VP, People and Culture

Summit Search Group; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

An international non-profit organization seeks a leader to oversee its global HR functions. The role involves strategic planning, talent management, and ensuring compliance with labor laws in Canada. Ideal candidates will have a master's degree in HR and relevant certifications, coupled with strong leadership skills and experience in mission-driven sectors.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of distributed HR teams and complex change initiatives.
• Strong expertise in people operations, organizational development, and DEI.
• Track record working with mission-driven, nonprofit, or international development organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a global people and culture strategy.
• Design and execute global talent strategies.
• Oversee learning and development frameworks across the organization.
• Champion organizational values through culture interventions.

Skills

Collaborative leadership skills

Cross-cultural communication

Strategic thinking

Excellent communication skills

Education

Master’s degree in HR or related field

HR certification (e.g., CHRL, SHRM-SCP)

Job description

This is an exceptional opportunity to oversee, lead and unify the global HR function for an international non-profit entity.

Position Scope

Reporting to the CEO, this is a pivotal role for a people-first, systems-oriented leader who thrives in a multicultural, mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning &

• Develop and implement a global people and culture strategy aligned with the organization’s mission and vision.
• Develop and govern unified policies, frameworks, and governance structures.
• Act as a strategic advisor on organizational design, people risks, and workforce decisions.
• Present key people metrics and insights to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Board of Directors.

Talent Management

• Design and execute global talent strategies that meet current and future organizational needs.
• Partner with regional and local HR teams to implement global talent acquisition, succession planning, and workforce planning processes across all locations.
• Design and implement leadership development and succession planning programs.

Learning, Development & Performance

• Oversee learning and development frameworks across all levels of the organization, including collaboration on technical L&D activities with the Programs, Venn, and Applied Learning teams.
• Develop global leadership programs, manager training, coaching, and mentorship systems.
• Align performance management systems with organizational goals and values.

Culture & Values

• Champion organizational values through culture interventions.
• Provide guidance and resources for managers on supporting employee well-being, crisis response, and post-incident care.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and mission–driven organizational culture.

Global HR Operations & Compliance

• Oversee HR teams across countries, ensuring consistency in policy implementation, HRIS integration, and data integrity.
• Lead global harmonization of compensation, benefits, and legal compliance across jurisdictions.
• Ensure timely people analytics and reporting to inform decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws and employment standards in Canada and other jurisdictions overseas.

Operational Excellence

• Implement HR technology solutions to streamline processes and improve data-driven decision-making.
• Monitor HR metrics and report on workforce trends to the executive team and board.

Duty of Care & Risk Management

• Develop and enforce global duty-of-care policies covering workplace health & safety, mental well-being, and security protocols for staff in all regions.
• Partner with operations and local HR teams to risk-assess travel, remote deployments, and field activities—ensuring appropriate insurance, emergency response plans, and local support systems

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in HR, Organizational Development, or related field preferred.
• HR certification (e.g., CHRL, SHRM-SCP, CIPD, HRCI) strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership of distributed HR teams and complex change initiatives.
• Strong expertise in people operations, organizational development, DEI, and leadership development.
• Track record working with mission-driven, nonprofit, or international development organizations.
• A satisfactory criminal record check is required.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

Personal and Leadership Attributes

• Strong collaborative leadership skills.
• Orientation to building relationships by fostering a climate of inclusion, openness and trust.
• Exceptional cross-cultural communication, strategic thinking, and leadership presence
• Ability to foster a culture of cooperation and encourage positive team dynamics.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) skills.