preferred.
• Experience with enterprise Human Capital Management platform.
• Confident written and verbal communication, with the presence to present credibly at every level of the organization.
• Sound judgment, discretion and an absolute commitment to confidentiality.
• The ability to carry multiple priorities in a high volume, fast paced environment, working independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Full day-to-day management of the HR function at the plant.
• Interpret and administer the collective agreement.
• Counsel plant leadership on policy and HR program interpretation.
• Conduct complex investigations and manage accommodations.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition on postings, interviews and offers.
• Oversee onboarding that makes day one count.
• Lead performance management and succession planning.
• Drive engagement, retention and change management.
• Develop site HR policies aligned to corporate direction.
• Lead ESG, CSR and DEI initiatives.

Skills

Employee relations

Labor relations

Communication

Discretion

Multitasking

Confidentiality

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/IR/BA

CHRL designation

Tools

Enterprise HCM platform

Job description

The HR leader on the floor, in the room, and at the table.

Term Permanent, full time

Hours Monday to Friday

Salary Range $90,400 to $107,350, plus bonus and a comprehensive benefits package

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Our client is an established Canadian food manufacturing organization with production facilities across the country and a reputation built over generations. This is a business where quality is measured every shift, where people stay, and where the relationship between leadership and the front line is strong and positive.

The Mississauga facility is looking for its Human Resources Manager. Not an HR administrator, and not a policy custodian. This is the person who owns the people agenda for the site: the trusted advisor plant leadership calls first, the calm presence in a grievance meeting, and the voice that shapes how employees across the site experience their workplace every day.

If you have outgrown transactional generalist work and want a position where your judgment carries real weight, this is that role. You will have full ownership of the HR function at the plant, direct access to the plant leadership team, and the backing of a corporate HR group that partners rather than dictates.

WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT

Real ownership. You are the HR presence on site. Decisions on employee relations, discipline, terminations, accommodations and grievances run through you, and leaders will look to you for the answer rather than for an escalation path.

Labour relations that matter. You will interpret and administer the collective agreement, resolve grievances, prepare and participate in arbitrations, and contribute to bargaining. This is craft work, and you will build genuine depth in it.

A business you can see. Manufacturing gives you immediate feedback. When engagement improves, when retention holds, when a difficult return to work goes well, you can see it on the floor. Few HR roles offer that kind of line of sight.

Modern tools, freshly deployed. The organization has implemented a new enterprise HCM platform covering pay, time, performance, reporting and learning. You will help leaders get real value from it and shape how the site uses it going forward.

Visible impact on culture. Employee engagement, succession planning, leadership development, and ESG, CSR and DEI initiatives at the site all sit with you.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

• The HR function. Full day-to-day management of the HR function at the plant, including employment agreements, corrective action documentation, terminations, grievances, arbitration and employment regulatory matters.
• Labour relations. Interpretation and administration of the collective agreement, grievance resolution, arbitration preparation and participation, and support to collective bargaining.
• Trusted advice. Counsel to plant leadership and employees on policy, values and HR program interpretation, ensuring matters are handled consistently, fairly and without delay.
• Sensitive matters. Complex investigations, accommodations, disability management and return to work planning for both occupational and non-occupational cases, in partnership with Health and Safety.
• Hiring and onboarding. Partnership with Talent Acquisition and local leaders on postings, interviews and offers, followed by onboarding that makes day one count.
• Performance and talent. Performance management practice at the site, SMART objectives tied to the annual operating plan for all salaried employees, succession planning, and identification of training and development needs.
• Engagement and retention. Employee engagement programming, retention at the facility, and change management support for leaders as the business evolves.
• Policy and process. Development and maintenance of site level HR policies and programs that align to corporate direction and Ontario employment legislation, alongside continuous improvement of HR processes.
• ESG, CSR and DEI. Leadership and promotion of ESG, CSR and DEI initiatives at the location, including external audits.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Minimum seven years of progressive Human Resources experience, including at least four years advising managers across employee relations, talent acquisition, performance management and labour relations.
• Demonstrated experience as the primary HR lead for unionized operation.
• Proven ability to interpret and administer collective agreements, manage grievances, support arbitrations and participate in bargaining.
• Experience leading complex employee relations matters including investigations, accommodations, disability management, discipline and involuntary terminations.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business Administration or a related field.
• CHRL or an equivalent professional designation, strongly preferred.
• Experience with enterprise Human Capital Management platform.
• Confident written and verbal communication, with the presence to present credibly at every level of the organization.
• Sound judgment, discretion and an absolute commitment to confidentiality.
• The ability to carry multiple priorities in a high volume, fast paced environment, working independently and as part of a team.

WHO THRIVES HERE

The people who succeed in this role are practical, direct and unflappable. They are comfortable walking the floor and equally comfortable in a boardroom. They can deliver a difficult message and keep the relationship intact. They are curious about how the business works, and they understand that credibility is earned through consistency, presence and follow-through.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROCESS

This search is being conducted on a confidential and retained basis by Think Strategic Talent Inc. The name of the hiring organization will be disclosed to candidates at the appropriate stage of the process.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process for applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodation, please let us know when we contact you and we will work with you to meet your needs.