People Services Lead

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario • Toronto, ON

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is an agency where innovation thrives, ideas flourish, and passion drives us to new heights of excellence. Reporting to the Ministry of the Attorney General, the AGCO is responsible for regulating Ontario’s vibrant alcohol, gaming, horse racing, and private retail cannabis sectors in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, and in the public interest. AGCO’s People & Culture Division is seeking a dynamic and experienced People Services Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping how we deliver high-quality HR services across the organization. Reporting to the Director, Human Resources, this role is central to the effective planning, coordination, and delivery of AGCO’s People Services portfolio, spanning talent acquisition, employee and labour relations support, HR compliance, and people data administration. As a trusted advisor and functional leader, the People Services Lead provides expert analysis, sound judgment, and coordinated leadership to support informed decision-making and proactive risk management. Working collaboratively across HR teams and alongside senior leaders, this role influences outcomes through guidance, coaching, standard-setting, and process leadership—driving consistency, quality, and continuous improvement in how we serve our people and the organization. The AGCO is an Ontario provincial regulatory agency that reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General. We are responsible for regulating the alcohol, gaming, horse racing and cannabis retail sectors in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, and in the public interest. The AGCO is proud to be recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for the second year in a row. This annual distinction reflects our commitment to cultivating a workplace environment that prioritizes employee well-being, emphasizing work-life balance, mental health resources, and opportunities for professional growth. We remain committed to fostering a supportive and rewarding work environment for our employees.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• CHRL designation required.
• Strong knowledge of ESA, OH&S, Human Rights, and employment legislation.
• 8+ years of progressive HR experience in a complex, unionized environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading HR operations, policy, and recruitment frameworks.
• Understanding of collective agreements and public-sector governance.
• Awareness of HR trends and best practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including negotiation, senior management presentations, and issues management.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, objectives, or activities.
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people is required.
• The successful candidate must be eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to a criminal background check.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional oversight and coordination of day-to-day People Services operations to ensure consistent delivery of HR administration and services.
• Act as a senior escalation and advisory point for HR operations matters related to talent acquisition, onboarding, HR policies, and HR programs.
• Set standards, frameworks, and service expectations for HR administrative processes, ensuring alignment with policies, procedures, and legislative requirements.
• Coach, advise, and support HR team members and stakeholders to ensure practices comply with legislation, approved guidelines, and best practices.
• Partner with Senior HR Business Partners on employee and labour relations matters as required.
• Support audits, special HR initiatives, reporting, and continuous improvement projects.
• Provide expert labour relations advisory and coordination support to the Director, Human Resources.
• Advise on labour relations implications of HR programs, policies, workforce initiatives, and organizational changes.
• Identify emerging labour relations risks and issues and support the development of mitigation strategies in collaboration with Senior HR Business Partners and leadership.
• Support collective bargaining and contingency planning activities by preparing data, analysis, briefing materials, and documentation to assist the Director, Human Resources, before, during, and following bargaining processes.
• Lead and coordinate recruitment and onboarding processes, ensuring alignment with collective agreements, policies, legislation, and DI&A objectives.
• Conduct full-cycle recruitment for designated roles and provide expert support for senior-level recruitment as needed.
• Analyzes recruitment metrics and trends, recommending improvements to achieve agreed KPIs (e.g., time to fill, quality of hire).
• Collaborate with Total Rewards & HRIS Specialists on job evaluation, levelling, and compensation-related advisory support.
• Provide subject matter leadership to ensure HR policies and procedures are current, compliant, and aligned with best practices.
• Supports skill development and knowledge sharing across the HR team through mentoring, training, and informal coaching.

Benefits

• Generous time-off policy, including 2 volunteer days to contribute to causes that matter to you.
• Defined benefit pension plans to secure your financial future.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, with 100% employer-paid premiums.
• Well-being credits to support gym memberships, therapy, financial planning, and more.
• Employer-paid parental leave top-up.
• Professional development opportunities with access to training programs, leadership resources, and reimbursement for professional memberships.
• 24/7 confidential support through our Employee Assistance Program.
• Convenient, central location near the subway line for easy access when working in the office. Paid onsite parking is also available.

What This Job Offers

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