Director, People & Talent Operations

NorQuest College

Status: Open Location: Edmonton, AB

The Organization

NorQuest College is the largest Community College in Alberta. Located on traditional lands referred to as Treaty 6 territory, we serve 12,573 full-time and part-time credit students, and 7,894 non-credit or continuing education students, including assessment examinations.

NorQuest has always been shaped by the people and communities we serve. Our alignment between people and place defines our capacity for social, economic, and cultural impact beyond our campus. NorQuest 2030: We are who we include will unite NorQuest with the communities we serve. We will accomplish this goal, in part, by continuing to deliver workforce-relevant education. NorQuest is an extraordinary place devoted to changing lives, fulfilling dreams, and creating belonging for everyone.

At NorQuest, ensuring we are creating an engaging, supportive, and vibrant culture is a top priority. We demonstrate this by empowering over 1,300 staff to serve learners and help them achieve our goals. We have reinforced this commitment by being named one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers for 2022.

NorQuest is a place of connection; a hub for business leaders and innovation; a catalyst for research that’s focused on society’s biggest challenges; and a vital partner to government, industry, and our community.

At NorQuest, we also concentrate on culture because we elevate our learners and the community when our people are doing our best, most gratifying work. Today, NorQuest’s culture is shaped by our purpose, our nine “Qs,” or values that guide how we behave, and our commitments to anti-racism and to equity, diversity, and inclusion. It’s also shaped by the practical changes to our processes and systems that we have made and intend to make. In 2023, NorQuest earned recognition as a  Most Admired Corporate Culture by Waterstone Human Capital. This achievement continued to be recognized through recertification in 2024.

NorQuesters can engage in work they are passionate about, constantly learn, try new ideas, and know that being bold is behavior that’s sought after.  

For more information on NorQuest, please visit their website.

The Opportunity

Reports to:	Vice-President, People, Culture & Equity
Direct Reports:	Manager, People Manager, Talent Operations Administrative Assistant
Location:	Edmonton, Alberta

Mandate

NorQuest is searching for an experienced, passionate and progressive senior human resources leader to serve as Director, People and Talent Operations (“Director”). This position plays a key role in enabling the college to create exceptional and inclusive employee experiences. They enable the achievement of organizational outcomes through proactive, collaborative, high-quality service-oriented partnership and support provided by members of the People and Talent Operations division.

Reporting to the Vice President, People, Culture & Equity, the Director collaborates across the college to lead in the development and implementation of strategic human resources and talent management programs designed to enable achievement of the college’s strategic plan NorQuest 2030: We are who we include focusing on creating an adaptive and inclusive organization as a purpose-driven employer of choice. The Director will lead in the implementation of approaches included in NorQuest’s People Strategy, designed to attract, grow, and develop team members through a people-first approach that sparks innovation and continuous learning. They will advance efforts to ensure a safe, welcoming, supportive, and flexible workplace and learning environment for all. The Director will play a key role in fulfilling our commitment to becoming an inclusive, anti-racist, and decolonized organization through an ongoing focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion. This position will engage in meaningful consultation and collaboration to inform approaches and will partner with the Office of Equity and the NorQuest community to help build a more equitable and inclusive environment for all.

Key Accountabilities

The Director provides values-based, supportive, and inclusive leadership to the People & Talent Operations division (3 direct reports, 14 indirect reports) by providing clear direction while removing barriers to success and supporting the engagement, growth, and development of the division at individual and team levels. They will effectively communicate with their teams and prioritize the ongoing development of relationships, trust, and psychological safety across the division. In collaboration with the People, Culture & Equity leadership team, the Director is responsible for effectively managing the budget for the division as well as reporting and presenting on a variety of topics both internally and externally. They will also develop and maintain several policies and procedures that fall under the responsibility of the division.

As a member of the senior leadership team, this position plays an active role in developing and influencing strategy that spreads across the organization. The position supports the strategic direction and related business initiatives as a member of the Strategic Operations Committee and serves on other college-wide and external committees as a representative of People, Culture & Equity. The Director provides strategic leadership and consultative support to college leaders for setting goals, policy development, staffing allocation and management to ensure the needs of the College are met.

The Director serves as a key point of contact, support and advisor to the Executive Team and partners with the Vice-President, People, Culture & Equity on completing a variety of projects as required. They present to the Executive team on a variety of topics associated with the People Strategy and bring updates on legislative changes as required. The Director leads efforts surrounding the development of action plans based on employee feedback and data from a variety of sources (i.e. – people metrics, employee engagement and psychological safety surveys and stay and exit interviews). The Director presents on relevant themes that surface from employee feedback and offers recommendations to the Executive Team to consider. They support the President and CEO by assisting in developing the succession plan for both the executive team and supports this group with the development and implementation of organizational change plans in partnership with the Director, Organizational Development & Effectiveness as required.

The Director plays a key role in proactively managing organizational employee and labour relations and proactively works to maintain strong relationships with union and association partners. The Director will be involved in the collective bargaining process and will ensure accurate application and interpretation of collective agreements, initiating education sessions for leaders as required. They will oversee the handling of grievances and ensure compliance with relevant legislation. This position will represent the employer before external legislative bodies (i.e. – grievance arbitrations, human rights conciliations etc.) in partnership with people leaders and team members as required. This position also ensures adherence to current principles of organizational design and advises on organizational design efforts and accompanying change plans.

