Senior Manager, IT Business Partner

Celestica International LP • Toronto, ON

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Working with the Director of Workflow Solutions, IT Business Partner (HR) is responsible for leading the alignment between the global Human Resources organization and global IT capabilities. This role is a critical driver of HR operational efficiency, talent experience, and digital transformation, requiring a strong advisor who can translate HR business vision into a scalable technology roadmap and manage high-impact systems from ideation to delivery.
The role requires a unique blend of technical experience in the administration and configuration of core HR applications (specifically SAP SuccessFactors and all its modules), paired with strong business analysis skills to engage HR teams, review and optimize global processes, and solicit technical requirements when business needs change. The candidate must also be a forward-thinking technologist, identifying opportunities to modernize the HR IT landscape through emerging technologies, automation, and AI-driven capabilities.

Requirements

• Strong hands-on experience and administration-level knowledge of major HR systems and platforms, such as SAP SuccessFactors (Employee Central), Workday, Concur (Travel & Expense), ADP Payroll, or equivalent enterprise HCM solutions.
• Demonstrated strength in eliciting, documenting, and presenting business requirements. Experienced in performing objective process re-engineering to improve service delivery and maximize system utilization.
• Broad understanding of standard HR processes (hire-to-retire lifecycle), payroll processing rules, global compliance considerations, and data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, PIPEDA) regarding employee record confidentiality.
• Familiarity with modern AI use cases in Human Resources, including AI-driven recruitment screening, automated virtual assistants/chatbots for employee queries, and predictive workforce analytics.
• Strong track record in project management, planning, and coordination across cross-functional teams and third-party SaaS vendors.
• High proficiency in critical thinking, negotiation, and creative problem-solving. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to convey technical concepts clearly to non-technical HR partners, as well as present strategic plans to senior leadership.
• Proactive self-starter with an "owner's mindset," delivering high-quality work on time with meticulous attention to detail.
• 10+ years of related IT experience on HR technology, HRIS implementation and corporate IT partnership.
• Proven track record of managing and administering cloud HR platforms and executing complex, cross-functional HR IT projects.
• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Human Resources Management, or equivalent combination of work experience and education.

Responsibilities

• Build close relationships with global HR functional leads (Talent Acquisition, Compensation & Benefits, Payroll, Employee Relations, and Learning & Development) to understand their operational pain points and strategic technology needs.
• Lead detailed requirements gathering workshops with HR subject matter experts using Design Thinking, process mapping, and structured business analysis frameworks to translate HR needs into clear, actionable IT specifications.
• Provide technical advisory and oversight on the configuration, integration, and administration of HR Information Systems (HRIS) and related applications, ensuring data integrity and streamlined data flows.
• Analyze and evaluate existing global HR workflows (e.g., employee onboarding, performance management cycles, payroll processing). Conduct feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses to propose system-driven improvements and automation.
• In collaboration with the IT PMO, internal technical teams, and external SaaS vendors, drive HR IT projects through their complete lifecycle. Manage project roadblocks, negotiate timelines, and ensure standard project management practices and compliance standards are met.
• Research emerging trends in the HR technology landscape (such as SaaS upgrades, cloud HRM updates, and third-party integrations). Work with key vendors to evaluate software, negotiate Statements of Work (SOWs), and align upgrades with business priorities.
• Proactively identify and assess how advanced capabilities—such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP)—can be leveraged to enhance HR processes, improve employee self-service, and support predictive talent analytics.

What This Job Offers

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