Director, HR and Faculty Relations (Faculty of Health Sciences)

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Job Title

Director, HR and Faculty Relations (Faculty of Health Sciences)

Job ID

66160

HSC- Central Campus

Open Date

11/12/2024

Job Type

Continuing

Close Date

11/29/2024

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

HS HR and Management

Salary Grade/Band

Band P

Salary Range

$137836.00 - $206754.00 (annual)

Hours per Week

35

Job Description

Director of Human Resources and Faculty Relations
Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), McMaster University

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at McMaster University has a reputation for world-class research, innovative education, and strong clinical partnerships. McMaster consistently ranks among the top 50 universities globally for health and medicine, and FHS is instrumental in advancing these goals with 5,400 staff and faculty members committed to excellence in education, research, and healthcare delivery.

Role Overview
The Director of Human Resources and Faculty Relations (HR/FR) is a senior leadership position that plays a pivotal role in aligning the Faculty’s HR and faculty relations strategies with the broader goals of the University. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice-President & Chief Administrative Officer (AVP & CAO) of FHS, the Director is responsible for leading the HR/FR function within the Faculty while ensuring close collaboration with central HR and other senior leaders across McMaster University under a OneHR approach.

This leader will be at the forefront of driving transformation in HR/FR practices, ensuring service excellence, operational efficiency, and alignment with McMaster's strategic priorities. The role requires a sophisticated understanding of the complexities within academic, clinical, and research environments and demands a proven ability to implement people strategies that enable FHS to thrive within a rapidly evolving landscape.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Alignment

• Lead HR/FR Strategy: Develop and implement HR strategies that align with both the Faculty’s and the University’s mission, integrating McMaster’s central HR vision and policies with FHS’s unique needs in academic, clinical, and research environments.
• Collaborative Leadership: Act as a key liaison between FHS and central HR teams, ensuring alignment of HR practices, policies, and initiatives across the University. Ensure FHS’s needs are represented in central HR strategies and decisions.
• Transformational Leadership: Champion change initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness, service excellence, and a people-first culture across FHS, positioning the Faculty as a leader in HR innovation within the broader McMaster ecosystem.

Human Resources & Faculty Relations Leadership

• Team Leadership: Lead and inspire a team of HR/FR professionals, ensuring alignment with the Faculty’s strategic priorities and fostering a high-performance, client-focused culture.
• Strategic Advice: Provide expert counsel on complex and sensitive HR and faculty relations matters, working in partnership with central HR, the Office of the Provost, and other University units.
• Organizational Design & Development: Lead strategic workforce planning efforts, addressing faculty and staff development needs in FHS, organizational changes, and responding to emerging challenges in staffing and budget constraints.
• Faculty Recruitment and Retention: Oversee all aspects of faculty recruitment, retention, promotion, and tenure, ensuring that practices are compliant with McMaster’s policies and reflect the unique needs of FHS’s academic and clinical environment.

Service Excellence and Operational Leadership

• Client-Centric Service Delivery: Lead the development of a client-focused HR/FR service model, ensuring service excellence, compliance, and operational efficiency across FHS, with a focus on aligning to the OneHR operating model in partnership with central HR.
• Change Management & Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement, implementing evidence-based HR solutions and driving efficiencies within the HR/FR function.
• HR/FR Technology & Data Analytics: Leverage HR/FR technology and data analytics to drive insights and continuous service enhancements, optimizing HR/FR operations and aligning with University-wide initiatives.

Fostering an Inclusive and Engaging Culture

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Promote McMaster’s goals of building a diverse and inclusive workforce, developing initiatives and programs aimed at fostering an inclusive work environment within FHS. This includes supporting Indigenous recruitment, diversity in leadership, and addressing barriers to employment for equity deserving groups.
• People-Centered Vision: Lead the HR/FR team with an inclusive, collaborative leadership style, ensuring that all members of the Faculty feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to FHS’s mission.
• Culture Transformation: Lead the ongoing cultural transformation within FHS by creating and implementing initiatives that promote a healthy, engaged, and high-performing workforce, rooted in the values of respect, integrity, and accountability.

Strategic HR Business Partnership

• Strategic Partnering: Continue to enhance and develop the HR Business Partner model within FHS, ensuring strategic support to academic, research, clinical, and administrative leaders. Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on workforce strategy, HR initiatives, and organizational effectiveness.
• Workforce Planning: Collaborate with senior leaders to understand and respond to the Faculty’s human capital needs, providing data-driven recommendations to align workforce strategy with FHS’s goals.
• Operational Excellence: Partner with central HR and FHS leadership to ensure that HR processes—such as payroll, benefits, recruitment, and performance management—are aligned with best practices, and executed effectively to support the Faculty’s growth and objectives.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Undergraduate degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation required.
• At least 10 years of senior HR experience in a large, decentralized organization, with a proven track record of leadership in a complex, dynamic environment such as higher education, healthcare, or a related sector.
• Experience in leading HR business partners and ensuring effective integration with central HR and other key institutional partners.
• Proven expertise in change management and transformational leadership, with a history of driving cultural and organizational change in large, complex settings.
• Experience with faculty relations including an understanding of the University operations and structure and in particular faculty related policies including legislative, contractual, Human Resources, University Senate and Board of Governors policies and procedures as they relate to faculty is considered an asset.

Skills and Competencies

• Collaborative Leadership: Strong ability to foster partnerships across multiple stakeholder groups within FHS and McMaster, including senior academic, research, clinical, and administrative leaders.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically, define a clear vision, and align HR goals with broader organizational priorities while adapting to changing environments.
• Inclusive Leadership: Commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to leading with a “people-first” mentality that ensures all faculty and staff feel valued and supported.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to effectively engage diverse audiences, advocate for FHS’s HR priorities, and articulate complex HR issues in a clear and accessible manner.
• Results-Oriented: Proven success in delivering innovative, high-impact HR solutions that address organizational needs and enhance service delivery.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Strong analytical skills and the ability to use HR metrics and data to drive decision-making, measure success, and improve service delivery.

Why McMaster & FHS?

As part of McMaster’s Faculty of Health Sciences, you will be joining a dynamic, forward-thinking institution that fosters an inclusive and collaborative culture. McMaster is committed to promoting diversity and equity in all its employment practices and workforce strategies. In this senior role, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of HR and faculty relations at one of Canada’s top health sciences Faculties, with a focus on advancing innovation, collaboration, and excellence in the healthcare, academic, and research sectors.

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.