Director, Strategic HR & Culture

Our client within advisory is seeking a Director, Strategic HR & Culture to join their leadership team. This role is responsible for designing, evolving, and operationalizing the firm’s people systems to support a high-performance, high-trust organization. This role will take the strong HR and cultural foundation already in place and elevate it into a scalable, data-informed, and disciplined operating system for hiring, performance, development, engagement, and organizational effectiveness.

This is a strategic and hands-on role operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment that values initiative, independent thinking, and thoughtful judgment. The successful candidate will bring structure and clarity without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.

Primary Duties

Strategic Hiring & Talent Acquisition

• Implement structured, consistent hiring processes across the firm, with standardized interviews and scoring frameworks. Continuously refine hiring processes using data and outcomes
• Partner with leaders to ensure hiring decisions are high-quality, timely, and aligned with long-term needs
• Support internal mobility and succession planning initiatives

Performance Management & Feedback Systems

• Build and evolve the firm’s A+ Team initiative
• Evolve the firm’s performance management approach toward continuous, forward-looking development with effective goal tracking processes
• Support leaders in delivering effective, consistent 1:1 conversations and feedback
• Improve fairness and consistency in performance evaluation practices
• Ensure alignment between individual goals, team priorities, and company objectives
• Support managers with coaching, accountability, and difficult conversations when needed

Employee Engagement & Culture

• Strengthen and scale the firm’s culture of trust, accountability, collaboration, and growth
• Operationalize engagement practices that support motivation, development, and retention
• Identify and address cultural friction points, communication gaps, and organizational silos
• Support initiatives that reinforce a “white-glove” experience internally and externally
• Partner with leadership to maintain a strong, values-aligned employee experience

Learning, Development & Internal Mobility

• Expand and operationalize employee development and goal support programs
• Support employees and managers in defining and progressing development goals
• Increase engagement with learning programs, leadership development, and coaching resources
• Identify and build internal talent pipelines to support long-term organizational growth
• Help create practical development pathways for high-potential A+ employees

Compensation & Incentives

• Support the evolution and implementation of the firm’s incentive and reward structures
• Ensure alignment between compensation, performance, and company objectives
• Monitor effectiveness and identify potential unintended consequences of incentive programs
• Support communication and understanding of compensation frameworks and programs

Organizational Effectiveness & Execution

• Introduce practical structure and clarity to support decision-making and execution
• Help leaders translate ideas into actionable plans and outcomes
• Improve consistency in HR practices across teams while respecting entrepreneurial flexibility
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve organizational efficiency
• Support leadership with organizational planning, change management, and team effectiveness initiatives

Key Relationships

• Partners, Next Gen Advisors, and Senior Leadership Team
• Team Leads and Employees across all business units
• External vendors, coaches, and development partners as required

Skills & Experience

• 7–10+ years of experience in HR, talent, organizational development, or related leadership roles
• Experience designing or improving HR systems in a growing organization
• Strong understanding of hiring, performance management, employee engagement, and development practices
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution
• Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills
• Experience working in entrepreneurial or fast-paced environments preferred, insurance brokerage or carrier experience preferred

Core Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking, judgment, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to build trust, influence leaders, and communicate effectively across teams
• Combines data-driven decision-making with practical execution and follow-through
• Passion for developing people through coaching, accountability, and mentorship
• Self-directed and adaptable, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Practical, solutions-oriented, and focused on achieving meaningful outcomes
• Demonstrates strong accountability, professionalism, discretion, and follow-through

TDS Personnel is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible workplace in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all stages of the recruitment and selection process.