City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

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

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at McMaster University, the largest Faculty at the 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.