Director, People

Toronto, ON, Canada

Contracted

People

Senior Executive

Who we are

At Yorkville University and Toronto Film School, we believe education is more than the pursuit of knowledge – it is a catalyst for transformation. Our mission, grounded in democratizing education, is to create access for learners from every background and empower them to achieve their aspirations and advance their careers.

We are committed to delivering rigorous, flexible programs that are both personally fulfilling and professionally rewarding, while contributing to the betterment of society. Since 2004, Yorkville has been among Canada’s few private, for-profit, fully accredited degree-granting universities, with campuses in Ontario, British Columbia, and New Brunswick. Together with Toronto Film School, we offer creative and academic pathways at both the college and university levels, cultivating a multidisciplinary environment where innovation and the arts converge.

Our community is vibrant and diverse. Many of our learners are adults balancing education with careers and personal commitments. Every member of our team – whether in teaching, operations, or technology – is dedicated to removing barriers and expanding access. Together, we deliver flexible, industry-informed learning that leads to meaningful opportunities.

At our core is human connection – guiding people to reimagine their futures in a community defined by opportunity, creativity, and growth.

Who we need

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, we are looking for a Director, People to join us at Yorkville University and Toronto Film School for a 12-month contract with the possibility of a permanent appointment upon successful completion. As a senior ambassador for People programs and strategies, you will be pivotal in overseeing key people and culture initiatives and daily operations. You will develop trusting relationships and foster collaboration across the university, working closely with academic and business leaders. You will identify priorities, set direction, deliver solutions, and remove barriers so faculty and employees can do their best work in service to our students. You will serve as a strategic advisor for people and culture initiatives at both the regional and national levels.

This is a full-time role, currently following a hybrid model working both on-site at our downtown location and remotely.

This job posting is for existing vacancy.

Who you are

You may be a Senior HR Business Partner ready to step into broader leadership, or a Director seeking expanded ownership and decision-making authority across a diverse portfolio. Either way, you want to join an innovative, inclusive, and rapidly evolving private university as an individual contributor on an influential, enthusiastic national People Team. You bring extensive experience partnering with leadership and an exceptional ability to build relationships at all levels. You thrive in a matrixed organization, either in the corporate or public sector, and work confidently with knowledge workers to drive results.

What's in it for you

Strategic influence. You want to shape how a national, multi-campus university optimizes its people practices. In this role, you will lead an entire portfolio with full strategic and operational ownership. You will partner directly with the C-suite, academic leaders, and campus operations to advance institution-wide priorities. You will elevate workflows, strengthen decision-making frameworks, and enhance cross-campus alignment, advancing a more efficient, connected, and future-ready organization.

Meaningful impact. You are energized by the complexity and purpose-driven mission of higher education. You will serve as a trusted advisor who balances institutional priorities with an engaged and supported employee experience. You will guide leaders through people decisions grounded in data, insight, and sound judgment and influence outcomes at scale across multiple campuses. You will work on complex initiatives that expand your strategic, operational, and change leadership capabilities.

Professional stretch. Reporting directly to the Chief People Officer, you will gain unparalleled exposure, strategic insight, and mentorship. If you are coming from the public sector, this role provides meaningful exposure to the private post-secondary environment with the opportunity to see impact quickly within an agile, outcomes-driven environment.

Growth. You will have the support and resources to advance your career in meaningful, lasting ways. We provide opportunities for professional development, exposure to best practices across industries, and the chance to contribute to an institution that is continually evolving and innovating.

How you will make an impact

Leadership alignment. You will partner with academic and business leaders to proactively co-create and implement people and culture strategies aligned with the university’s mission, values, and goals. You will serve as a strategic advisor for people and culture initiatives at the regional and national levels. You will lead enterprise-level change management initiatives and strategic communications, supporting leaders and employees in navigating organizational change with minimal disruption.
Talent management. You will collaborate with academic and business leaders to understand hiring needs, identify diverse talent, and drive recruitment, retention, and workforce planning strategies. You will coach leaders to develop, recognize, and advance top talent, promoting a culture of continuous learning. You will oversee succession planning and career development programs to ensure a robust pipeline of future leaders.
Employee relations and engagement. You will be a trusted advisor to faculty, employees, and leaders, guiding them on HR-related matters and conflict resolution. You will elevate faculty and staff experiences through proactive, solutions-focused employee relations leadership, leveraging data from engagement surveys, exit interviews, and turnover trends to shape meaningful action plans.
Culture and inclusion. You will ensure People practices in hiring, performance evaluation, and compensation reflect equitable, inclusive standards while meeting regional and national regulatory requirements. You will partner with leaders to design and implement initiatives that support cultural transformation and alignment with core values. You will lead new leader orientation sessions to ensure alignment with the university’s mission, values, and strategic goals.
Performance management. You will equip leaders with meaningful, forward-focused performance management practices that enable a high-performing, highly engaged workforce. You will oversee performance systems that support continuous feedback and employee growth and ensure performance evaluations are fair, consistent, and aligned with institutional goals and academic excellence.

