People & Culture Office: Two Contract Opportunities Available

OCAD University , Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

OCAD University’s People & Culture team invites applications for two contract positions, expected to continueuntil May 31, 2024.

PEOPLE & CULTURE ADVISOR (ADMINISTRATION)

Reporting to the Director, People Strategies, the People & Culture Advisor (Administration) is responsible for providing proactive, strategic, comprehensive client-focused advice and support to an assigned portfolio of clients in keeping with OCAD University’s (OCAD U) strategic and academic plans and values.

The People & Culture (P&C) Advisor works within the framework of the University’s policies and programs, OPSEU collective agreements, as well as employment legislation. The role is key in supporting new initiatives and the continuous improvement of services and programs with specific regard for the success of equity-deserving groups.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• In partnership with the P&C Assistant, proactively manage all relationships, developing trust and providing service to managers and staff within assigned portfolio of clients
• Provide strategic advice and guidance to managers on related policies, programs and procedures, and ensure that units have effective people plans focused on initial staffing and succession plans
• In conjunction with P&C team, conduct new employee orientation sessions as appropriate
• Conduct onboarding process for new managers, including reviewing policies, programs and collective agreements, to ensure seamless integration with the University and its culture and values
• Meet with managers on a regular basis to maintain awareness of client group needs and support managers with workforce planning and implementation to ensure effective delivery of unit objectives and strategies
• In conjunction with the manager, prepare job offers and promotions, including recommendations for salary placement and other terms of employment
• Act as a resource to staff on all human resources issues in support of a positive employee experience
• In conjunction with the Organizational Development (OD) Specialist, support organizational and employee development, and job evaluations with respect to the assigned portfolio of clients
• In conjunction with the Manager, Faculty & Employee Relations, support employee and labour relations matters and employee policy issues, as required
• Conduct employee research and analysis, and prepare internal and external reports as required; liaise with other departments and P&C staff to coordinate and collect related employee data 
• Maintain currency and knowledge in all relevant areas of Human Resources
• Serve as a backup for the Senior People & Culture Advisor (Academic), as needed
• Assist with special projects and initiatives, contributing to the successful operation of the People & Culture office

Qualifications:

• A post-secondary degree in Human Resources, Business or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience with special consideration for the professional and community-based experience of equity-seeking groups
• A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation is preferred
• A minimum of three (3) years of work experience providing client-focused human resources services, preferably in a unionized, post-secondary or public sector environment
• Knowledge of Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
• Knowledge of HR policies and practices, collective agreements, and relevant employment legislation, such as the Employment Standards Act (ESA), Ontario Labour Relations Act (OLRA), Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC), Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
• A collaborative and consultative working style with an ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships in a manner that gains trust, respect and cooperation
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills and judgement, with a demonstrated ability to deal with sensitive or confidential matters with discretion
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity, and experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, staff and faculty
• Qualities that include integrity, openness, fairness, resourcefulness, coupled with high emotional intelligence
• Strong computer skills and a working knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications and well-developed internet research skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and participate collaboratively in a team environment

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Reporting to the Director, Workplace Culture, the Organizational Development (OD) Specialist leads the design, development, and delivery of learning and development programs and initiatives, and initiatives to inspire employee engagement in keeping with OCAD University’s (OCAD U) strategic and academic plans and values.

The Specialist is responsible for advising and providing guidance on organizational design standards, policies and strategies, and leads organizational review and redesign in consultation with University stakeholders. This role supports the implementation of formal processes and procedures for performance planning and management to support the success of OCAD U employees with specific regard for the success of equity-deserving groups.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Under the guidance of the Director, Workplace Culture:

