Sr. Northern HR Specialist - Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut

Sr. Northern HR Specialist

Terms: Full-time (37.5 hours/week), Permanent

Location: This position is based in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut, with preference for individuals located in Yellowknife, NT

Salary: $101,000 + Isolated Post Allowance of $4,040-$55,178 ( location- and dependent-based ) - range for Yellowknife is $11,978-$19,963

Do you thrive in environments where no two days are the same and where your work has a meaningful impact? MakeWay is looking for an experienced HR professional to provide relational and responsive people support to our Northern staff and Shared Platform projects. You'll help navigate complex people matters, build leadership capacity, and strengthen people practices that reflect the unique realities of Northern communities while ensuring MakeWay meets its responsibilities as an employer across multiple jurisdictions.

Please note, MakeWay’s HR department is referred to internally as People, Engagement and Learning (PEL). This role sits within the PEL team and works in close collaboration with the Northern Programs team. The internal role title is “Sr. Specialist, People, Engagement, and Learning (Northern Region)” to reflect our organizational language and values. For external recruitment, we’ve used “Sr. Northern HR Specialist” to provide a clear, recognizable, and searchable title that will help applicants find the posting and understand the opportunity.

To learn more about the Northern ecosystem and staff visit . If our values align with yours and you want to learn, grow, and develop within a supportive team that shares knowledge and cares, then we want to hear from you! Join us and make a difference.

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as the primary People, Engagement, and Learning (PEL) contact for Northern Shared Platform projects as well as the Foundation’s Northern Program team
• Provide guidance on employee relations matters fostering resolution strategies rooted in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion from a Northern context
• Work closely with the Northern Program team to provide coordinated and relational support to Northern Shared Platform projects and staff, including:
  • Supporting Shared Platform projects in navigating complex and sensitive situations using a trauma informed approach; this could include leaves, accommodations, workplace conflict and employee concerns
  • Providing advisory support in areas of recruitment, people planning, and performance management
  • Working with Project Directors and Steering Committees to ensure appropriate HR policy and governance structures are in place for Shared Platform projects
  • Helping to build Project Director capacity in people management through coaching, guidance, tools, and proactive support
• In collaboration with the Senior Manager, PEL, support compliance with employment legislation and PEL policies across the Northern Territories
• Working closely with the PEL team, support the implementation of PEL policies, procedures, process improvements and initiatives in ways that are practical and accessible for Northern projects and teams
• Acts as a key connector between Northern PEL and cross-organizational PEL initiatives, supporting alignment and participation within people programs
• Identify trends, risks, and support needs across Northern Projects and teams and provide recommendations to the Senior Manager, PEL and Senior Manager, Northern Program

Who You Are:

• Communication : You are able to navigate complex and sensitive conversations, adapting your approach to different contexts, and ensuring people feel informed, heard, and supported
• Collaboration: You build strong relationships and work effectively across teams and projects
• Conflict Resolution : You are strong at facilitating difficult conversations, are solutions focused, and able to help individuals and teams navigate conflict in a way that maintains trust and accountability.
• Decision Making: You use sound judgment when navigating complex people matters, balancing organizational requirements, legal considerations, relationships, and the unique realities of Northern communities.
• Resourcefulness: You are comfortable working in complex environments and can identify practical solutions when faced with ambiguity or competing priorities

Experience You Bring:

• Post-secondary education in Human Resources or a related field, or an equivalent combination of lived and professional experience
• 3-5 years’ experience working with Northern and Indigenous communities providing human resources and employee relations support
• Experience working with Indigenous, community-based, or nonprofit environments
• Knowledge of employment legislation across Canadian jurisdictions

It Would Be a Bonus if You Have:

• CPHR designation or in process, or willingness to obtain designation

If you are interested in this role but are unsure if you qualify, send us your application anyway and tell us about why you can be a good fit for this position. We’d love to hear from you!

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to have an impact on communities from coast to coast to coast.
• Full-time annual salary of $101,000 ($80,000 base + $21,000 MakeWay Northern top-up).
• Isolated Post Allowance of $4,040-$55,178 (location- and dependent-based; consistent with rates established by the National Joint Council ). The range for Yellowknife is $11,978-$19,963.
• Comprehensive employer-paid extended health, vision, and dental benefits package, including an annual $300 Health Spending Account starting on your first day of employment.
• Year-end RRSP contribution.
• Pregnancy and Parental/Adoption Leave top up (subject to eligibility).
• Three weeks’ vacation (increases with tenure) plus statutory holidays. MakeWay has implemented a Substitution Statutory Holiday policy which allows employees the flexibility to substitute another day for a statutory holiday.
• Winter break office closure and 9-day summer fortnight program.
• 10 annual sick and personal days.
• Flexible work environment with remote working.
• An Indigenous Employees Network.
• Committed colleagues and a culture of collaboration, caring, and learning.
• High level of responsibility and autonomy.
• Opportunities and support for professional learning and development.

How to Apply:

Please submit your cover letter and resume through Dayforce by clicking “Apply” or to . In your cover letter, please share a little bit about what inspired you to apply and how your experiences and skills could contribute to the team. If you have any questions prior to submitting your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

We encourage candidates to apply as early as possible as applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Thank you!

Preference will be given to Indigenous candidates.

Hiring Process:

• Application Review: We will review applications as we receive them and invite shortlisted candidates to the phone screen stage.
• Phone Screen: We will conduct 30-minute phone screening calls with the shortlisted candidates.
• Interview 1: Candidates selected to move forward from the phone screen will be invited to participate in a first-round panel interview on Microsoft Teams.
• Interview 2: Candidates selected to move forward from Interview 1 will be invited to participate in a second-round panel interview on Microsoft Teams.
• Offer and References: We will conduct 2-3 professional reference checks and extend a verbal and written offer to the selected candidate.

Supporting Equity in Our Hiring Process:

• In effort to recognize the time and effort that it takes to participate in a hiring process, MakeWay offers a $75 compensation for panel interviews and assignments (if applicable).
• Interview questions will be provided 24 hours in advance.

MakeWay is strongly committed to equity and creating a diverse workplace community. We recognize that our recruiting and hiring processes are key to this commitment. We strive to reflect the diversity of our society on our teams and to provide a respectful workplace and equal working opportunities for all employees and applicants. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. If you require accommodations at any point during the application or hiring process, please contact us at [email protected] .

This role is for a current vacancy and MakeWay does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants.

Our sincerest appreciation to all those expressing interest in the position, however,
only those applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. Thank you!