HR Generalist

WHY DEPT®?

We are pioneers at heart. What this means, is that we are always leaning forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 20+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients' problems, no matter where you are in the world.  

This role is part of our Personalized Creative team. We create emotive yet conversion-focused ideas, products and campaigns at scale and speed. Our specialty is hyper-personalized, digital communications that change perceptions, shape new behavior's, and shift market share for our clients including eBay, Ancestry, Walmart, and more!

JOB PURPOSE:

We are seeking a talented HR Generalist to drive operations forward and be a presence for our People Team in our Canadian office. Our UK-based People team has been providing remote support until now, but with the rapid growth of our Canadian office, we’re looking for an HR Generalist to bring local expertise across the provinces we operate in. This permanent position offers a wonderful opportunity to contribute to our future growth and be an integral part of our team in Canada.  

We are seeking an enthusiastic HR Generalist who has a genuine passion for people, processes and employment law. This role is an exciting opportunity for someone with experience in a similar position, eager to lead and enhance our People operations. You will possess strong knowledge of employment law and confidently advise line managers on best practices, ensuring full compliance.

You will be responsible for providing HR support to over 150 employees, primarily based in Ontario, and Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec. You will work alongside individuals who are highly passionate about their work and dedicated to creating efficient processes to ensure exceptional outcomes and experiences for everyone at DEPT®. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work along side Sr. People Director implement a people vision that aligns with DEPT®’s overall mission, vision and objectives
• Ensure adherence to local labor laws and regulations, staying current with legal updates and applying them effectively 
• Serve as the primary contact for the management team on tactical matters
• Partner with L&D on training and implementation to push forward the organizations continued growth and skill enhancement goals
• Partner with Sr. Director on employee relation matters, providing guidance and resolution 
• Support and contribute to the BCorp accreditation process 
• Lead all People-related communications, ensuring clarity and consistency across the company 
• Help drive projects and initiatives that bring the people vision to life 
• Foster a positive employee experience and maintain high levels of engagement throughout the complement lifecycle 
• Collaborate with the people team to ensure our HRIS is up-to-date, supporting data integrity and accessibility 
• Utilize people ticketing system (Jira) for efficient issue tracking and resolution 
• Manage the onboarding and offboarding process, ensuring smooth transitions 
• Produce contract addendums and other necessary paperwork, ensuring accuracy and compliance
• Coordinate employee milestone and events such a probationary period, performance reviews, exit interviews, exit interviews, etc
• Making sure that everything you do contributes to our people KPIs: happy Depsters, voluntary attrition, and health & well-being
• Establish relationship with legal counsel around Canadian labor laws

SKILLS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Proven experience as an HR professional, ideally within a digital agency / the tech industry
• Have strong knowledge of Canadian labor law 
• Driven, proactive and capable of working autonomously while also being an effective collaborator 
• Exceptional organizational skills with a strong attention to detail and a passion for delivering a high quality service
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with team members, stakeholders and external partners 
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost professionalism and discretion 
• Driven and proactive, with ability to work autonomously as well as being a great team player
• Technically proficient with the ability to quickly learn and utilize HR and Payroll systems
• Work with Talent Acquisition team to implement hiring and onboarding process

WE OFFER (SWAP IF FTC ROLE):

• 15 days Paid PTO
• 10 Public Holidays + Birthday off
• Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Support/Benefits (through Canada Life Insurance)
• Learning & growth certifications/certifications
• Enhanced Family Leave (after 1 year)
• A flexible, hybrid working policy
• Buddy Program: You will be paired with a ‘Buddy’ to help you through your first weeks’ at DEPT®
• Tons of Office perks in our Toronto office! Enjoy biweekly breakfasts and lunches, tons of free snacks, and of course team events on the regular!
• A reputation for doing good. DEPT® has been a Certified B Corp® since 2021 and named ‘Agency of the Year’ at both The Lovies and The Webby Awards.
• Awesome clients. Whether big or small, local or global — at DEPT® you’ll get the opportunity to work with clients of all sizes and across all industries. And we celebrate all of our successes together!
• The opportunity for possibility. We want to enable you to do what you do best and help you develop your skills further with training, development and certifications.
• Global annual DEPT® Cares Month in which employees come together and donate their skills to support local charities.  

DEPT® is committed to making a positive impact on the planet and since 2021 has been Climate Neutral and B Corporation certified.

DEPT® is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop, nurture and retain the most talented people from a range of diverse backgrounds, skills and perspectives. We encourage all applications irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, nationality, marital status, and disability.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

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