Manager, People and Culture

Reliance Foundry has been improving public and commercial spaces since 1925. We design and supply bollards—protective posts used for safety, security, and traffic control—along with outdoor furnishings and custom metal components. Our expanding product portfolio is driving growth across North America’s security and infrastructure markets.

Position Overview

We are driven by continuous improvement, technical excellence, and a commitment to developing our people. We are seeking a strategic and highly operational Manager of People and Culture to help us elevate our organizational standards, streamline our operations, and build a high-performance environment.

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key stakeholder on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the Manager of People and Culture is the backbone of our employee lifecycle. In this role, you will manage one direct report who will help offset tactical execution, allowing you to comfortably execute hands‑on, day‑to‑day HR operations while simultaneously driving a 1-to-3 year strategic vision for the department. The ideal candidate brings strong executive presence and high emotional intelligence, expertly navigating complex organizational dynamics to foster a resilient, accountable, and high‑trust environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic & Tactical Execution: Balance the daily, transactional realities of HR with long-term strategic planning for organizational design, headcount forecasting, and cultural transformation.
• Talent Acquisition & Onboarding: Own and continuously improve the recruitment lifecycle, building an efficient, robust “always looking” talent engine with structured interviews, strong employer branding, and seamless onboarding and offboarding.
• Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and develop one HR staff member, delegating daily tactical processes effectively to ensure departmental efficiency.
• Employee Engagement & Community Building: Lead initiatives that strengthen morale, connection, and retention. Own company‑wide events, milestone celebrations, and employee feedback programs that continuously improve workplace satisfaction.
• Compliance, Health & Safety: Maintain compliant HR policies and practices while supporting workplace safety initiatives.
• Payroll & Systems Administration: Own end‑to‑end payroll processing utilizing Humi, ensuring total accuracy, compliance, and timely execution for all employees.
• Financial & HR Budgeting: Manage the HR budget utilizing Excel and our ERP. Work in lockstep with the Controller and SLT to track expenditures and ensure fiscal accountability across all people initiatives.
• Performance Management: Design and lead robust, continuous performance evaluation cycles. Build leadership capabilities and ensure clear, accountable growth metrics for all staff.
• Culture & Problem Solving: Act as a key contributor to our corporate culture. Serve as a strategic mediator and solution‑oriented partner for complex employee relations matters—coaching staff and leadership toward constructive, aligned outcomes.
• Grant & Funding Management: Manage HR reporting and compliance for IRAP, SR&ED, and Mitacs, while identifying funding opportunities for Co‑op placements and leadership development.
• LMIA Management: Manage the end‑to‑end LMIA process, ensuring regulatory compliance, preparing submissions, and supporting foreign workers through their work permit applications.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education & Credentials: An active CPHR designation (or equivalent certification/experience) is required; advanced education (such as a Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, or Business Administration) or supplementary executive leadership certifications are highly preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive HR experience, ideally within a fast‑paced SME or industrial environment. Known for high emotional intelligence, accountability, and the operational resilience to manage ambiguity and drive consensus.
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrable, hands‑on experience managing payroll through Humi and handling budgets/financial reporting within Excel and our ERP. Experience managing reporting for IRAP, SR&ED, or Mitacs is a significant asset.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: A high degree of self‑awareness and a proactive willingness to engage in professional executive coaching to elevate your own leadership capabilities alongside the rest of the SLT.
• Communication & Executive Presence: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate truth to power. You must be able to deliver candid, strategic facts in a way that aligns executives rather than triggering defensiveness. You are adept at disciplined communication—specifically the ability to listen to the question, understand the question, and answer the question directly—to confidently influence decision‑making at the highest levels.

Pay: CA$90,000.00-CA$120,000.00 per year

• Company events
• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• On‑site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match