Director of Human Resources

Company Overview

Based in Stratford, Ontario, the Stratford Festival is one of the world’s foremost repertory theatre companies. It operates year round, presenting a season of about a dozen plays each year between the months of April and November, a rich stream of digital content and hundreds of Forum events, designed to deepen understanding of the plays. For every person a theatregoer sees on our stages, we have seven people working behind the scenes, some of the world’s most dedicated and experienced arts workers. At this time we are undergoing a culture shift to support anti-racism and anti-oppression and ensure a respectful, equitable and inclusive environment in which all staff, artists and audience members can feel a true sense of belonging.

If you would like to be part of this change and contribute your own remarkable talents to North America’s largest not-for-profit theatre, we’d like to hear from you. We are currently welcoming applications for:

Job Description

Director of Human Resources

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Human Resources will provide overall human resources leadership and support to the Stratford Festival. Within this generalist role, the position implements and oversees policy development and human resources practices to support a professional, equitable, inclusive and safe work environment for its 1000+ staff and contracted artists.  As a member of the senior management team, the Director of HR will participate in strategic and seasonal planning and implementation activities, and work closely with a volunteer Board of Governors. 

Responsibilities:

·         Guide and direct a department of ten human resources professionals (HR). Responsibility for setting and meeting budgets for the HR department.

·         Provide leadership in creating a culture that is inclusive and supportive and cultivates open channels of communication.

·         Work collaboratively with the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion on projects to support a diverse and inclusive workplace.

·         Develop and maintain policies and procedures to meet legal requirements and support employment and Health & Safety best practices.

·         Advise managers and supervisors regarding employment matters, from the perspective of legal rights and responsibilities, and educate employees on current human resources policies and programs.

·         Provide employee relations advice and support, including conflict resolution, mediation, complaint investigations and performance management.

·         Oversee the labour relations strategy for the Festival’s ten collective agreements and support the activities of the Labour Relations Manager.   

·         Oversee the Health & Safety program for the organization, including COVID and other emerging public health issues, to ensure legal compliance and best practices are followed.

·         Manage the organization’s compensation structure and job evaluation program.

·         Oversee payroll staff and ensure that payroll practices are in compliance with legislation, policies and collective agreement requirements.

·         Ensure the Festival’s recruitment practices meet all legal requirements and support the attraction and retention of a diverse work force.

·         Ensure the Festival’s HRIS system is kept up to date and all cyber-security and reporting requirements are met. 

·         Oversee the Company Accommodations program, including ensuring strong internal customer service is provided in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

·         Source and oversee external providers for the organization’s health benefit, retirement and employee assistance programs to provide appropriate coverage for employees in a cost-effective way.

·         Develop and oversee an employee communication plan with support from the Publicity Director.

·         Conduct employee surveys monitoring trends and recommending changes and enhancements based on the survey findings.

·         Introduce company-wide opportunities for learning and development.

·         Oversee all employee recognition and reward programs.

·         Work closely with the HR Committee of the Board of Governors, acting as the staff liaison with regular reporting requirements.

Qualifications:

·         University Degree or equivalent education and experience in a field related to Human Resources Management, Arts or Commerce.

·         CHRP or CHRL or equivalent designation is required.

·         Minimum of seven years’ experience in a senior human resource role.

·         Demonstrated ability to work in a team setting.

·         Exceptional organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.

·         Experience in a unionized environment would be a strong asset.

·         Experience working with a volunteer Board of Governors is desirable.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience in a cultural or not-for-profit environment, or a strong interest in the performing arts.

This is a full-time position with an expectation of working onsite at our location in Stratford, Ontario.

Job Type: Full Time

The Festival is working diligently toward a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. We welcome applicants of every identity, and encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Deaf, disabled and 2SLGBTQ+ folks. We are committed to accommodating people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and beyond. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our Recruitment team know. 

No candidate will meet every single desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you!