Director, People and Culture (parental leave 14-16 months contract)

Our Company

BrandActive specializes in the financial analysis, strategy, and logistics of rebranding implementation and marketing and brand operations. Whether our client is striving to optimize the implementation of a brand change, or identify opportunities to save money, time, and resources managing your brand and marketing dollars, BrandActive has what it takes to get the job done.

Since 1998, BrandActive has scoped, budgeted, planned, and executed brand change for many of the world’s most valuable brands. Our services combine industry-leading analytics with a unique and proven methodology that provides the information clients need to make sound financial decisions, save time and money and operate more efficiently. Whether our clients are going through a one-time corporate rebrand or want to get the most out of the everyday management of their existing brand, we help them achieve more, spend less, and build a better brand.

For BrandActive team members, our goal is to be an inclusive place where you are supported in becoming the best you can be, where together we build a strong and agile organization that not only sets the standard for excellence in our industry globally, but also exemplifies how to be a compassionate commercial endeavor that is built on trusting relationships and empowering the growth of every one of us.  We are all committed to working together to achieve our North Star of a team of great people, doing great work and having a great time doing it!

This is a contract position for 14-16 months to cover a parental leave. We invite those interested in a full-time contract role and part-time contractors to apply.

Reporting to the Managing Partner, the Director of People and Culture will:

Responsibilities

Strategy and operations

• Responsible for developing the annual HR plan in alignment with BrandActive’s strategic priorities and presenting to senior leadership
• Responsible for developing and managing the HR roadmap with projects that roll into the strategic priorities, including creating timelines, assigning responsibilities, managing and ensuring completion, proactively flagging any concerns to Managing Partner
• Responsible for staying informed of wider trends, successfully identifying and actioning on opportunities to attract and retain candidates, and improve the BrandActive Experience (BAX) through talent management initiatives or programs
• Responsible for vendor management and effective administration of all our department-owned systems and technology (i.e. legal teams, HRIS systems, technology like Northpass and Small Improvements), including being accountable for BambooHR administrators, auditing regularly to ensure accuracy and compliance and effectively managing any inconsistencies with urgency
• Responsible for overseeing the People and Experience department, including day-to-day operations, the execution of the HR Process Plan, AI integration and automation, and recruitment function, while ensuring compliance with legislation and achieving the BAX expected by the people team
• Accountable for all People team programs, including but not limited to recruitment, onboarding, compensation, benefits, growth and development, performance, engagement, learning, EDI, 3rd party coaching etc., regularly designing and delivering talent management programs that support BrandActive strategic priorities and continuously elevate the team member experience
• Handle all investigations ensuring complaints are taken seriously, appropriate documentation, a fair and consistent process and risk mitigation to the business
• Accountable for all HR processes, policies and procedures, internally and externally facing, including but not limited to the Team Member Handbook, HR Process Plan etc.
• Accountable for the People Team budget, overseeing internal events, learning and wellbeing funds
• Support BrandActive’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, including participation on EDI Advisory Group and managing individual projects as required with the support of an external EDI consultant
• Accountable for pulse survey program, overseeing administration, responsible for the analysis and creating action plans, following up on action plans to ensure completion, ensuring engagement and continuous improvement of the program
• Seek opportunities to ensure our policies, documents and processes allow for the team to work smarter, faster, better, and are in compliance with the legislation in the states and provinces we operate within, flagging any trends or risks and making recommendations to senior leadership team
• Other tasks as assigned directed by the Managing Partner

People partnership

• Partner with senior leaders (Associate Directors and above) and department leads to assist with the performance management of their teams and elevating the BrandActive Experience (BAX), including but not limited to compensation, team member development, communications, employee relations, workforce planning and recruiting, and other people-related matters. This often involves complex and highly sensitive issues calling for complete discretion and diplomacy.
• Manage employee life-cycle processes for the senior leaders (Associate Director and above) and department leads post onboarding from creation to maintaining and enhancing (i.e. return to work, leave, paternity leave, termination, remote work, OT etc.), ensuring to notify appropriate parties of any changes (i.e. payroll, benefits, People Leaders etc.)
• Successfully build trust and act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders for people related matters, resulting in proactive HR practices and risk mitigation.
• Responsible for overseeing the Manager, People and OE as a recruiter and people partner, including ensuring they are meeting the expectations set, achieving strategic priorities and meeting project milestones while adhering to BrandActive’s policies and procedures, mitigating risk and ensuring compliance with legislation
• Partner with other departments (i.e. finance, administration) to ensure seamless BAX, compliance and effective employee life cycle administration, seeking opportunities to improve collaboration and automation