Learning & Development

• Devise a learning and development strategy that supports institutional goals and objectives
• In consultation with faculty, staff, managers and stakeholders, assess the learning and development needs of the University and departments to recommend and inform the planning and implementation of programs and learning initiatives
• Maintain, update and coordinate a calendar of learning and development programs relevant to institutional objectives and individual departmental needs
• Lead/assist in the development of learning support materials to foster ongoing learning opportunities for both new and existing staff, managers, and faculty (instructor lead and/or self-directed learning) using principles of adult learning
• Lead/assist the design and development of e-learning solutions (design plans, outlines, storyboards, voiceover scripts, course builds, etc.) using principles of adult learning
• Develop frameworks to evaluate, measure, and report on the effectiveness of training programs; make recommendations for changes and revisions to programs as necessary for existing programs.
• Effectively roll out learning and development programs
• Research best practices, trends and new initiatives in learning and development to inform and improve current programs and initiatives for OCAD U employees   
• Liaise with Office of Diversity, Equity, Sustainability & Inclusion (ODESI), Faculty Curriculum & Development Centre, and other learning areas and stakeholders to consult and collaborate on training initiatives.  

Employee Experience

• Coordinate new hire survey, exit survey and other employees' surveys to improve the employee experience at OCAD U
• Lead efforts to collect and analyze employee sentiment through pulse surveys, employee focus groups and other experience data; and provide meaningful insight to senior leaders that influences action.
• Lead efforts to develop an organization wide mentoring strategy which includes targeting programming for IBPOC Faculty and Staff at OCAD U
• Support the development of a strategy to launch formal Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for the OCAD U Faculty and Staff Community

Performance Management

• Support the development and application of the University’s annual performance review and planning process
• In consultation with management, support the creation of employee development and succession plans
• Support the analysis of performance improvement plans (PIPs), in combination with People & Culture Advisors and Manager, Faculty & Employee Relations, and support management with employee performance feedback if necessary
• Develop and implement related policies, tools and training.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary degree in a related field such as: Learning and Development, Adult Education, and/or Human Resources with a strong understanding of, and proven ability to apply Adult Learning Principles.
• Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and/or Certified Training & Development Professional (CTDP) designation, is considered an asset
• Minimum of four (4) years of work experience in learning and organizational development, and performance management within a unionized environment, preferably in a post-secondary or public sector organization
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience with special consideration for the professional and community-based experience of equity-deserving groups.
• Must have experience designing, building and facilitating employee engagement, learning or training programs and activities
• Must have experience with instructional design and development in a variety of modalities including: instructor led traditional and digital-based classroom environments, eLearning authoring in both desktop and mobile responsive environments
• Sound knowledge of HR policies and practices, collective agreements, and relevant employment legislation, such as the Ontario Labour Relations Act (OLRA), Employment Standards Act (ESA), Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
• Knowledge of eLearning software/tools such as PowerPoint, photoshop, Vyond (GoAnimate), Articulate 360 Content Library and Replay 360, etc. to develop content would be beneficial
• Demonstrated systems thinking approach and familiarity with change management principles
• Ability to train, mentor and coach
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships in a manner that gains trust, respect and cooperation
• Excellent interpersonal skills and judgement, with a demonstrated ability to deal with sensitive or confidential matters with discretion and tact
• Outstanding oral & written communication skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail
• Strong computer skills and a working knowledge of all Microsoft Office applications and well-developed internet research skills; knowledge of Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and LMS an asset
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and participate collaboratively in a team environment
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity, and experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for staff, faculty and students.

Compensation:  Commensurate with experience, plus 4% vacation pay and 7% in lieu of benefits.

P&C Advisor Hiring Range - $34.64 to $39.72 per hour; Salary Range - $34.64 - $45.53 per hour

OD Specialist Hiring Range - $40.33 to $46.24 per hour; Salary Range - $40.33 to $53.01 per hour

Hours of Work:  Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week. 

These temporary backfill positions are expected to continue until May 31, 2024, and are hybrid opportunities;  a combination of work on campus and remote work.

Application Deadline: Interested applicants are invited to submit an updated resume and cover letter (PDF), indicating which position(s) you are interested in , by selecting "Apply Now" below. The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until Friday, November 3, 2023. 

As   an institution committed to art, design, digital media and related scholarship, OCAD University recognizes the profound and essential value that diversity brings to the creation, reception and circulation of creative practices and discourse.  OCAD University understands that valuing diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge are essential to and enrich the institution’s core mission and vision as an art and design university with a local and global scope.

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-seeking groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire .

  OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please  contact  People & Culture for more information or refer to  OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities  .

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.