Description

Head of Human Resources—JBS Canada

General Summary

The Head of Human Resources is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, coordination, and execution of the human resources function for the Canadian Business Unit. This role partners closely with business leadership to align people strategy with operational and strategic priorities while ensuring full compliance with Canadian federal and provincial employment legislation.

The role requires frequent internal and external communication at all levels of the organization, including senior leadership, plant operations, union leadership, employees, external agencies, and regulators. Communication often involves influencing complex, cross‑functional business matters related to operations, labor relations, workforce planning, compensation, compliance, and organizational effectiveness. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong judgment, adaptability, and diplomacy across diverse stakeholders and business situations.

This position is based onsite at our Brooks, Alberta facility.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership:

• Partner with executive leadership to advance the business’s vision, strategy, and priorities, ensuring people and organization capabilities enable sustainable performance.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Head of the Business Unit and the leadership team by identifying, researching, and addressing human capital issues; providing data‑driven insights; and aligning HR objectives with business goals.
• Lead workforce planning and organizational design efforts to support operational needs and long‑term growth.

Culture, Engagement & Talent:

• Champion a high‑performance culture grounded in JBS’s mission, values, and beliefs, with a strong focus on accountability, inclusion, and engagement.
• Lead talent acquisition, development, succession planning, and performance management strategies tailored to the Canadian labor market.
• Partner with leaders to design and implement employee engagement, retention, and leadership development initiatives.
• Provide coaching and counsel to leaders and managers on performance management, employee relations, and workforce effectiveness.

HR Operations & Compliance:

• Provide overall leadership for HR operations, including recruitment, onboarding, training, discipline, compensation administration, benefits, leaves, and employee relations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable Canadian federal, provincial (Alberta/Ontario), and local employment legislation, including:
  • Employment Standards
  • Human Rights legislation
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Workers’ Compensation (WCB Alberta)
  • Privacy legislation (including PIPEDA, where applicable)
• Lead policy development, interpretation, and implementation to ensure alignment with legislation, collective agreements, and company standards.
• Maintain awareness of evolving employment laws, labor trends, and regulatory requirements affecting the Canadian workforce.

Labor Relations & Employee Relations:

• Lead labor relations strategy, including relationship management with union leadership, interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, grievance handling, and arbitration preparation.
• Represent the company in employee‑related hearings, investigations, and discussions with regulatory bodies or third parties, as required.
• Partner with operations and leadership to address absenteeism, turnover, and workforce stability through data analysis and targeted interventions.

Programs, Systems & Continuous Improvement:

• Research, develop, and implement HR programs, initiatives, and process improvements to enhance organizational effectiveness and employee experience.
• Leverage metrics and reporting to assess HR effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with Shared Services and Corporate HR teams to ensure consistency while adapting programs to Canadian business and regulatory needs.

Other Responsibilities:

• Support immigration‑related processes where applicable (e.g., work permits, LMIA coordination) in compliance with Canadian immigration requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned, consistent with the scope and accountability of the role.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred
• 6+ years of progressive human resources leadership experience, including senior‑level responsibility in a unionized, industrial, manufacturing, or food production environment.
• Excellent communication, judgment, and influencing skills with the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, complex environment.
• Experience leading HR operations across talent acquisition, performance management, compensation, employee relations, and engagement programs.
• Proven ability to partner with senior leaders to drive people strategy, workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, and change management.
• Familiarity with Canadian workforce challenges, including labor availability immigration and foreign worker processes are preferred.

Please note that Applicants will be asked to complete a pre-hire medical and drug and alcohol test. Any offer of employment to the Applicant will be conditional upon passing satisfactory completion of the medical and passing the drug and alcohol test. A Criminal Record check will also be performed upon meeting all hiring criteria.

Exceptional Benefits include:

Performance Bonus |Competitive Wage | Relocation Assistance | Extended Health/Medical Benefit | Group Life & Accidental Death Insurance | Short/Long Term Disability | Vision/Dental Care | Employee Beef Purchasing Program | Voluntary Employee RRSP Contributions | Employer RRSP Contributions | Career Growth and Continued Training

JBS Food Canada ULC

Mailing Address: PO Box 1868 Brooks AB T1R 1C6

Physical Location: 193002A Range Road 150, Brooks, Alberta, T1R1C6

Telephone: 403-501-2223 Fax: 403-501-2239