Leadership and Professional Development

• Effectively manages the People Team ensuring all deadlines are met, quality work is produced and the growth and development of direct reports
• Lead and coach team members by providing individualized feedback and development opportunities that foster career progression.
• Manage team performance by addressing concerns proactively, conducting annual reviews, annual development meetings and offering constructive feedback regularly.
• May participate and provide input into hiring process for team members.
• Ensure compliance and confidentiality of documents collected and access (i.e. HR admin, manager level etc.)
• Own your growth by setting and updating development goals, actively seeking feedback, and aligning your aspirations with business goals.
• Contribute to internal initiatives that impact the client and/or team member experience such as our EDI Advisory Committee, Community Impact Committee, or our Social Committee.
• Bring forward smarter, faster, better solutions to processes and identify opportunities to be more agile in day-to-day activities.
• Demonstrate inclusive and supportive behavior, contributing to BrandActive’s core values of trust, agility, and growth, commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, (EDI), humanity, and wellbeing.

Qualification and Experience

You might not tick every box, but if you meet most of the qualifications and are excited about the role, we’d love to hear from you. We value potential, curiosity, and a growth mindset.

• 10+ years of progressive relevant experience preferably in a small to medium-sized entrepreneurial business, with experience managing others
• Excellent and in-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, concepts, policies and practices across the full-range of People and Culture disciplines – demonstrated experience designing and implementing talent management strategies and practices
• Experience leading high-performing People and Culture teams
• Experience in the management of compensation and benefits programs
• Demonstrated leadership of full-cycle recruitment, overseeing workforce planning, talent strategy, and end-to-end hiring processes aligned to organizational goals.
• Championed a balanced and values-led approach to employee relations, resolving complex issues with empathy, confidentiality, and fairness while protecting organizational integrity.
• Demonstrated experience coaching people managers in their interactions with team members
• Demonstrated experience managing projects
• Experience with and commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and company culture
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate at the senior leadership level with a demonstrated ability in understanding the key messages for this group
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to adjust messaging depending on the audience (i.e. senior leadership group vs. junior team members)
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills
• Results-oriented with high energy, takes accountability for their work
• Great organizational skills and demonstrated ability to execute plans while managing the day-to-day
• Highly flexible and adaptive in a fast-paced demanding work environment
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building capability – ability to influence
• Strong cultural sensitivity and alignment with the firm’s culture
• Proficient skills with technology and Microsoft office products, including HRIS systems (BambooHR)

Compensation and Benefits

BrandActive offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Competitive compensation: $130,000-$175,000 CAD. Total compensation depends on experience, skills, and location and includes non-cash rewards.
• Values led culture focused on humanity, trust, agility, and growth. Check out our Culture Statement.
• Comprehensive health and dental coverage with no waiting period – your benefits start on day one.
• Mental health resources such as an Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and access to the Headspace app.
• Generous paid time off: 5 weeks of vacation, additional office closures, Flex Fridays, and extended long weekends throughout the summer.
• Holistic wellbeing benefits, including a wellbeing allowance, flexible additional time off to care for a loved one, support mental health, or observe meaningful religious or cultural holidays.
• Parental leave benefits to support you and your family.
• $2,000 annual professional and personal development support, including funding and time off for learning to support your growth.
• Home office and communications reimbursement to help you work comfortably.
• Charitable donation matching to support the causes that matter to you.
• Flexible work options
• Two annual town halls in Toronto, featuring engaging sessions and fun team activities.
• Supportive leadership and career development, with ongoing coaching and feedback to help you grow and succeed, quarterly formal feedback, annual performance reviews and separate annual development meetings.
• Work-from-anywhere flexibility, with the option to work abroad for up to four weeks (in eligible countries).
• And more!

Start Date

As soon as possible.

Location

Toronto area preferred.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

BrandActive is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values inclusion in its workforce. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.

Accessibility Statement

BrandActive is dedicated to ensuring an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require accommodations during the application process, please let the Talent Manager know. We are committed to partnering with you to provide support and make reasonable adjustments throughout the process. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

The Interview Process

At BrandActive, we use AI within our recruitment process in the following ways: screening applicants and recording calls and interviews. All candidates will be notified of the use of AI at the start of a call or interview and can request to opt out. As part of our broader dedication to EDI, we continuously review and refine our use of AI to support equitable experiences for all applicants.

• Initial Call (Pre-Screen): If your application is selected, you will have a prescreen call with the Talent Manager where we will use AI to transcribe for accurate note taking.
• Virtual Interview: Followed by an interview with the hiring manager.
• Case Presentation Interview: The last step is a case study and presentation to our team.

We thank all applicants for their interest in BrandActive, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.