Senior HR Advisor - Projects

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) is a community of learning grounded in scholarship and academic freedom, preparing students to be independent thinkers, ethical leaders and citizens for the common good.

CUE campus is situated on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton’s historic Highlands neighborhood. Supporting a student body of nearly 3,000, we are known for our small class sizes and our excellence in teaching. Our small classes and diverse student population provide an excellent opportunity for engaging with students in a sustained and nurturing way unique within the Canadian university system. CUE is an institution that values research in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and management. Our vision is to become Canada’s preeminent small university.

CUE is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for work, study, and living. We actively promote dignity for all, rejecting action and language that are harmful to mutual respect.

Reporting to the Director, Human Resources, the Senior HR Advisor - Major Projects provides senior HR advisory support and leads organizational development, workforce planning, change management and major HR projects across Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE). Working in partnership with HR leadership and the broader HR team, the position translates institutional priorities into practical people strategies, uses data and technology to support decision-making and process improvement, and contributes to the effectiveness and continuity of HR services.

Responsibilities:

• Senior HR Advisory: Provide advice and support to people leaders on organizational design, team effectiveness, workforce planning and organizational change. Identify emerging people or organizational risks and matters requiring direction or escalation to the Director, Human Resources.
• Strategic HR Projects: Lead assigned institutional, HR and cross-functional projects aligned with CUE’s strategic priorities, under the direction of HR leadership. Partner with and support HR leadership in identifying opportunities, developing solutions and advancing key HR initiatives. Take responsibility for project planning, stakeholder engagement, risk assessment and implementation, while escalating matters requiring strategic direction, decisions or approval to HR leadership.
• Organizational Development & Change Enablement: Design and deliver initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness, leadership capability, and team performance. Guide university leaders through organizational changes by conducting readiness assessments, stakeholder analyses, and change management plans
• Workforce and Succession Planning: Develop practical workforce and succession planning tools that help leaders identify critical roles, capability needs, workforce risks and future staffing requirements. Analyze workforce trends and HR metrics to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Workplace Culture & Institutional Belonging: Develop and support initiatives that strengthen workplace culture, employee engagement and institutional belonging across faculty and staff.
• Learning & Leadership Development: Assess learning needs and coordinate the design, delivery and evaluation of leadership development and staff learning initiatives. Work with internal and external partners to develop practical learning resources and programs.
• Job Classification & Total Rewards Advisory: Conduct job evaluation, classification and market comparator reviews. Assess changes in role scope and accountability and provide evidence-based recommendations on classification and compensation placement for approval.
• HR Risk, Compliance and Process Review: Support HR risk monitoring, compliance and continuity planning. Review assigned HR processes and controls, monitor relevant legislative changes, identify areas of risk or inefficiency, and recommend practical improvements
• Payroll & Benefits Continuity: Maintain sufficient cross-training in payroll and benefits processes to provide continuity support during absences, peak periods or vacancies. Support assigned payroll reviews, reconciliations, year-end activities and control processes in coordination with the employees responsible for Payroll and Benefits.
• Team Support and Cross Training: Work collaboratively with HR colleagues to identify operational challenges, develop practical solutions and improve HR processes and service delivery. Share expertise, coach HR colleagues and contribute to cross-training, documentation and knowledge transfer across the HR team. Provide support across HR portfolios when required to maintain service continuity.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field required. A master's degree is considered an asset.
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible human resources experience, including experience leading complex HR or organizational projects, is required.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and support change across multiple stakeholder groups is required.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational development, workforce planning, organizational design, change management, talent development, succession planning, or employee engagement is required.
• Demonstrated ability to use HR technology, data analytics and emerging technologies, including generative AI tools, to improve HR processes and workflow efficiency is considered an asset.
• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation is preferred.
• Experience in a post-secondary, public-sector, or unionized environment is considered an asset.
• Formal training or certification in project management, change management, facilitation, or organizational development is considered an asset.
• Ability to provide Satisfactory Criminal Records Check results.

Closing Date: Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Please direct all questions and inquiries to Human Resources at Concordia University of Edmonton [email protected].

Concordia University of Edmonton encourages applications from members of racialized groups, visible minorities, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, women, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and others who may support a diversity of perspectives at CUE. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.