People Experience Specialist - Manufacturing & Distribution

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a People Experience Specialist - Manufacturing & Distribution based in Canada. The People Experience Specialist serves as a trusted advisor to employees and leaders across North America, providing thoughtful guidance on complex workplace and people matters. You will play a central role in resolving employee relations issues while ensuring policies and employment standards are applied fairly and consistently. The position combines investigations, performance management, accommodations, workplace safety, leaves, compliance, and employee engagement. You will work closely with leaders and cross-functional teams to navigate sensitive situations and develop practical, well-informed solutions. The role also contributes to a positive employee experience by promoting wellbeing resources, gathering feedback, and identifying trends that can improve people practices. With a strong focus on confidentiality, objectivity, and sound judgment, you will help create a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace environment. This is a hands-on, fully onsite opportunity in the Toronto area, with regular travel across the market and North America as needed.

Employee Relations: Independently manage and resolve a high volume of employee relations matters, including complaints, performance concerns, separations, terminations, leaves, time and attendance issues, and other sensitive workplace situations across North America. Workplace Investigations: Lead thorough, objective investigations involving bullying, harassment, workplace violence, fitness for work, misconduct, and other employee concerns, maintaining detailed documentation and recommending appropriate resolutions. Leadership Partnership: Advise leaders at different levels on complex employee relations situations, conflict resolution, performance management, and the consistent application of people policies and practices. Performance Management: Partner with managers to initiate, implement, and monitor performance improvement plans while providing ongoing coaching, guidance, and support. Compliance & Employment Standards: Collaborate with Compliance to support adherence to employment standards, scheduling requirements, meal and break rules, work eligibility, mandatory training, health and safety requirements, and other applicable policies. Accommodations & Leaves: Review accommodation requests and supporting documentation, partner with managers on appropriate solutions, and support return-to-work processes by coordinating between employees, managers, and benefits teams. Workplace Safety & Claims: Support employee injury matters and workplace compensation claims while maintaining expertise in emergency protocols, safety procedures, and incident response. Employee Engagement: Conduct quarterly site visits and people compliance and engagement audits, gather employee feedback, identify concerns, and facilitate constructive dialogue and resolution. Organizational Changes: Independently coordinate temporary and permanent layoffs and shop closures, ensuring appropriate planning, compliance, communication, and execution. Hiring & Onboarding: Support hiring activities and ensure internal stakeholders have the knowledge and resources needed for effective recruitment, onboarding, and staff training. Employee Support: Act as a knowledgeable point of contact for employees, helping them navigate questions and concerns and directing them to the appropriate resources, teams, or processes. Wellbeing & Benefits: Promote available wellbeing programs and resources, encourage employee participation, and collaborate with benefits teams to identify opportunities for improvement. People Data & Insights: Collect accurate and relevant people data, identify trends, and report or escalate significant issues to the appropriate stakeholders. Policy & Business Knowledge: Maintain strong knowledge of policies, operations, benefits, compensation, time and attendance, leaves, accommodations, people practices, and business developments that may affect employees. Requirements Employee Relations Experience: At least 2 years of direct employee relations experience, including employee complaints, time and attendance matters, leaves, workplace investigations, terminations, and policy application. HR & Employment Law Knowledge: Strong HR knowledge relevant to the assigned geographical area, including applicable employment legislation, policies, and workplace practices. Investigation Expertise: Demonstrated ability to conduct a high volume of workplace investigations objectively and without bias, identify root causes, evaluate legal, business, and individual considerations, and recommend comprehensive solutions. Confidentiality & Documentation: Strong ability to maintain confidentiality, take thorough and objective notes, use appropriate questioning techniques, and follow through on agreed outcomes. Communication & Listening: Excellent listening, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to navigate sensitive conversations and provide clear, practical guidance. Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical, critical-thinking, troubleshooting, and decision-making capabilities, with sound judgment in complex employee situations. Organization: Excellent organization and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and a high volume of cases independently. Technology Skills: Proficiency with Excel, Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, and the ability to quickly adapt to additional HR and business systems. Onsite Availability: Willingness and ability to work onsite five days per week in the Toronto/Etobicoke area. Travel: Ability to travel up to 25% within the local market and across North America for meetings and site visits; a valid passport is required. Preferred Experience: 2+ years of people-support experience in retail or manufacturing environments is an advantage. Education & Training: HR coursework, a degree, or professional certification is considered an asset. Inclusive Collaboration: Experience working across cultures and/or training in diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, or social justice is preferred. Languages: Fluency in Spanish, French, or another additional language is an asset. Benefits Compensation: Base salary range of $70,200–$78,000 CAD , depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. Employment Type: Full-time, regular position. Work Arrangement: Fully onsite, five days per week, for candidates located in or around Toronto, Ontario. Location: Work from facilities in Etobicoke, including 35 Jutland Road and 70 The East Mall . Professional Impact: High-ownership role with significant influence over employee relations, workplace practices, compliance, safety, wellbeing, and the overall people experience. Regional Scope: Opportunity to support people matters across North America and collaborate with leaders and teams across multiple locations. Travel Exposure: Regular opportunities to engage with different sites and teams through local and North American travel of up to 25%. Inclusive Environment: Work within a people-focused environment committed to diversity, inclusion, respect, and equal employment opportunity. Employee Support Focus: Direct involvement in wellbeing resources, accommodations, return-to-work programs, employee engagement, and workplace safety initiatives.

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