Senior HR Manager - Banking

Robert Walters Canada; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global financial institution in Toronto seeks a Senior Human Resources Manager for a one-year fixed-term contract. This role offers a hybrid working model and focuses on shaping HR strategies, supporting business growth, and fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Candidates should possess extensive HR experience in financial institutions and demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity initiatives.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of experience in HR roles within financial institutions.
• Understanding of Canadian banking legislation and employment law.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders on people strategy.
• Oversee HR operational activities and manage data systems.
• Lead compensation reviews and performance management processes.
• Translate HR data into insights for retention and talent development.

Skills

Expert advice on people strategy

Organisational design

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Strong communication skills

Project management

Technical proficiency in HRIS

Education

Bachelor's degree

CHRP designation

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Adobe products

Job description

A leading global financial institution is seeking a Senior Human Resources Manager for a one-year fixed term contract in Toronto. This is an exceptional opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the people strategy of a renowned banking organisation with a rich international heritage. You will be at the heart of HR operations, supporting business growth and transformation while ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

The position offers a hybrid working model, allowing you to balance time between the vibrant downtown office and the comfort of your home. If you are passionate about driving impactful HR initiatives, building strong relationships across business lines, and championing diversity and inclusion, this role provides the platform to make a meaningful difference within a supportive and knowledgeable team.

What you'll do:

• Partner closely with business leaders to provide expert advice on people strategy, workforce planning, organisational design, and talent management initiatives.
• Oversee all core HR operational activities including data systems management, employee file maintenance (digital and paper), immigration documentation, and end-to-end HR workflows throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Lead key annual processes such as compensation reviews, performance management cycles, succession planning, and talent development programmes to support business objectives.
• Translate complex internal HR data into actionable insights that inform retention strategies, reduce attrition, develop talent pipelines, and promote diversity across the organisation.
• Administer recruitment processes from job posting through interviewing, testing, selection, onboarding, and ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Canadian banking regulations and employment law to ensure all HR practices meet legal requirements for federally regulated institutions.
• Collaborate with peers across HR divisions locally and globally to share best practices, align on cross-functional dependencies, and deliver consistent service excellence.
• Manage payroll processing accurately and efficiently while responding promptly to operational inquiries from internal clients regarding HR policies or systems.
• Conduct regular audits of HR policies, procedures, platforms, shared drives, and contractor agreements to maintain high standards of compliance and client satisfaction.
• Champion continuous improvement by hosting user feedback sessions, soliciting input from stakeholders at all levels, and implementing enhancements to HR operations.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree required with CHRP designation preferred for demonstrating advanced HR expertise in the financial sector.
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in human resources roles within financial institutions—ideally those governed by federal regulation
• Comprehensive understanding of Canadian banking legislation, employment law, regulatory guidelines, privacy requirements, and industry benchmarks relevant to HR operations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining excellent organisational skills under tight deadlines without compromising quality or accuracy.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills enabling you to build rapport with diverse stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives through equitable recruiting practices and ongoing support for under-represented groups.
• Advanced technical proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Adobe products, HRIS platforms (full cycle implementation experience is an asset), and continuous improvement methodologies for process automation.
• Experience conducting frequent audits of policies/procedures/systems/platforms/shared drives as part of risk management protocols within highly regulated environments.
• Strong consultative approach combined with relationship-building skills that enable you to influence business line leaders effectively while maintaining credibility across functions.
• Ability to synthesise complex data sets into clear trends or recommendations that inform strategic decision-making around retention/talent development/diversity efforts.

What's next:

If you are ready to take your career in human resources to new heights within a world-class banking environment that values collaboration, inclusion, and professional growth—this is your moment!

About the job

Contract Type: Perm

Specialism: Human Resources & People Operations