Director, People and Culture

The Director, People & Culture is the organization’s senior People & Culture leader, responsible for advancing workforce strategy, organizational effectiveness, labour relations, and a positive, values-driven culture.

Working closely with the Executive Director and leadership team, the Director shapes the employee and volunteer experience, drives initiatives that support engagement, growth, and organizational success, and ensures the organization is well positioned to attract, retain, and develop exceptional talent.

This role leads all People & Culture functions for a growing workforce of approximately 75 employees and more than 30 active volunteers across multiple locations, while providing direct leadership and support to the Advisor, People & Culture. KWS is actively strengthening and modernizing its People & Culture practices, moving beyond traditional HR approaches to create a more collaborative, supportive, and employee-focused workplace.

This is an exciting opportunity for an HR professional who enjoys relationship-building, problem-solving, and partnering with leaders to create an engaged, respectful, and inclusive workplace.

• Partner with the Executive Director and leadership team on workforce planning, organizational development, succession planning, and culture initiatives that support organizational effectiveness, engagement, and sustainable growth.
• Develop and execute the People & Culture strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, values, and long-term objectives.
• Lead the organization’s DEIAB strategy, embedding equitable and inclusive practices across programs, policies, leadership development, and decision-making.
• Maintain an active presence across operational sites to foster alignment, trust, and a consistent organizational culture.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to direct reports, ensuring effective delivery of People & Culture priorities and services.

• Advise and support leaders on team member relations, performance management, conflict resolution, workplace investigations, and corrective action.
• Apply trauma-informed principles to workplace investigations, conflict resolution, disability management, and policy administration.
• Ensure compliance with employment, labour, human rights, privacy, and occupational health and safety legislation, collective agreements, and organizational policies.
• Lead collective agreement administration, union partnerships, bargaining preparation, grievance management, and labour relations strategy.
• Promote positive workplace relationships and a respectful, collaborative culture through strategic leadership in team member and labour relations.
• Provide strategic oversight of occupational health and safety, disability management, workplace accommodations, wellness, and return-to-work programs.
• Establish and oversee learning, leadership development, workforce metrics, and succession planning strategies.
• Lead talent acquisition and workforce planning strategies to attract and retain diverse, qualified talent.
• Provide strategic direction for the volunteer program, ensuring effective practices to attract, engage, and retain volunteers in support of organizational goals.
• Partner with leaders to strengthen team member engagement, communication, recognition, and career development.
• Provide strategic oversight of the team member lifecycle, ensuring a positive and consistent experience from recruitment through to departure.

• Lead the organization’s total rewards strategy, including compensation, benefits, recognition, wellness, and retention programs.
• Ensure total rewards programs are competitive, equitable, sustainable, and aligned with…