Help make an impact in Human Resources as a business partnerJoin the Ontario Public Service (OPS) as we seek to fill multiple Strategic Human Resources Business Advisor positions within ministries across the OPS. In this role, you'll support ministry executives in advancing their business objectives, driving change, and fostering innovation.
We're looking for experienced HR professionals who have established credibility as trusted partners and advisors among colleagues and executive leaders. If you have a passion for solving complex HR issues and driving data-based decision-making, this is an excellent opportunity to elevate your HR career and help shape HR strategies and organizational culture in partnership with OPS leaders
NOTE: This competition will be used to fill immediate and future temporary and permanent Strategic HR Business Advisor opportunities in OPS HR Strategic Business Units.NOTE: These positions are based at the locations listed in the job advertisement, but flexible work arrangements may be possible. If applicable, these can be discussed and agreed upon with the hiring manager after a job offer is accepted.Information Session:To learn more about this role, and the work of the OPS HR Strategic Business Units, we welcome you to attend our information session. Please register for
April 15th from 12:15PM - 1:00PM or
April 23rd from 12:15PM - 1:00PM. Attendance is optional and will not influence the screening and selection process.
About the job
As part of HR consulting teams within Strategic HR Business Units/Branches of the OPS you will play a key role as a Strategic Human Resources Business Advisor, to provide credible and expert HR advice to executive clients, support and coach leaders through various complex scenarios, develop and/or advise on new HR programs and processes, and manage and participate in organizational change projects.
With a solution-oriented, client-first mindset you can expect to:
• Build collaborative and strategic partnerships with a variety of senior leaders to align strategic human resource plans to client business objectives
• Conduct complex planning, research, analysis, to provide strategic advice
• Support transformation initiatives, including organizational design and change management within a complex unionized public sector environment
• Partner with senior leaders to identify trends and opportunities to optimize talent in their divisions and develop supporting succession management strategies.
•Contribute to innovative solutions on complex and multifaceted people-focused priorities in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and employee engagement.
• Work in partnership with the broader HR team and OPS HR community to address client issues
• Plan, develop, implement, and execute HR programs and projects that meet client needs, ensuring processes and activities are aligned with ministry and OPS priorities, including the
OPS People Plan. • Prepare and present complex briefing materials to senior executives associated with achieving ministry and enterprise/OPS business plans.
As a Strategic HR Business Advisor, you have advanced HR subject matter expertise, are an effective communicator and influencer, seek out opportunities for collaboration, and remain solution focused.
OPS HR Strategic Business Units/Branches are located within each ministry and have teams of HR professionals that support ministry executives with high-value advice, planning, analytics, and a suite of services and programs to attract and retain diverse talent, build capacity to sustain a world class organization, and engage employees through an inclusive culture to achieve results.
Consulting Services units within these branches typically offer executive-level consulting and HR planning services to ministry executives specific to each ministry they support.
We are part of a broader OPS HR Community that works to continuously improve outcomes through HR strategies and services designed around the client, the OPS values, and a commitment to first-in-class service delivery. We are inclusive teams and are open to new ideas. We promote a diversity of perspectives and a high-touch experiential culture to enhance HR practices within ministries and across the OPS.
To find out more about this exciting opportunity and our work check out the Opportunity Overview!
What you bring to the team
Relationship management and interpersonal skills:
You can:
• establish trusting and productive relationships with HR colleagues, senior executives, and stakeholders, even when they have different priorities and perspectives
• identify opportunities to connect with people across the organization and in groups, and help others to improve results
• use empathy, self-awareness, and good interpersonal skills to manage relationships effectively
Human resources knowledge and business acumen:
You have knowledge and experience in:
• HR policies and laws, including collective agreements, and can apply them to complex situations
• current trends and practices in organizational design, change management, employee engagement, performance management, and leadership succession to guide strategic projects
• challenging assumptions and assessing risks using different data sources to anticipate issues, develop solutions, and create risk plans with clients
• understanding client business and strategic goals to provide customized HR advice and recommendations
Critical and strategic thinking:
You can:
• find connections between different elements (like actions, policies, and laws) to identify risks/trends and give strategic advice
• prioritize work by considering the views of clients, partners and the governing landscape
• plan and explain customized steps to manage projects with HR partners and achieve client goals
• use critical thinking and political awareness to handle complex situations and help leaders reach agreement
• identify and address barriers in organizational systems, promote innovative solutions, and reduce impact on underrepresented groups
• use data to make evidence-based decisions
Communication and influencing skills:
You can:
• build connections and lead discussions to understand current and future client needs with a shared vision and clear stories
• use political awareness to navigate conversations and give strategic advice
• deliver tough or sensitive messages with care and tact
• explain and justify solutions tailored to the audience using different verbal and written methods
• communicate persuasively to influence senior executives on HR strategy and reach agreement in a productive and inclusive way
Growth mindset:
You can:
• work with a client-focused, solution-oriented mindset, taking responsibility for your work from start to finish and acting as a true partner, even in areas beyond your direct control
• continuously learn and share knowledge by mentoring others, understanding biases, and challenging assumptions
• use new technologies, tools, and systems to keep learning about data and business innovations (like artificial intelligence)
• be adaptable, resilient, and proactive in finding and solving challenges
• grow your understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion by listening to and learning from others' experiences and applying it to how you work with others
Supporting your accommodation needs:Finding a job can be hard, especially if you don't have the right tools or support to do your best and demonstrate your skills. We at the OPS understand this and are dedicated to making sure everyone has an equal chance. That's why we are here to help and follow Ontario's Human Rights Code to keep things fair and accessible for everyone. We offer accommodations throughout the recruitment process and all aspects of employment. Accommodations can include extra time, material in alternative formats, assistive technology, flexible interview scheduling, etc. (this is not an exhaustive list).
If you have an accommodation need and require help during the application or interview process, a dedicated human resources professional from our team will be happy to support you. Please refer to the "How to apply" section of the “Careers: hiring process” page.
Don't meet every qualification?
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
What we offer
The Ontario Public Service is one of Canada's largest employers, made up of 30 ministries. Every day the OPS is modernizing government operations and improving public services through the core values of inclusion, integrity and excellence. There are vast opportunities for employee growth and development. The OPS HR community presence in various cities and ministries encourages mobility between ministries and job functions, including leadership development opportunities to build knowledge and skills for future roles.
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibilityWe are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's
Human Rights Code and the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer
accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please
contact us.Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace: