Director, People and Culture

BC Transit•Victoria, BC

3d•CA$131,300 - CA$177,600•Hybrid

About The Position

As the temporary Director, People and Culture, you will lead the day-to-day delivery and ongoing evolution of BC Transit's People and Culture function. Reporting to, and partnering with, the VP, People and Culture, you will oversee Labour Relations, People and Culture Operations, and Abilities Management, making sure these teams run well and work together to support employee success and organizational performance. This role spans both the strategic and the hands-on. You will help shape workforce strategy and employee experience, and you will also be in the operational work that makes those things real: guiding your teams through active labour relations and accommodation files, resolving issues as they arise, and keeping core people programs running smoothly. You will foster a high-performance, inclusive culture aligned with BC Transit's values while staying close enough to the work to know what's actually happening on the ground. A key focus is making sure BC Transit's people programs, policies, and processes work in practice and keep pace with the organization's needs. You will handle the day-to-day problems that come with running these functions, find practical ways to improve how work gets done, and use data to guide decisions, balancing longer-term improvements with the immediate demands of operations. As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you will provide guidance on complex people matters, organizational risk, and workforce challenges, often rolling up your sleeves to work through them directly. You will lead the People and Culture team day to day, building capability and ensuring high-quality service across the employee lifecycle, including hands-on direction on significant labour relations, accommodation, disability management, and organizational change matters that require both strategic judgment and practical support.

Requirements

Executive People and Culture leadership – experience leading broad people and culture portfolios and teams, driving strategy and organizational outcomes across multiple people and culture functions.
Strategic leadership and business acumen – ability to align people strategies, workforce plans, and organizational initiatives with business objectives while balancing employee experience, operational needs, and organizational risk.
Employee and Labour relations leadership and judgment – experience operating in a complex unionized environment and providing strategic oversight on collective bargaining, grievances, arbitrations, labour relations risk, and significant employee relations matters.
Culture, engagement, and organizational effectiveness expertise – experience leading initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, organizational culture, workforce capability, organizational design, and overall organizational performance.
Operational excellence and governance mindset – experience enhancing services, systems, policies, and processes through data, feedback, analytics, best practices, and a strong understanding of compliance, legislative requirements, and risk management.
Relationship-building and influence skills – proven ability to build credibility and trust with executives, leaders, employees, unions, legal counsel, and external partners while navigating complex and competing interests.
A post-secondary degree in human resources, business, labour relations, or a related field.
10+ years of progressive human resources leadership experience, including experience leading broad people and culture functions within a complex and preferably unionized environment.

Nice To Haves

CPHR designation

Responsibilities

Lead the day-to-day delivery and ongoing evolution of BC Transit's People and Culture function.
Oversee Labour Relations, People and Culture Operations, and Abilities Management.
Shape workforce strategy and employee experience.
Guide teams through active labour relations and accommodation files.
Resolve issues as they arise and keep core people programs running smoothly.
Foster a high-performance, inclusive culture aligned with BC Transit's values.
Ensure people programs, policies, and processes work in practice and keep pace with the organization's needs.
Handle day-to-day problems that come with running these functions.
Find practical ways to improve how work gets done.
Use data to guide decisions, balancing longer-term improvements with immediate operational demands.
Provide guidance on complex people matters, organizational risk, and workforce challenges.
Lead the People and Culture team day to day, building capability and ensuring high-quality service across the employee lifecycle.
Provide hands-on direction on significant labour relations, accommodation, disability management, and organizational change matters.
Shape the future of People and Culture at BC Transit by leading the overall direction, design, and continuous improvement of people programs, services, and practices.
Drive organizational impact by influencing workforce planning, organizational design, culture, employee experience, talent strategies, and change initiatives.
Lead a broad and meaningful portfolio including Labour Relations, People and Culture Operations, and Abilities Management.
Partner with senior leaders as a trusted advisor and collaborate to solve complex challenges, manage risk, and support strategic objectives.
Build high-performing teams by coaching and developing leaders and team members, fostering accountability, engagement, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
Contribute to an organization focused on serving communities throughout British Columbia while creating a positive and supportive employee experience.