Human Resources Lead
Location: Midtown Toronto, Ontario
Experience: Minimum [5] years
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, [four] days per week in office
Reports To: Managing Partner
The Opportunity
A busy, growing plaintiff-side law firm in Midtown Toronto is looking for an experienced Human Resources Lead to take ownership of its people function. The firm is dedicated to representing injured individuals and their families, and it relies on a skilled, motivated team of lawyers, law clerks, legal assistants and support staff to do that work well.
This is a hands-on, autonomous role for an HR generalist who enjoys being the go-to person for everything people-related. The successful candidate will manage day-to-day HR operations, lead recruitment and onboarding, and work directly with the Managing Partner and firm leadership to shape policies, culture and growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all day-to-day HR matters for lawyers, law clerks, legal assistants and administrative staff
- Lead full-cycle recruitment for legal and non-legal roles, including job postings, sourcing, screening, interview coordination, reference checks and offer letters
- Manage articling and summer student recruitment, including coordination with law schools and Law Society timelines
- Design and deliver a structured onboarding and offboarding process, including orientation, documentation, systems access and exit interviews
- Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data, and ensure the confidentiality of personnel information
- Administer benefits, vacation, leaves of absence and return-to-work arrangements
- Coordinate payroll inputs and liaise with payroll and benefits providers
- Advise leadership on employee relations matters, including performance concerns, workplace conflicts, investigations and terminations
- Develop and maintain HR policies and the employee handbook in line with the ESA, Ontario Human Rights Code, OHSA and AODA
- Oversee workplace harassment and violence prevention programs, and conduct or coordinate investigations as required
- Support performance reviews, compensation reviews and bonus processes
- Coordinate training and professional development, including tracking lawyer and paralegal CPD requirements
- Lead employee engagement, wellness and retention initiatives
- Prepare HR reports and metrics for firm leadership
Qualifications
- Minimum [five] years of progressive human resources experience, ideally in a generalist or HR lead role
- Law firm or professional services experience is considered a strong asset
- Working knowledge of Ontario employment legislation, including the ESA, Human Rights Code, OHSA and AODA
- CHRP or CHRL designation (or progress toward one) is considered an asset
- Demonstrated experience managing full-cycle recruitment and onboarding in a busy environment
- Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential matters
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust at every level of the firm
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced setting
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office
- Empathetic, approachable and collaborative, with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
The firm is primarily focused on the depth and relevance of a candidate's HR experience and does not require a particular educational background.
