Strategic Recruitment Lead

Cape Breton Job Board; North Sydney; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Marine Atlantic is seeking a Strategic Recruitment Lead to drive end-to-end recruitment strategy from our North Sydney, NS location. You will lead a cross-functional team to attract, assess, and hire senior talent, while ensuring compliance with laws and collective agreements.

You will advance workforce planning, enhance the employer brand, and champion DEI throughout the recruitment lifecycle, including international initiatives and stakeholder collaboration.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business with a major in Human Resources or related field.
• Minimum five years of experience in a relevant recruitment role.
• Experience in strategic sourcing, talent mapping and candidate engagement.
• Experience with workforce planning and labour market trends.
• Proficiency with applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Strong interviewing skills and evidence-based evaluation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; MS Office proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end recruitment activities to attract and hire qualified candidates.
• Develop and implement corporate recruitment strategy in line with goals.
• Manage full-cycle recruitment for leadership roles and key positions.
• Support international recruitment ensuring compliance with programs and regulations.
• Integrate DEI principles throughout the recruitment lifecycle.
• Serve as HR lead for the ATS, ensuring data integrity and updates.
• Lead workforce planning initiatives including retirement projections.
• Maintain and develop job descriptions with HR leadership.
• Build strong relationships with internal/external stakeholders and Employer Brand.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Talent mapping

Passive candidate engagement

Workforce planning

Interviewing (behavioural)

Communication

MS Office Suite

Education

Degree in Business with HR major

CPHR designation

RPR designation

Tools

ATS

Job description

Description

Marine Atlantic is dedicated to creating an environment which promotes employee growth, career development, and job satisfaction. Our employees embody our core values; they are diverse, safety-oriented team-players who exhibit integrity and commitment, and always strive for excellence.

Marine Atlantic is currently looking for a Strategic Recruitment Lead to work with our Human Resources department, located in North Sydney, NS.

Marine Atlantic is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Preference may be given to members of the following equity deserving groups: women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and 2SLGBTQIA+ community members. If you are a member of one or more of these groups, please state to which group(s) you identify in your application.

Reporting to the Manager, Labour Relations & Recruitment, the Strategic Recruitment Lead plays a key role in recruiting, selecting, and retaining experienced and qualified team members to meet the evolving needs of the organization. This position is responsible for executing recruitment strategies that align with corporate objectives, ensuring compliance with internal policies, collective agreements, and relevant legislation, including the Canada Labour Code, Canadian Human Rights Act, Employment Equity Act, and Official Languages Act. The Lead works collaboratively across departments to support workforce planning and foster an inclusive, equitable hiring process that reflects the company’s values.

Other Key Areas Of Responsibility

• Under the guidance of the Manager, Labour Relations & Recruitment, leads and coordinates recruitment activities to support the effective delivery of end-to-end recruitment services and the timely attraction, selection, and hiring of qualified candidates.
• Develops and implements the corporate recruitment strategy under the guidance of the Manager, Labour Relations & Recruitment.
• Responsible for the full cycle recruitment process, focusing on key positions and leadership roles.
• Leads and supports international recruitment efforts, ensuring compliance and consistency with federal programs and regulations.
• Integrates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles throughout the recruitment lifecycle to foster equitable hiring outcomes.
• Serves as the HR functional lead for the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), ensuring optimal utilization, data integrity, system maintenance, and testing of new releases.
• Leads workforce planning initiatives, incorporating retirement projections, to support strategic recruitment objectives.
• Develops and maintains Marine Atlantic’s job descriptions in collaboration with the Manager of Compensation and Benefits.
• Builds and sustains strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to align with strategic recruitment initiatives.
• Develops, implements, and maintains the employer brand with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion and on our employee value proposition.

Qualifications

Degree in Business with a major in Human Resources or other related field. Minimum Five (5) years of experience in a relevant role.

OR

A combination of equivalent education, job-related training, and experience in a related position.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience (Essential)

Demonstrated experience in strategic sourcing, talent mapping, and proactive candidate engagement, including the identification, attraction, and recruitment of passive candidates for hard-to-fill, specialized, and leadership positions.

Exhibited experience in workforce planning, including forecasting talent needs, analyzing labor market trends, and aligning recruitment strategies with organizational goals.

Proficiency with applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Extensive experience conducting behavioural based interviews to assess competencies with a focus on evidence- driven candidate evaluations.

Demonstrated excellence in organization and time management, with an eye for detail and the ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple tasks.

Superior written and verbal communication skills, including consistently influencing outcomes and fostering strong relationships.

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Work, Power Point, Outlook).

Knowledge, Skills & Experience (Desirable)

Experience recruiting within the parameters of the federal immigration programs, including reciprocal agreements.

Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) Designation.

Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR) Designation.

We thank all applicants for applying, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Why work for the Marine Atlantic team?

As part of the Marine Atlantic team, you will participate in a variety of ongoing training programs and development opportunities to navigate your career and chart your course for success. We provide a positive and inclusive work culture that is dedicated to creating an environment which promotes employee growth, career development, and job satisfaction. Some benefits of working with Marine Atlantic include competitive salaries, defined benefit pension plan, comprehensive health benefit packages, and professional development opportunities. Come experience the pride of working with an organization with newly constructed and revitalized infrastructure that has positioned itself for the future.

Additional Information

Marine Atlantic is a Federal Crown Corporation that provides a vital ferry service link between Newfoundland and Labrador and mainland Canada.

At Marine Atlantic, we are dedicated to building and fostering an inclusive and diverse environment, where all employees and customers feel welcomed, valued, and respected.

Marine Atlantic invites applications from all qualified candidates and hires based on merit. We are committed to the principles of equitable employment for all and strongly encourage applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and 2SLGBTQIA+ community members. If you are a member of one or more of these groups, please state to which group(s) you identify in your cover letter, resume or application.

To receive this job poster in an alternative format or to discuss alternate ways of completing the online application, please contact the Marine Atlantic Human Resources Department, in confidence, at [e-mail].