HR Generalist

Harbourfront Centre is a leading cultural institution in Toronto, celebrated for its vibrant arts, culture, community and recreational programs. As a not-for-profit organization, we are committed to enriching the lives of diverse communities through creativity, innovation, connection and excellence. A multi-faceted campus, Harbourfront Centre includes programming across arts, culture, recreation and learning, as well as commercial businesses that generate essential revenue to support operations.

We are currently seeking an organized and collaborative HR Generalist to support key aspects of the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, employee documentation and HR administration, while also taking ownership of projects that strengthen and modernize the department’s processes and practices.

Position Title: HR Generalist

Department: People & Culture

Reporting To: Head of People

Number of Vacancies: 1

Employment Type: Full-time

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Compensation: Annual salary of $65,000 – $80,000, plus a comprehensive benefits package

Location: Toronto, at our lakeside campus

POSITION OVERVIEW

The HR Generalist performs a broad, hands-on role that combines day-to-day human resources operations with project coordination, process improvement and the development of HR infrastructure. Beyond supporting key aspects of the employee lifecycle and HR administration, a key focus will be improving the overall employee and candidate experience through the development of consistent processes, centralized documentation, effective HR tools and reporting, and accessible HR resources.

RESPONSIBILITIES

* Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

• Coordinate and support full-cycle recruitment activities, from job posting and candidate screening through interview coordination, reference checks and offer preparation.
• Partner with hiring managers to coordinate recruitment requirements and maintain an organized, consistent hiring process.
• Support the development and standardization of recruitment tools, templates and resources.
• Map and document the end-to-end recruitment journey, identifying opportunities to improve candidate experience, efficiency and consistency.
• Maintain accurate recruitment records and monitor recruitment activity and key metrics.
• Support employer branding and recruitment-related initiatives as required.

* Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle

• Coordinate the onboarding process for new employees, ensuring a consistent, welcoming and positive experience.
• Develop and implement a structured new hire orientation program, including presentation materials, onboarding resources, checklists and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate pre-employment requirements, new hire paperwork, system access and orientation logistics in partnership with relevant departments.
• Support employee lifecycle activities, including transfers, changes in employment status, leaves and offboarding.
• Map and document key employee lifecycle processes, identifying opportunities to streamline and improve the employee experience.
• Maintain onboarding and offboarding documentation, templates and process guides.

* HR Policies, Procedures & Documentation

• Assist with reviewing, updating and maintaining HR policies, procedures and employee-facing documentation.
• Conduct research and support the development of new policies and procedures in response to organizational needs, legislative changes and evolving HR practices.
• Maintain current HR templates, forms, guidelines and process documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve consistency, accessibility and usability of HR information.
• Support the communication and implementation of policy and process updates.

* HR SharePoint & Document Management

• Manage and maintain the HR SharePoint site as a centralized resource for HR information, tools, templates and documentation.
• Lead the organization and centralization of HR files, ensuring consistent naming conventions, folder structures, version control and document management practices.
• Review existing HR documentation and identify opportunities to consolidate, organize and improve accessibility.
• Develop and maintain a user-friendly HR resource hub for employees and managers.
• Establish appropriate document management practices, including confidentiality, access permissions, retention and version control.
• Regularly review and update SharePoint content to ensure information remains accurate and relevant.

* HR Projects & Process Improvement

• Lead and support HR projects from planning and development through implementation.
• Identify opportunities to streamline HR processes, improve efficiencies and enhance the employee experience.
• Develop process maps, workflow documentation, standard operating procedures and supporting tools.
• Support the development and implementation of new HR initiatives, programs and resources.
• Coordinate project timelines, deliverables, stakeholder input and progress updates.
• Work collaboratively with the HR team and other departments to implement improvements and ensure successful adoption.

* HR Reporting, Dashboards & Analytics

• Develop and maintain HR dashboards and reporting tools to support departmental visibility and decision-making.
• Track and report on key HR metrics, including recruitment activity, vacancies, time-to-fill, onboarding progress, employee movement and other relevant workforce indicators.
• Maintain accurate HR data and support data integrity across HR systems and records.
• Identify trends, prepare reports and summarize findings to support HR planning and continuous improvement.
• Look for opportunities to automate recurring reports and improve the accessibility of HR information.

* General HR Support

• Provide day-to-day administrative and operational support to the HR department.
• Respond to routine employee and manager inquiries and direct more complex matters to the appropriate HR team member.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee records and HR documentation.
• Support employee engagement, learning and development and other HR initiatives as required.
• Provide general support across HR functions based on departmental priorities and evolving business needs.

REQUIREMENTS

• Post-secondary education in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field.
• Approximately 3–5 years of progressive experience in human resources, preferably in a generalist or HR operations capacity.
• CHRP designation or working towards the designation is considered an asset.
• Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding and employee lifecycle processes.
• Experience reviewing HR policies, developing documentation and supporting HR projects.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365, particularly SharePoint, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience developing dashboards, reports and tracking tools; familiarity with Excel reporting is an asset.
• Experience with HRIS, applicant tracking systems and digital document management is an asset.
• Knowledge of Ontario employment standards and general HR practices.
• Must be legally eligible to work in Canada on a full-time, ongoing basis.

OUR VALUES

At Harbourfront Centre, our values - Open, Brave, Rigorous, and Kind - reflect our commitment to inclusivity, imaginative risk-taking, excellence, and respect, ensuring enriching experiences for all.

HOW TO APPLY

Harbourfront Centre is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Acceptable applications must include a current resume and a cover letter indicating why you wish to join the team and how you would meet the criteria for this position.

We invite qualified applicants to submit their candidacy to jobs@harbourfrontcentre.com by no later than November 25, 2026. Please quote HR Generalist in the subject line of your application. Applications will be reviewed and actioned on a rolling basis, as such early submission is encouraged. 

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. Suitable accommodations will be available upon request during the hiring process. Please know that our recruitment process does not involve the use of Artificial Intelligence tools; the review of received applications and hiring decisions are made by a team of people.