Director, People & Culture

Director, People & Culture

Full-time, Onsite

The Organization

Since 1981, Ronald McDonald House Toronto has served as a place to call home for families with seriously ill children undergoing treatment. Ronald McDonald House Toronto encompasses a House for 81 families in downtown Toronto and seven Family Rooms in hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area and in Sudbury. The families we serve come from throughout Ontario, across Canada and around the world.

As demand for services continues to grow, Ronald McDonald House Toronto is investing in the systems, leadership, and infrastructure required to scale its impact and ensure long-term sustainability.

We are looking for a Director, People & Culture to join our growing team at the House at 240 McCaul Street, Toronto.

The Opportunity:

Ronald McDonald House Toronto is entering an important stage of organizational growth and renewal. As we strengthen the foundations that support our people, volunteers and leaders, we are building a People & Culture function that is clear, responsive, consistent and equipped to serve a complex, 24/7 operations, multi-location organization.

To support this work, we are seeking a Director, People & Culture who will provide elevated operational leadership across the People & Culture and Volunteer Engagement portfolio.

This is more than a senior HR operations role. It is an opportunity to translate people strategy into practical plans, effective systems, reliable processes and clear ways of working that strengthen the experience of employees, volunteers and people leaders.

The Director will lead two managers and serve as the operational integrator across HR operations, talent programs, volunteer engagement, employee relations, policy, compliance, reporting and cross-functional implementation.

The Role

Reporting to the Vice President, People & Culture, the Director, People & Culture is responsible for the operational effectiveness of Ronald McDonald House Toronto’s People & Culture and Volunteer Engagement functions. Working closely with the VP, the Director will ensure the portfolio has the structure, processes, accountability and service discipline required to deliver timely, consistent and value-aligned support across Ronald McDonald House Toronto’s 24/7 service environment.

This role is central to building a coordinated, service-oriented, and high-performing People & Culture function that enables employees and volunteers to do their best work in support of families.

Key Responsibilities Include

Operational Leadership

• Lead the day-to-day effectiveness of the People & Culture and Volunteer Engagement portfolio, establishing clear priorities, service standards and accountability
• Coach and support the Manager, People Operations and the Manager, Talent & Volunteer Engagement, while overseeing the effective delivery of employee and volunteer programs and services
• Coordinate the annual People & Culture operating calendar and ensure key organizational cycles and commitments are delivered consistently and on time

Strategy Implementation & Organizational Support

• Partner with the VP, People & Culture to translate people strategy, workforce priorities, culture initiatives, EDI commitments and organizational design decisions into practical plans
• Lead the implementation of People & Culture initiatives by developing clear timelines, processes, communications and manager tools
• Cultivate a culture of compassion, initiative, inspiration and respect by modelling Ronald McDonald House Toronto’s values of compassion, respect, integrity and commitment, and embedding them in everyday leadership, coaching, recognition and accountability.
• Identify capacity gaps, operational risks and opportunities for improvement, bringing forward practical recommendations
• Inform and contribute to the evolution of the People & Culture strategy by identifying recurring people themes, analyzing employee and volunteer data, benchmarking leading practices, and recommending opportunities to strengthen organizational effectiveness, service delivery and alignment with Ronald McDonald House Toronto’s mission.

Employee Relations, Performance & Manager Support

• Oversee escalated employee relations matters, applying sound judgment, confidentiality, procedural fairness and legislative and policy requirements
• Coach people leaders on performance, attendance, documentation, conflict resolution and respectful workplace practices
• Ensure complex or high-risk matters are appropriately documented and escalated, and support consistent, values-aligned performance management practices

Policy, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure People & Culture policies, practices and compliance requirements are current, communicated and consistently applied
• Oversee employment-related compliance, required training, HR records, volunteer screening, HRIS data integrity and audit readiness
• Monitor recurring issues, policy exceptions and people risks, recommending actions that strengthen consistency and reduce organizational risk

Talent, Volunteer Engagement & Continuous Improvement

• Provide oversight for a volunteer program of approximately 380 volunteers serving across the House and seven Family Room locations, ensuring volunteer capacity and deployment align with operational and family-service needs.
• Oversee the Manager, Talent & Volunteer Engagement in delivering an effective volunteer lifecycle, including workforce planning, recruitment, screening, onboarding, training, scheduling practices, engagement, recognition, retention and offboarding.

The Successful Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced, practical, and empathetic People & Culture leader who brings strong operational HR depth, sound employee relations judgment and the ability to translate strategy into clear, sustainable execution.

Experience & Qualifications

• Typically 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including at least five (5) years in Director or Senior Manager level.
• Strong background in HR operations, employee relations, compliance, talent programs and people processes in a multi-location environment
• Demonstrated success leading and enabling teams (3-4 people), and operational delivery in a complex, service-oriented environment
• University degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development or a related field, or equivalent experience; a master’s degree is an asset
• Sound knowledge of Ontario and Canadian employment legislation, HR best practices, compliance requirements, Pay equity, and people risk management
• Proven experience translating strategy into practical implementation plans and leading projects involving multiple stakeholders and priorities
• Experience with HRIS platforms, people data, reporting, process improvement and compliance
• Experience in volunteer engagement or a nonprofit, healthcare, social service, hospitality, public sector or other 24/7 service environment

Leadership Profile

• Operational and systems-oriented, bringing structure, clarity and follow-through to complex work
• A trusted advisor who handles sensitive matters with discretion, fairness, empathy and confidence
• A skilled people leader who can coach, prioritize, hold others accountable and build a collaborative, service-oriented team
• A strong communicator and project leader who can influence across the organization and manage changing priorities
• Analytical and comfortable using people data and metrics to guide decisions and improve service delivery
• Committed to equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging in everyday leadership and decision-making
• Understanding of cultural humility concepts and applications is an asset

The successful candidate will need to undergo a successful reference check, and a satisfactory background check.

Why Join Ronald McDonald House Toronto?

At Ronald McDonald House Toronto, you’re not just taking on a job; you’re becoming part of a mission that makes a tangible difference every day. As Director, People & Culture, you will play an important role in building the people & volunteers practices and operational foundations that help employees and volunteers support families when they need it most.

• Impact: In addition to meaningful work that supports families during critical moments, we offer:
  • The opportunity to shape and strengthen a growing People & Culture and Volunteer Engagement function
  • A leadership role with organization-wide influence and close partnership with the VP, People & Culture and leaders across Ronald McDonald House Toronto.
  • The chance to build practical systems, improve the employee and volunteer experience, and support a healthy, inclusive workplace
• Supportive environment: The opportunity to work with compassionate people, enhance your skill set, and contribute to a life-changing cause.
• Competitive total rewards package including a hiring salary range of $100,000 – $130,000, RRSP contribution, group health and dental benefits, coverage for mental health, paramedical services and much more.
• Access to four weeks’ vacation and paid Wellness Days.

If you're looking to make a difference every day in the lives of children and families, submit your application today!

This posting is for an active vacancy that the organization is currently seeking to fill.

We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision-making tools to screen, assess, or select candidates.

Ronald McDonald House Toronto is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Ronald McDonald House Toronto is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to building a qualified workforce that reflects the diverse communities and families we serve, and to fostering an inclusive, accessible, and respectful environment where all individuals feel valued, supported, and have equitable opportunities to succeed.

When contacted for a job opportunity, please advise the People and Culture team of any accommodation needed in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code to ensure you have access to an equitable process. We request that you provide your accommodation request as soon as reasonably practicable. Any information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.