Recruitment Specialist

Job Summary

Service Area: Corporate Services Department: Human Resources Work Location: City Hall, 1 Carden Street Work Mode: Hybrid Job Type and Duration: Permanent, Full Time Vacancy Position Availability: 1 existing vacant position Salary Range: $77,548.02 - $96,935.02 per yearAffiliation: Non-Union Posting Period: November 12, 2026, to November 26, 2026 11:59 p.m.

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What we offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

Position Overview

Resumes are being accepted for the position of Recruitment Specialist in the Human Resources department within Corporate Services. Reporting to the Manager, Employee Experience and Organizational Development, this role will provide leadership, direction and support for recommending, coordinating/managing and implementing corporate recruitment, selection, and retention strategies that are compliant with all relevant employment legislation.

We are looking for an effective communicator with great interpersonal and customer service skills, experienced in building relationships, engaging others, continuous improvement and demonstrated skill at attracting and selecting diverse talent. The Recruitment Specialist will continuously improve the City’s talent acquisition and retention programs, policies and practices ensuring equitable and efficient processes.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Designs, recommends, implements, and manages recruitment, selection, onboarding and retention strategies, policies and processes that comply with relevant employment legislation, collective agreements and with corporate and departmental hiring objectives.
• Researches, identifies and develops inclusive recruitment, replacement planning and workforce planning strategies/programs for city departments through the identification and elimination of barriers for equity deserving groups.
• Maintains current knowledge of relevant Human Resources policies, relevant legislation and regulations (i.e. Employment law, Health and Safety, Human Rights, Collective Agreements) and related best practices.
• Develops/administers appropriate pre-screening criteria; acquires/develops/administers appropriate evaluation tools (e.g. tests, interview questions), and participates in interviews to establish candidate competency levels.
• Identifies and resolves conflict within the hiring process to hold hiring managers accountable to the City’s standardized recruitment practices.
• Supports hiring manager to provides feedback to applicants on interview performance, interview preparation and test results.
• Designs and delivers selection, recruitment training and resources for hiring managers and employees who participate on interview panels.
• Sources and maintains career planning resources for City employees, provide career coaching, as requested.
• Collects and analyzes corporate and human resources data with respect to recruitment/turnover data, client/applicant feedback and makes recommendations on policy and procedural changes to optimize the organization’s recruitment, selection, and retention of employees.
• Provide exceptional customer service and support to hiring managers by coordinating all aspects of the recruitment process including applicant sourcing recommendations, consults on role specific interview processes (panel, questions, etc.), interpreting and providing guidance on assessments, determining reference template questions, , and interviews, prepares and negotiates offers of employment.
• Support onboarding processes for new employees.
• Advises and supports mass hiring initiatives such as summer recruitment, winter recruitment, paramedic, transit operator and firefighter recruitments in collaboration with HR Advisors and myHR.
• Support departments to participate in co-op, internship and/or wage subsidy programs in alignment with temporary staffing needs.
• As a City representative, liaise with local Employment Service providers and participate in and/or coordinate special talent acquisition/outreach projects to educate and engage a diverse pool of candidates about careers at the City.
• Oversee and continuously improve the City’s Applicant Tracking System.
• Administer the internal and external webpages for the division and perform basic content maintenance and updates as required.
• Develop standard operating procedures and policies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and requirements

• Completion of post secondary education or certification in human resources. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Considerable experience in recruitment and selection preferably in a municipal or large operational environment.
• Demonstrated skill at developing and implementing recruiting strategies that target diverse candidates and ensure equity in the hiring process.
• Experience in designing new candidate assessment tools (e.g. interviews, written tests) and conducting interviews.
• Consultation skills at all levels within the organization which demonstrates an ability to apply a broad perspective requiring an integrated knowledge of human resources management, related disciplines and business processes.
• Knowledge of relevant employment legislation including the Employment Standards Act (ESA), the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), corporate policies and procedures and other relevant statutes.
• Competency in diversity, inclusion, and intercultural competence.
• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills, along with superior research, analytical and problem-solving skills, with an emphasis on quality client service with hiring departments, members of the public and external agencies.
• Flexibility and workload/project management skills to effectively manage multiple tasks and deadlines and respond effectively and efficiently.
• Experience with HRIS and applicant tracking systems.

Hours of work35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m and 4:30 p.m. This position is eligible for hybrid and flexible work arrangement options (as per current corporate policy).

How to applyClick "Apply Now" on the top right hand side of your screen by November 26, 2026.

Hiring Process TransparencyThe City of Guelph is committed to fair and transparent recruitment practices. Candidates who participate in an interview for this position will be notified of the hiring decision within 45 days of their interview. Notifications will be provided in writing, or through technology.

Commitment to Diversity & AccessibilityThe City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Privacy Notice Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.