Diversity and Culture Specialist (St. Thomas)

Drive your Career!

We love our cars, but it’s the people behind them who make them what they are. To market, sell, and service great cars, we need great people. That’s why at Volkswagen Group Canada, we are passionate about our cars and our brand and foster this same passion and drive in our people. We know that the right people in the right positions can do incredible things, and we love making that happen.

Our mission has started. Volkswagen Group’s largest cell factory in St. Thomas will carry out all battery activities – from processing raw materials to developing a unified Volkswagen battery to managing the European and North American gigafactories. Headquartered in Salzgitter, Germany, we are experiencing the transformation of mobility up close. Our goal is to contribute a positive impact to our global society, the environment and the economy. To reach these goals we need your POWER!

We are looking for a Diversity and Culture Specialist based out of the St. Thomas, Ontario office.

We are seeking a proactive and passionate Diversity and Culture Specialist to help spearhead our efforts in fostering an inclusive and engaging workplace culture. This role is pivotal in developing, implementing, and promoting initiatives that enhance employee engagement and diversity across the organization. The ideal candidate will have experience in designing and implementing impactful DEI and workplace culture strategies; including the development and continuous monitoring of meaningful key performance indicators to ensure data-driven continuous improvement. Your focus will be on creating end-to-end, outcome-based solutions that drive a positive workplace culture.

This is a flex hybrid model, requiring 2 days in the St. Thomas office.*

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Development and Implementation:
2. Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing promotion of Employee Engagement and Diversity Initiatives.
3. Implement and provide strategic and operational oversight of diversity-related Employee Resource Groups.
4. Develop, lead, and execute various culture-related programs.
5. Localize global strategies to produce measurable workplace culture aligned with core values.
6. Data Analysis and Compliance:
7. Conduct statistical analysis and use data visualization techniques to provide data-based insights and recommendations.
8. Propose targets, track progress, and make data-driven decisions to enhance diversity and engagement.
9. Ensure compliance with all applicable legal regulations.
10. Content Delivery and Communication:
11. Develop, lead, and execute various DE&I and culture-related training programs, events, and campaigns.
12. Build and maintain relationships with external training vendors, acting as the primary point of contact for support needs.
13. Collaborate with the Communications team to ensure a comprehensive communication plan on topics, programs, and initiatives related to culture, engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
14. Program Monitoring and Best Practices:
15. Utilize surveys, focus groups, roundtables, and other tools to identify gaps in company culture, DEI goals, and employee satisfaction/engagement.
16. Develop and maintain a catalogue of best practices for improving employee engagement and culture.
17. Support teams by creating common tools, methods, techniques, and systems that significantly impact company culture and employee engagement.
18. Apply organizational development skills to develop solutions and lead initiatives that support culture and values alignment, workplace improvement, and team effectiveness.
19. Other Activities:
20. Assist with other culture initiatives as needed, contributing to the broader organizational goals.
21. Create outcome-based products and measures with an end-to-end customer focus mindset.

Desired Skills:

1. College Diploma in HR or social sciences related field or equivalent relevant work experience.
2. 5+ years’ experience in a related area.
3. Proven experience in leading diversity and employee engagement initiatives.
4. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and provide actionable insights.
5. Proficiency in statistical analysis and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Excel).
6. Familiarity with applicable legal and regulatory requirements related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
7. Knowledge of techniques and delivery methods to engage participants and achieve desired changes.
8. Exemplary attention to detail with an eye for accuracy, consistency, and alignment.
9. Knowledge of legal regulations related to diversity and equity.
10. Experience in organizational development and change management.
11. Proficiency in data analytics to identify gaps and measure the effectiveness of programs.
12. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
13. Self-driven with a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
14. Familiarity with compliance and cultural adaptation in a corporate setting.
15. Experience in event planning and community engagement experience.
16. Experience in implementing and guiding employee network groups.
17. Up to ~5% travel within Ontario and internationally.
18. Ability to maintain flexible work hours to account for time zone differences with Europe, when necessary.
19. Overtime may be required to meet ramp-up deadlines.
20. Fluency in German or Spanish is helpful but not required.

What you’ll get in return:

1. A flexible and collaborative team dynamic.
2. Opportunities for development.
3. Opportunities to participate in exciting company events that give back to the community.
4. Competitive employer-paid benefits and overall compensation package.
5. And much more!

Thank you for your interest in joining our team! As the year comes to a close, our recruiting team will be taking a break to enjoy the holidays, a perk of working at PowerCo! We’ll be reviewing applications and will be in touch in the new year. We appreciate your patience and look forward to connecting with you soon.

*This is a flex hybrid work structure, where employees can work both remotely and on-site. However, please note all hybrid work arrangements are subject to the terms and conditions of our hybrid work policy as may be amended from time to time.

Please note that we appreciate the interest of all candidates; however, only those under consideration will be contacted.

Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, family status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal or local laws.

Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities including during the application process. If you require an accommodation because of a disability, we will work with you to determine what reasonable accommodation may be available to meet your needs whether it be as an applicant or an employee. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation, you are encouraged to advise the Recruiter who will consult with you to determine an appropriate and reasonable accommodation.