HR Internship

About the Foundation

Headquartered in Toronto, the McConnell Foundation is a pan-Canadian private family foundation that supports efforts to build a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient Canada. The successful candidate will join a dynamic team that supports innovative and scalable approaches to some of Canada’s toughest challenges – such as climate change, strengthening capacity for equity deserving groups, preserving democracy and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

We do so through granting and impact investing, capacity building, as well as convening, and co-creation with grantees, partners and the public.

Position summary

During this HR Internship. you’ll work from Toronto in a hybrid setting to support the improvement of HR systems, streamlining processes, and enhancing employee and user experience. This role involves data management and updating policies and procedures, as well as assisting with onboarding, and contributing to inclusive workplace initiatives. The internship offers hands-on experience in a mission-driven, collaborative environment focused on deepening our people-centred systems and practices.

Final date to receive applications: November 24, 2025

Estimated Start Date: January 12, 2026

Duration of Internship: 6 months
LocationCandidates must be based in Toronto, Ontario

ModeHybrid – Must reside within Canada

Employment type Full-Time (35 hours per week), Contract

SupervisorPeople and Culture Manager

Department and TeamOperations

Hiring Salary Range (90-95%)$31-32.50 per hour

Statement on Salary NegotiationDuring hiring, employees are placed only at the top of the offered range if they demonstrate most or all asset qualifications. The Foundation offers candidates an additional 5% on the salary scale when they are based in the City of Toronto.

Main responsibilities

• Participate in research or benchmarking tasks.
• Assist with templating job descriptions and indexing them to our job evaluation plan.
• Support the integration of our competency dictionaries to our recruitment and performance management plans.
• Document our people and culture processes including those with other areas of operations.
• Support the onboarding process by preparing checklists, materials, scheduling, and ensuring documentation is complete.
• Collaborate with operations and IT in the development of intranet resources for employees.
• Gather policy acknowledgements and handle confidential information securely.
• Draft HR announcements, maintain internal HR platforms, and support messaging for HR initiatives.
• Travel to our different site locations and assist with different employee events in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa as required.
• Contribute to DEI efforts, and coordinate training sessions, prepare materials, and track participation and completion of required courses.

Position requirements

• Degree or current enrolment in a Human Resources Management program
• 1-2 years' work experience in an administrative context
• Functional Bilingualism (B2 in English and French on the Global Scale)
• Demonstrates the values of the McConnell Foundation
• Be situated in the Toronto area
• Willingness to travel to and from Ottawa and Montreal as needed

Assets

• Some professional experience in HR
• Experience working in a not-for-profit or philanthropic organization.
• Knowledge and experience with data management, analysis and visualization.

Core Competencies and Desired Attributes

• Alignment with the Foundation’s values and mission.
• Demonstrates commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion.
• Collaborates, building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Instills trust, gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Focuses on stakeholders, anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple vantage points and groups.
• Drives results, consistently achieving desired outcomes, even under tough circumstances.
• Demonstrates a strategic mindset, seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.

Role-Specific Competencies

• Optimizes work processes, establishes effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Plan…