People & Culture Specialist (Equity & Engagement)

Indigenous Youth Roots

1d•CA$64,169 - CA$75,069•Remote

About The Position

Indigenous Youth Roots (IYR), a national Indigenous youth-led organization founded in 2008, is seeking a People & Culture Specialist (Equity & Engagement) to join their People, Culture, & Operations Department. This permanent, full-time role operates 35 hours per week and is remote within Canada. IYR is a living wage employer committed to employee well-being, work-life balance, flexible working hours, time off for ceremonies and life responsibilities, and actively responds to accessibility needs. The organization focuses on achieving objectives and promoting a results-oriented work environment. The Equity & Engagement Specialist will lead organizational practices for employee support and well-being, including compensation, benefits management, engagement initiatives, and staff requests. This role will operationalize daily tasks, co-design new practices based on market assessments and industry standards, and act as a backup for other People & Culture activities.

Requirements

3 or more years’ of experience in compensation & benefits management
3 or more years’ of experience in designing and leading engagement initiatives
Experience working in values-based, Indigenous-led, or trauma-informed organizations.
Strong administrative experience, with the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously
Proven written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly
Excellent organizational and time management skills with a high attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects and create shared ownership for outcomes
Exceptional Communication: Skilled at conveying ideas with empathy, transparency, and adaptability across diverse audiences, including youth, staff, and community partners.
Coaching and Mentorship: Proven ability to support staff development, build team confidence, and nurture future leaders.
Emotional Intelligence and Integrity: Demonstrates humility, honesty, and self-awareness, fostering trust and accountability.
Equity and Inclusion: Applies equity-driven approaches, centers Indigenous youth voices, and integrates cultural safety and anti-racism into all aspects of leadership.
Collaboration and Partnership-Building: Works effectively across departments and with external stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
Resilience and Crisis Management: Provides steady leadership during periods of change, risk, or conflict, while supporting staff and organizational stability.
Organizational Skills: Balances multiple priorities, manages complex workflows, and delivers results on time.
Research: Ability to perform deep levels of research related to industry standards, cultural engagements, legal obligations, and new practices related to role specific expectations.
Legal Compliance: Aware of the intricate nature of provincial legislation related to the ESA, OHSA, AODA, and other compliance regulations.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in anti-racism or cultural inclusion work is an asset
Previous experience in research, data analysis, or program design is an asset
Certification or post-secondary education in related fields an asset
Certification in Payroll, Research, or Strategic HR is an asset
Experience working with Indigenous youth communities an asset

Responsibilities

Update and maintain organizational records and systems relating to payroll and GRRSP contributions, ensuring accuracy and timely intervention.
Conduct annual market research to develop a compensation strategy for IYR within the non-profit industry, Indigenous workspaces, and the Canadian framework.
Make recommendations based on research and structured analysis to adjust organizational compensation practices and maintain a competitive position in the talent market.
Regularly review, update, and control compensation systems to ensure minimization of errors, making corrections with transparency and integrity.
Produce annual reports for internal review to support executive and board-level decision-making regarding compensation.
Update and maintain organizational records and systems relating to benefits packages and telehealth platforms, ensuring accuracy and timely intervention.
Conduct ongoing research internally and externally to validate current benefit plans or develop recommendations to improve competitiveness and employee satisfaction while balancing budgetary constraints.
Regularly review, update, and control benefits systems to ensure minimization of errors, making corrections with transparency and integrity.
Engage with employees to raise awareness of benefits inclusion, available options, and support them in accessing platforms.
Produce annual reports for internal review to support executive and board-level decision-making regarding benefits.
Develop organizational methods for engaging employees in meaningful ways to increase departmental collaboration, workplace commitment, and individual employee satisfaction.
Support People & Culture and RATH in developing Culture & Recognition programs to celebrate internal activities and successes.
Review organizational policies and practices to ensure alignment with wider organizational strategy and suggest modifications and improvements.
Assist in designing, administering, and analyzing internal surveys and data collection to aid the organization in making meaningful change for growth.
Act as the primary point of contact for employee inquiries related to People & Culture activities, ensuring timely responses based on organizational values and commitments.
Support employees through navigating unique and personal challenges with a high degree of confidentiality and empathy.
Act as a liaison for communication regarding any requests that require engagement or support from other individuals within the organization.
Support the department in completing projects and strategic initiatives in a wide range of People & Culture focuses.
Engage with the Operations team to support the integration of procedures and best practices alongside policies and People & Culture perspectives.
Work with the Talent Management Specialist to identify gaps in tools, SOPs, & workflows and co-lead structured improvements using participatory and iterative approaches.
Maintain an internal knowledge base for SOPs, compensation & benefits packages, and ongoing practices that support organizational sustainability.
Maintain accurate records, files, and documentation to support reporting and organizational accountability.
Engage in organizational collaboration on behalf of the People, Culture & Operations team with humility, respect, reciprocity, and accountability.
Apply cultural safety and trauma-informed practices to all policies, procedures, and organizational practices.
Foster trust-based relationships that support staff well-being and organizational culture and belonging.
Act as a cultural ambassador for the organization, ensuring practices and operations align with guiding principles and cultural ways of knowing and being.
Represent IYR with external stakeholders, partners, and community organizations as required.
Build a culture of shared leadership by mentoring managers and team leads in relational accountability and adaptive change practices.
Facilitate learning cycles within teams to foster reflection, feedback, and course-correction.
Regularly assess and recommend adjustments to the organization’s procedures and policies to ensure the organization stays current and relevant.
Promote a collaborative, transparent, and accountable organizational culture that reflects IYR’s values.
Participate actively in staff meetings, working groups, and committees to advance organizational goals.
Uphold and promote the organization’s cultural values and guiding principles in all workplace practices.
Engage with the Indigenous community and support initiatives that strengthen relationships and collaboration.
Carry out duties in a manner that does not adversely affect own health and safety or that of others by reporting all potential hazards, incidents, and injuries.
Co-operate, support, and engage with any measures introduced in the workplace to improve occupational health & safety.
Maintain high ethical standards and demonstrate integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness in all endeavors and communications.
Support and participate in all IYR staff, department, and team meetings.
Participate in external and internal committees, working groups, or projects as required.
Undertake other duties as assigned.