What you bring

The experience. You have the consultative, strategic, people-centric expertise of a seasoned HR Business Partner. You develop nuanced, evidence-based insights into leader–employee dynamics, understand business and talent impacts, and identify effective people-focused solutions. You build and nurture trusting relationships with leaders and staff, creating an environment of cooperation and influential partnership. You are a highly effective coach who demonstrates integrity, empathy, and respect.
The leadership. You can influence C-Suite leaders, academic decision-makers, and operational executives. You have experience developing and implementing people and culture strategies across performance management, employee relations, talent development, and engagement. You can navigate complexity, remove barriers, and build momentum across a matrixed, multi-campus institution.
The initiative. You are passionate about playing an influential role that supports and inspires leaders and employees. You have a decisive, proactive, get-it-done style. You identify areas of accountability within a matrixed environment and work in partnership to drive strategic outcomes. You thrive in a collaborative environment while working independently and taking ownership of your deliverables. You are a creative problem solver who anticipates issues and pivots effectively in a fast-paced environment.
The interpersonal skills. You build trusted relationships at every level of the institution. You have exceptional communication skills and the executive presence to guide and influence leaders. You excel at creating clear internal messaging, performance reports, and formal recommendations. You are responsive and open to the needs of leaders, faculty, and employees. You respect and value diverse experiences and opinions and are comfortable using a wide range of communication tools.

Why work at Yorkville University?

At Yorkville University and Toronto Film School, we are united by a shared purpose: placing the student experience at the heart of everything we do. Whether you are teaching, designing curriculum, advising students, advancing technology, or supporting operations, your work directly fuels learning potential, strengthens inclusive communities, and fosters purposeful curiosity.

Here, professional growth is part of our culture. In your role, you will have opportunities to help the launch of career-relevant programs, expand your expertise, and access tuition-free courses across our institutions - from certificates to master’s degrees. Curiosity, initiative, and innovation are encouraged, and your ideas can move from vision to reality.

Our scale offers the best of both worlds: the reach and stability of a national institution combined with the agility of a mid-sized organization, where contributions are visible and valued. You will be part of a diverse and inclusive community where authenticity is celebrated, collaboration is expected, and impact is shared - on students, colleagues, and your own professional journey.

At Yorkville and Toronto Film School, your work does more than make a difference. It empowers others to achieve their possible, while giving you the opportunity to realize yours.

Compensation philosophy

At Yorkville University and Toronto Film School, we believe compensation should be fair, straightforward, and supportive of your growth. Our salary ranges reflect progression from learning in the role to excelling, with each offer based on skills, experience, and role complexity.

This position offers a minimum annual salary of $120,000, a midpoint of $130,000, and a maximum of $150,000. Established hires typically start near the midpoint, while the upper range is reserved for those with deep expertise and sustained contributions. Offers below the midpoint recognize strong potential with room to grow.

We strive for equitable, consistent pay, though rates may vary within the same role based on performance, specialized knowledge, and impact.

Base salary is one part of a broader package that includes paid time away, retirement savings matching, and extended health coverage with 80% of premiums paid. After 12 months of full-time employment, there is also tuition-free access to all our education programs.

We welcome conversations about compensation throughout the hiring process.

Join us

We welcome and appreciate candidates with a range of backgrounds and experiences. If you have 70% of the qualifications we seek, express your interest.

What you can expect from our hiring process:

A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor discussing your interest in the role and your experience. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview.
A virtual interview with two of the Directors, People, to gain insights into the day-to-day and overarching responsibilities of the role and to answer questions about your experience.
An in-person interview with the Chief People Officer to learn more about how the role aligns with the People growth strategy and offering the opportunity to discuss your approach and professional experience in greater detail.
A virtual interview with 2-3 key members of the business during which you will have the opportunity to share your experience and learn more about their employee relations and talent management needs.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical components of life at Yorkville University and Toronto Film School, and we are committed to making these values an integral part of our culture. We encourage applications from all qualified applicants, including women, persons with disabilities, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Asexual + (LGBTQ2SIA+) community and other equity-seeking groups.

Yorkville University is committed to providing accessible employment practices that comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation for disability, please notify Human Resources at 1-877-429-4029.

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Help us maintain an inclusive culture.

We want anyone, anywhere to have the same chance and opportunity to build a life they love and that they are proud of. We are proactive in creating a belonging environment that anyone can be a part of. Thoughtful, data-driven decision-making is core to this success. We ask these questions to strengthen our practices by using data to identify and mitigate unconscious bias in our hiring process.

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