Director, People & Culture

Overview

The People & Culture function is responsible for all aspects of human resources, including human capital management (HCM), employee and labour relations, total rewards (compensation, benefits, pension), talent management, workforce planning, succession planning, employee engagement and wellbeing.

The Director, People & Culture provides strategic and operational leadership across the full People & Culture function to support the OEB’s mandate and objectives. This role develops and implements integrated People & Culture strategies, policies, and programs that strengthen organizational capacity, foster a high-performing and inclusive culture, and enable leaders to effectively manage performance, engagement, and change. As a senior leader, the Director acts as a trusted advisor to executives, driving innovation, operational excellence, and best practices in people management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing People & Culture team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and engagement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executives, the Board of Directors, and people leaders on employee and labour relations, policy, and organizational change.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders, unions/associations, government bodies, and external partners.
• Provide strategic oversight of employee and labour relations, including policy interpretation, investigations, conflict resolution, and discipline.
• Provide regular reporting and insights on workforce metrics, risks, and initiatives to senior leadership
• Lead enterprise workforce and succession planning to ensure long-term capability and sustainability.
• Champion a culture of inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee HCM systems and workforce analytics to support data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, corporate policies, and governance frameworks.
• Contribute to enterprise strategy, risk management, and organizational performance as a member of the senior leadership team.
• Establish and maintain People & Culture policies, programs, and practices aligned with best practices and organizational goals.
• Manage the overall budget, forecasting, financial monitoring, and administrative functions for the division to ensure budget compliance.

Qualifications

Required: A university degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Public Administration, or related discipline.

Preferred: A Certified Human Resources Leader designation or graduate degree.

• 10 years of progressive leadership in Human Resources in a unionized environment within regulated sectors (e.g., utilities, public sector, not-for-profit), including 5-7 years of management experience and direct involvement in collective bargaining and negotiations.
• Proven ability to influence, build rapport, and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Experience engaging with and presenting to senior executives and Board of Directors.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing HR strategy.
• Knowledge of employment legislation and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of HRIS systems and best in class HR and payroll processes.
• Experience working in a unionized environment.