The Director will serve as a role model and a champion for NorQuest’s Q’s (values) including “find ways forward, be dependable, we>they, work at play and play at work, be compassionate, lead from where you are, start small and think big, have honest conversations” and “be boldy curious and intentionally courageous.” Recognizing that strong organizational culture is only possible when behaviours and actions align with stated values and aspirations, this position will enable their team to support areas to address conflicts and challenges in ways that encourage values-based behaviours and interactions. This will be achieved by providing proactive coaching, partnership and supports while supporting the development of competencies which enable the growth needed to develop strengths in these areas.

First Year Deliverables / Measures of Success

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

• Develop strong relationships with direct and indirect reports and become clear on their career aspirations and how engagement and psychological safety may be enhanced within the team.
• Cultivate trusted and collaborative working relationships with Dean and Director colleagues as well as union and association partners.
• Influence organizational strategies and approaches in a manner that considers employee experience impacts while reducing organizational risks.
• Become fluent in the organizational strategies across the college and within People, Culture & Equity, supporting in the development of strategic approaches to advancing efforts towards achievement.
• Demonstrate strong ownership and accountability for results of the functional areas they oversee.
• Ensure high-quality and timely divisional support and partnership is experienced across the college in all areas,
• Successfully lead projects from ideation to completion focused on leveraging technology and managing teams, resources and priorities to get projects completed effectively and within required timeframes.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the college’s commitments to ED&I, decolonization and Indigenization and share how the division’s processes, practices and approaches have evolved in these areas.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education & Experience

The ideal candidate for this role will have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in human resources with at least 5 years of leadership experience within a complex, multi-disciplinary and evolving organization. Experience in labour relations, including collective bargaining, and managing the administration of collective agreements within a complex union environment is required. Experience working in a post-secondary environment and/or a complex public sector environment would be an asset. A university degree in Human Resources or equivalent and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation is required. A combination of education and experience will be considered.

The Director will possess exceptional verbal and written communication skills and have strengths in organizing information and developing and delivering strong presentations tailored to audiences. They will lead in the development of innovative approaches to process challenges, leveraging technology and continually improving and streamlining processes wherever possible.

This position will have established a track record of developing and executing on strategic plans that enable the achievement of short and long-term organizational goals. They will possess strong leadership and relationship-development skills and have well-established approaches to driving employee engagement with those they have led. The Director will have a well-defined sense of diplomacy, including solid negotiation, conflict resolution and people management skills. They will thrive in a fast-paced environment, and bring strengths in critical and logical thinking, analysis, and reasoning as well as strong problem identification, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.

The successful candidate will have the ability to self-manage short-term priorities and longer-term projects focused on evolving employee experiences and people practices at the college. They will have the ability to monitor the external environment and propose organizational approaches informed by data gathered both within and outside of the college.

Competencies and Attributes:

• Focus on the Future – anticipate how learner and employee needs will change over time, and proactively respond.
• Execute on Plans – drive key business processes to optimize business performance; demonstrate sound judgement, business and financial acumen in decision making; and empower and coach decision-making at the appropriate level.
• Innovate & Lead Change – Question current practices and the status quo and make changes to improve processes and systems across the organization; shift the thinking about how the College will operate in the future; and support a culture of research and inquiry which includes showing openness and building excitement around new possibilities and opportunities.
• Connect & Collaborate – Take the initiative to seek out and build strategic partnerships and key relationships with external stakeholders; demonstrate and maintain leadership presence throughout the entire organization; and listen to others and exchange information proactively, across teams to create cross-enterprise integration.
• Develop People & Culture – Demonstrate authenticity, vulnerability, and humility and receives feedback openly; demonstrates self-confidence, managerial courage and credibility as a leader; coach, mentor; lead with a focus on NorQuest’s future leaders; create a culture where people embrace the learnings from both successes and failures.

The Compensation

The salary range for this position is $138,988 – $190,798/ yr.

There is immediate access to a great pension and benefit program. NorQuest’s benefits focus on wellness and personal and professional growth, providing flexibility to meet the needs of NorQuesters. We provide culture and learning opportunities, staying connected to our communities and values.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

NorQuest College is on a journey to become an inclusive, anti-racist, and decolonized organization. NorQuesters are trailblazers – we are curious, creative, and innovative – our lived experiences are honoured, creating accessibility and a sense of belonging for everyone.  

NorQuest 2030 We Are Who We Include illustrates that NorQuest’s strength and our difference comes from who is included, and along with our students, we are learning and growing to listen deeply and say what we feel.  

NorQuest College is committed to being an employer of choice for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people by recognizing, respecting, and supporting Indigenous people’s self-determination through the institution’s work in decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.  

NorQuesters are Difference Makers.

So, how do we make a difference?

• We empower NorQuesters. When it comes to working, we offer flexibility in terms of where and how you work (on campus or at home). NorQuesters are expected to embody our Qs—lead from where you are, be dependable, find ways forward, to name a few — but how you do that is your choice!
• We unlock potential. Whether it’s newcomers to Canada who want to improve their English, students who want to complete their academic upgrading, learners pursuing post-secondary education, or anyone who wishes to strengthen their skills through professional development, our passion to educate touches people of all levels and all backgrounds.
• We strengthen Alberta. From our graduates who hit the ground running, to our partnerships with government, industry, and business, to our commitment to communities, including a dedicated focus on Indigenous communities, we contribute to the province and make it stronger. We strive to be an employer of choice for First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in Canada by leading, supporting, and being an ally through our work toward decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.

Application Instructions

If this opportunity excites you, please send a resume and cover letter to connect@mullenleadership.com with the job title and organization name in the subject line of your email on or before August 24^th, 2025, at 11:59 pm.