Human Resources Manager, Operations - UBC, Vancouver

What you'll do

The Human Resources Manager, Operations (HRM) at UBC plays a pivotal role in leading the strategic transformation and oversight of operational HR services across the President’s Office, Provost & VP Academic (VPA), and VP Research & Innovation (VPRI) portfolios. This position is central to developing and implementing innovative HR service delivery models that significantly enhance efficiency, consistency, and strategic alignment within complex organizational structures. The HRM will lead the redesign of HR operations to ensure seamless, high-impact service, while also providing expert human resources counsel to units requiring specialized support. This role involves close collaboration with the Associate Director, Human Resources, to support the operational execution of strategic talent and workforce initiatives. A key focus is capacity-building, achieved by leading and training a team of HR Specialists, HR Coordinators, and HR Assistants, ensuring knowledge equity and a consistent level of expertise across the team.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

• Lead the transformation of HR operational services, ensuring a streamlined, client-focused, and scalable approach across the portfolio.
• Develop and implement effective HR service delivery models within a decentralized yet complex organizational environment that provide strategic and proactive support to clients.
• Identify and integrate best practices in operational HR management to improve processes, workflows, and service standards.
• Establish governance structures, metrics, and continuous improvement methodologies to assess HR service effectiveness and alignment with portfolio goals.

You will also be involved in complex HR advising and strategic HR planning, which includes:

• Assist the Director, Human Resources, in the identification, development, and planning of HR initiatives and activities within the portfolio, including equity, diversity, and inclusion, workplace engagement, wellbeing, and flexible/hybrid work planning.
• Support the Director and Associate Director in providing advice for the negotiation and administration of senior academic appointments, managing workflow, developing contractual agreements, and ensuring budgetary approvals.
• Provide expert HR advice to units requiring sophisticated support, including highly specialized offices and leadership teams.
• Advise on workforce planning, organizational design, and transformation strategies to optimize HR support for evolving institutional needs.
• Support cross-portfolio HR initiatives related to talent management by aligning operational processes, systems, and delivery frameworks for consistent and effective implementation.
• Advise on operational workflows, documentation, and HR system considerations to enable the successful delivery of strategic talent, workforce planning, and leadership development programs.
• Provide strategic guidance on restructuring efforts and change management to ensure alignment with institutional priorities and objectives.

Your leadership will extend to HR administration and staff management, where you will:

• Manage a team of HR and administrative professionals, leading comprehensive training for HR Specialists and HR Assistants to ensure necessary knowledge and best practices in HR service delivery.
• Establish performance metrics and accountability measures for continuous improvement and high-quality HR service delivery.
• Foster a collaborative team environment that encourages knowledge sharing, innovation, and proactive problem-solving.
• Implement talent-related processes developed by the Associate Director, ensuring efficient and consistent execution across all supported units.
• Partner with various stakeholders across the University to implement staffing changes into Workday, leading on relevant HR administrative components.
• Chair and/or participate in regular departmental and business unit meetings to discuss human resources issues and provide new/revised HR practices.

Furthermore, you will provide strategic recruitment leadership by:

• Develop, guide, and implement strategies to optimize the efficacy of strategic recruitment support.
• Work with senior leaders and executives on prioritizing and defining recruitment needs and required support.
• Lead the development of new programs to increase staffing levels for hard-to-fill positions, consulting with unions or associations as required.
• Ensure best practices related to equity, diversity, and inclusion are embedded in departmental recruitment processes.

Skills and experience

To succeed in this Human Resources Manager, Operations role, candidates should bring a strong foundation in HR principles combined with a strategic and operational mindset. The position requires a proven ability to lead teams and drive significant HR service transformation initiatives within a complex organizational setting.

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of five to seven years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred qualifications that will enhance your application include:

• Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.
• A strong background in operational HR strategy, service delivery transformation, and complex advising.
• Experience in working within higher education, research, or public sector organizations.
• Strong understanding of HR policies, procedures, legal compliance, and collective agreements in a university or similar setting.
• Familiarity with HR technology, including Workday or similar HRIS systems.
• Proven ability to lead HR teams, with a focus on coaching, development, and performance management.
• Ability to develop and execute HR strategies aligned with institutional goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships across multiple levels of the organization.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse, multicultural environment, promoting inclusion and equity.
• Demonstrated ability to build, manage, and maintain high-quality and productive relationships across cultural difference.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and interact with empathy, understanding, and respect of diverse and divergent perspectives and behaviours.
• Works in a collaborative and inclusive manner, fostering equitable experiences and a respectful environment for all staff.
• Acknowledges, reflects upon, and challenges one’s own biases and assumptions.
• Recognizes and addresses personal and institutional assumptions and behaviours that create barriers to inclusion.
• Expertise in leading organizational change and ensuring successful adoption of new initiatives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare reports and make presentations to senior leadership.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, exercising sound judgment in complex situations.

About the company

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is committed to attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce, recognizing it as key to achieving excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff, and students. UBC's commitment to employment equity fosters inclusion and fairness, enriching the workplace and creating rewarding career opportunities. This Human Resources Manager, Operations role operates within a complex and multi-faceted portfolio, supporting the President’s Office, Provost & VP Academic (VPA), and VP Research & Innovation (VPRI). These areas encompass numerous units, including the Office of University Counsel, Enterprise Risk and Assurance Office, Board of Governors Office, UBC Ombuds Office, and 15 units within the Provost Office, plus 16 units in the VP Research and Innovation portfolio. Each unit possesses unique identities, values, sizes, needs, and geographical locations, requiring a high level of timely decision-making, sound judgment, and support. This position requires close collaboration with senior leadership teams across these diverse areas, ensuring HR services are effectively aligned with institutional strategies. The role serves as a key advisor on operational HR matters, service transformation, and workforce planning for highly specialized offices that demand advanced human resources expertise.