Director, People & Culture

at  Mental Health Commissio

Reports To: VP & Chief People & Culture Officer
Status: Full-Time, Permanent
Location: Downtown Ottawa, Hybrid - 3 days a week in office
Salary $125,000 – $140,000

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Head Office of the Mental Health Commission of Canada is located on the unceded, traditional Territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, in what is now called Ottawa, Ontario. We acknowledge that for thousands of years, the Algonquin People protected these lands, the Ottawa River Watershed, and its tributaries. As a national organization, we also acknowledge that we work on the traditional lands of many different nations. Today, a path to truth and reconciliation begins with recognizing both the stewardship and the sacrifices of the original peoples. We are committed to recognizing the errors of the past, acknowledging the challenges of the present, and contributing to a new and equitable relationship with the First Peoples.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the VP, Chief People & Culture Officer, the Director, People & Culture is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and annual planning for the People & Culture department. This role is pivotal in fostering a psychologically safe, inclusive and high-performance workplace, ensuring the effective execution of people related strategies, optimizing departmental processes and leveraging technology to support an exceptional, service-oriented employee experience.
The Director will lead efforts to embed psychological health and safety principles into workplace policies and practices. This includes driving efforts to foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture while ensuring compliance with employment regulations and organizational policies.

SKILLS, ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE

• Expertise in HR and People and Culture best practices, employment law, payroll regulations, and ensuring legal and compliance standards
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data-driven decisions.
• Proven ability to lead People and Culture projects, manage employee relations, and drive organizational change.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills at all levels.
• Highly organized and results-oriented with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Champion of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Ability to develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) and HR dashboards to track team performance and outcomes.
• Monitor trends in recruitment, turnover, and engagement, and drive continuous improvements based on data-driven insights.
• Knowledge of Mental Health landscape in Canada an asset
• Experience working in a Mental Health or Knowledge exchange environment an asset.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10-12 years of experience in HR management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing a team or department, driving HR strategy and operations.
• Professional HR certification (e.g., CHRP, CHRL, CHRE, GPHR, SHRM-SCP) is preferred.
• Bilingual (French and English) is an asset.

As the Director, People & Culture, you will possess a strategic mindset, exceptional organizational and leadership skills, and a strong passion for developing and maintaining a thriving, high-performance work environment while ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Your key responsibilities include:

• Lead the development and execution of People and Culture strategies aligned with the organization’s goals. Oversee talent attraction, employee experience, and retention initiatives to create a compelling employer brand. Spearhead talent mapping, succession planning, and career development strategies to ensure the organization has a strong leadership pipeline and is future ready.
• Design and implement equitable compensation frameworks and initiatives, ensuring compliance with legal and industry standards. Oversee benefits administration and compensation policies that promote transparency, employee well-being, and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Champion a culture of inclusion by supporting EDIB initiatives across People and Culture processes, programs, and leadership practices. Partner with senior leaders to address systemic barriers and promote a sense of belonging, aligning with the organization’s core values.
• Lead workforce transformation initiatives, guiding the organization through change by promoting communication, collaboration, and engagement. Implement workforce planning strategies and drive innovation to enhance organizational effectiveness and adaptability.
• Develop and oversee programs that enhance psychological health and safety in the workplace.
• Support the implementation of learning and development programs that support career growth and skill development. Align talent development strategies with organizational goals to ensure ongoing employee growth and readiness for future roles.
• Oversee People and Culture operations, including policy development, payroll, benefits, and vendor management, ensuring compliance and efficiency. Manage the annual People and Culture budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources that support strategic priorities.
• Work with the VP, Chief People & Culture Officer to establish and drive enterprise risk management strategies.
• Support Board related work as needed.

• Other duties as assigned

  This role requires a strategic leader with strong operational expertise, capable of balancing long-term vision with day-to-day execution to foster an inclusive, engaging, and high-performance workplace culture.