Description
Join a Growing Team Shaping the Future
The University of Calgary is a dynamic and innovative institution committed to excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement. As we continue to grow and advance exciting new initiatives across the university, we are expanding our team to help shape the future of our institution. This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful work, collaborate with passionate colleagues, and make a lasting impact within one of Canada's leading research universities.
The University of Calgary is seeking an experienced HR Partner (HRP) to drive strategic HR initiatives by working alongside clients to develop and deliver innovative people solutions that support faculty, staff, and leadership in achieving institutional excellence.
As an HRP, you will act as a trusted advisor and partner to senior leaders across the university to align HR strategies with business goals, ensuring an engaged and high-performing workforce. You will provide expertise in workforce planning, leadership coaching, employee relations, organizational development, client support, and project management, ensuring HR policies and practices support the university's mission. You¿ll help advance the Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan and support the university¿s emerging Talent for Tomorrow priorities. This is a unique opportunity to influence people strategy, shape organizational culture, and contribute to an environment where academic and administrative excellence thrives.
Strategic Workforce Planning & Organizational Development
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Advise Deans, Directors, and other university leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, change management, and future talent needs.
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Integrate HR insights and data into Faculty/Unit business planning.
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Identify emerging workforce risks and provide proactive, evidence-based recommendations to support long term planning and decision-making to reach Faculty and Unit goals.
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Support institutional talent and workforce development priorities, including the Talent for Tomorrow plan, focused on building future capability.
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Provide strategic recruitment guidance for senior or critical roles, partnering with Talent Acquisition and Total Rewards.
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Lead and support organizational change initiatives, including restructures, business efficiency and process improvements.
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Identify organizational development opportunities by analyzing engagement results, workforce trends, and team dynamics to inform targeted interventions.
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Partner with university leaders to align HR strategies with institutional objectives, ensuring a workforce that is equipped for current and future challenges.
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Drive strategic workforce planning by assessing talent needs, organizational design, and succession planning to support academic and administrative units.
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Collaborate with leadership to develop and implement strategies for reskilling and upskilling employees in response to evolving educational and research demands.
Leadership Coaching & HR Strategic Consulting
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Provide consultative support to Deans, Directors, and senior administrators on HR best practices, leadership development, and employee engagement.
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Guide university leaders in cultivating a high-performance culture that fosters innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity.
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Build leadership capabilities in the areas of conflict resolution, performance management, succession planning, and employee engagement.
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Broker seamless HR support by collaborating with COEs across People & Culture.
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Build strong, trusting relationships with leaders, staff, and union partners to enhance communication, problem solving, and shared accountability.
Employee Relations & Compliance
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Serve as a mediator and trusted advisor in resolving employee relations issues, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies and best practices.
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Monitor compliance with university policies, labour laws, and collective agreements, advising leadership on risk mitigation strategies.
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Lead workplace investigations in accordance with the university¿s policies and procedures.
Qualifications
Education & Credentials
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Bachelor¿s degree in HR, Business, or related field (required)
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Graduate degree (asset)
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CPHR designation or willingness to obtain
Experience
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Minimum 10 years progressive HR business partnering experience
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Strong experience in multi-union environments (required)
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Public sector or postsecondary experience is an asset
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Work experience in a senior HR generalist role including employee and labour relations, organizational development, and the full employee lifecycle
Knowledge & Skills
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Strong working knowledge of Alberta employment legislation and the application of collective agreements
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Strong communication, problem-solving, coaching, and influencing skills
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Strength in conflict resolution, mediation, and navigating ambiguity
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Thrives in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities
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Proven ability to influence and build relationships with senior leaders and employees
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Experience in organizational design, change management, and leadership coaching
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Strong analytical and interpretive skills to recognize and comprehend complex issues, policies, regulatory and legislative requirements and information affecting clients¿ environment
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High proficiency in HR technology systems (PeopleSoft preferred), data analytics, project management tools, and reporting platforms
What You Bring
You¿re someone who thinks strategically, exercises great judgment, and builds strong relationships with ease. You collaborate naturally, influence without needing formal authority, and bring a calm, solutions-focused approach to problem-solving and conflict resolution. You¿re comfortable partnering with senior leaders and bring professionalism and discretion to every interaction. At the University of Calgary, these strengths fit right in. You¿ll join a community that values connection, innovation, and inclusion where people support one another, celebrate diverse perspectives, and work together to create a positive campus experience. This is a place where your voice matters, your work has impact, and you¿re encouraged to grow along with the organization.
Application Deadline: September 11, 2026
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is classified in the Professional Career Band, Level 3 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
