Manager Talent Acquisition

Independent Electricity System Operator

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The IESO is committed to ensuring Ontario’s electricity system meets the province’s needs today and into the future. We are charged with purpose, delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for homes, businesses, and communities across the province. We are energized to grow, embracing opportunities to shape the future of a dynamic and evolving energy sector while advancing our careers. We are powered by teamwork, supported by diverse and passionate colleagues who foster respect, celebrate successes, and thrive on shared achievements. At the IESO, it’s not just what we do—it’s who we are!

Our central role includes managing the provincial power grid in real-time, overseeing and evolving Ontario’s electricity market, engaging with government, municipalities and Indigenous communities, and planning for Ontario’s future electricity needs. Our employees play a key role in driving grid innovation, protecting the system from threats, advancing the province’s energy conservation programs, and forecasting and procuring the electricity resources we’ll need in the decades to come.
This non-unionized role is a part of our Talent Management team within the Human Resources Business Unit.

The energy sector is rapidly evolving, offering exciting new opportunities for those who want to make a difference.

At the IESO, we’re building a resilient, future‑focused organization that supports Ontario’s evolving electricity needs. As our Manager, Talent Acquisition, you’ll lead the strategy, people, and processes that bring exceptional talent into the IESO — and ensure they begin their journey with clarity, connection, and purpose. In this role, you will provide leadership and expert guidance to Talent Acquisition team, HR and leaders by creating innovative, inclusive and outcomes-focused talent solutions. You’ll help strengthen the IESO’s reputation in the labour market, source critical skills, recruit qualified candidates, develop unbiased selection practices, champion positive candidate-centric experiences, and onboard successful candidates.

This is an exciting opportunity for a forward‑thinking talent leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, data, and people. In a sector defined by technological, economic, and societal change, you’ll design and deliver practical, results-driven approaches that help the organization anticipate future talent needs and strengthen our reputation as an employer of choice. If you’re energized by building great teams, modernizing talent practices, and elevating candidate experience — this role offers meaningful scope, impact, and the opportunity to help share the future of Ontario’s electricity sector.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in Human Resources or related field (Business, Industrial Psychology, Commerce, etc.); graduate degree an asset
• Professional designation strongly preferred (CHRL, RPR, RAS, CTMP, CIS)
• 8+ years’ experience in senior talent acquisition roles, including team leadership
• Demonstrated experience developing:
• Recruitment and selection strategies
• Employer branding initiatives
• Candidate assessment tools
• Scalable onboarding and orientation programs
• Proven ability to coach, develop, and inspire teams
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain, influence, listen, instruct, give clear feedback, and ask insightful questions
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution
• Ability to assess business priorities and determine appropriate resourcing strategies
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and leading change
• Expertise with data-driven recruitment, analytics, and metrics
• Experience working with integrated HRIS systems

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to engineering and/or complex IT environments is an asset
• Demonstrated exposure to working in a unionized environment is considered an asset

Responsibilities

• Leading a High‑Performing Talent Acquisition Team
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, and development to a team of Talent Acquisition professionals, serving as a collaborative, values‑driven partner to HR and leaders and delivering innovative, inclusive, and outcomes‑focused talent solutions
• Foster a culture of service excellence, continuous improvement, and proactive planning. Deliver meaningful feedback, recognize and develop potential and address performance concerns. Support career development to ensure team capabilities remain current and aligned with market expectations
• Develop, monitor, and evolve recruitment, selection, and onboarding policies, programs, and tools
• Establish KPIs and deliver regular analytics to measure quality, efficiency and effectiveness
• Oversee vendor relationships and ensure alignment with organizational needs, service expectations and value
• Leading Data‑Driven Recruitment Practices
• Leverage analytics, dashboards, and insights to assess effectiveness and inform operational and strategic recruitment decisions
• Maintain current insight into candidate expectations, market shifts, and emerging skillsets and translate these insights into practical advice for internal stakeholders to inform recruitment approaches
• Recommend and implement improvements that enhance candidate and hiring manager experiences and reduce bias
• Support tailored strategies for hard‑to‑fill roles and emerging capabilities
• Guide assessment approaches to evaluate values, skills, and potential, ensuring fair and inclusive selection practices
• Strengthening the IESO’s Reputation & Employer Brand
• Lead and deliver initiatives that enhance the IESO’s employment brand, including employee-driven content, market visibility, and proactive talent pipelines
• Build and maintain networks across industries, educational institutions, professional associations, and communities to strengthen talent awareness and access
• Partner across departments to ensure career site content and employer messaging reflect our values and inclusive culture
• Lead the creation of  tools and resources that help candidates’ self assess fit, learn about the IESO, and engage meaningfully throughout the hiring process
• Evolve and articulate our EVP to resonate with key talent segments and support recruitment outcomes
• Evolving and Diversifying Sourcing Strategies
• Introduce innovative sourcing approaches — from virtual career fairs to podcasts, conferences, and community partnerships to access diverse and emerging talent pools
• Proactively build and maintain talent pipelines for critical, hard‑to‑fill, and emerging roles to reduce time‑to‑hire and support future workforce needs
• Expand sourcing reach by exploring non‑traditional talent pools, alternative career pathways, and equity‑focused recruitment channels
• Collaborate with the IESO’s leadership team, Workforce Planning, and HR colleagues to translate business and workforce plans into forward‑looking sourcing approaches aligned with current and future talent needs
• Championing a Seamless Onboarding Experience
• Continuously enhance onboarding practices to ensure new hires feel welcomed, informed, and supported from day one
• Use feedback and metrics to personalize and improve the onboarding experience, supporting engagement and early retention

Benefits

• Best-in-class benefits and long-term support in the form of a defined benefit pension plan.
• Work in a dynamic and evolving sector that offers exciting opportunities and the chance to explore new career paths.
• Leadership that values meaningful discussions, welcomes feedback, and prioritizes career development.
• A strong, inclusive culture and a collaborative team environment with a shared passion for impactful work.
• Compensation packages that are regularly reviewed to remain competitive and to best accommodate the diverse needs of our employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager