Associate Vice-President, Human Resources

Industry
Academic
Executive
Human Resources
Location
Alberta
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The University of Lethbridge invites applications for the position of Associate Vice-President (AVP), Human Resources. This is a significant leadership opportunity to advance people, culture, and organizational effectiveness at a pivotal time for the University.

The Organization

Founded in 1967, the University of Lethbridge is a comprehensive academic and research institution recognized for its commitment to liberal education, experiential learning, and community engagement. With campuses in Lethbridge and Calgary, the University serves approximately 8,000 students and employs a complex workforce of faculty and staff represented across eight different employee groups. Guided by a new strategic plan and energized by recent academic program expansions, including the launch of a new medical program and the planned development of an engineering program, the University is poised for transformative growth.

The University of Lethbridge’s Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone. The University is located in traditional Blackfoot Confederacy territory. We honour the Blackfoot people and their traditional ways of knowing in caring for this land, as well as all Indigenous Peoples who have helped shape and continue to strengthen our University community.

The Role

The Associate Vice-President (AVP), Human Resources, is the University’s senior human resources leader, responsible for advancing a strategic, people-centred, service-oriented HR function that supports the academic mission and long-term sustainability of the institution. Reporting to the Vice-President (Finance and Administration), the AVP provides strategic and operational leadership across labour and employee relations, compensation and benefits, organizational development, policy, talent management, wellness, and HR systems.

The University is entering an important implementation phase following foundational strategy work. Key priorities include advancing the People Plan aligned with the University’s strategic plan, leading a provincially required non-union compensation review, supporting modernization of enterprise systems and processes and navigating collective bargaining and mediation in a complex unionized environment.

The AVP works closely with the broader university community and interest holders, and must demonstrate a strong understanding of collegial governance, consultation, and the unique dynamics of post-secondary education in Canada.

Key areas of responsibility include:

Strategic People Leadership – Advance a comprehensive people strategy aligned with institutional priorities, public sector requirements, and the University’s values.

Labour and Employee Relations – Lead labour relations in a multi-union environment, including collective bargaining, mediation, grievance management, and complex employee relations matters.

Compensation and Workforce Systems – Oversee compensation, classification, and job evaluation initiatives, including provincially mandated reviews, and guide the modernization of HR systems and processes.

Collaborative and Consultative Leadership – Build trust and credibility across academic and non-academic employee communities through transparent communication, sound judgment, and respectful engagement.

Organizational Development and Culture – Foster a respectful, inclusive, and relational workplace culture grounded in integrity, humility, and strong emotional intelligence.

The Ideal Candidate

As the ideal candidate, you are a highly experienced and trusted human resources executive with a demonstrated ability to lead in complex, unionized, public sector environments. You bring strong judgment, emotional intelligence, and a deep respect for consultation and collegial decision-making. You are an accessible and approachable leader who builds trust through transparency, sound judgement and authenticity. You are comfortable engaging in hands-on work when required, while consistently maintaining a strategic focus on systems, process improvement, and institutional capacity building.

You understand the realities of higher education, including its governance structures, academic culture, and pace of change, and can build trust across diverse employee communities through authenticity, transparency, and consistency. You are a highly capable project leader who can translate strategy into action while maintaining institutional stability.

Qualifications and Experience:
While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.
  • A university degree in human resources, business, or a related field, with a master’s degree preferred.
  • A CHRP, CHRL, or equivalent professional designation.
  • Significant senior-level HR leadership experience, ideally in a complex unionized environment.
  • Demonstrated expertise in labour relations, compensation, organizational change, and HR policy.
  • Experience leading major projects and translating strategy into effective implementation.
  • Demonstrated commitment to wellness, health and safety, and respectful workplace practices.
  • Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and judgment skills.
  • Experience working in relationship with Indigenous communities or a willingness to learn in this area is considered an asset.
  • Demonstrated commitment to advancing accessibility, belonging, and community in the workplace.
  • Experience at higher education institutions or in the public sector is an asset but not required.
Skills and Attributes:
  • Consultative and collaborative leader who builds trust through integrity and authenticity.
  • Emotionally intelligent, with strong communication and judgment skills.
  • Strategic thinker with a strong operational orientation.
  • Comfortable navigating complexity, ambiguity, and highly relational environments.
  • Resilient, steady, and adaptable in periods of change.
  • Skilled in working with diverse populations with a demonstrated commitment to accessibility, belonging and inclusive workplace practices.

Why Join the University of Lethbridge?

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on a dynamic and evolving institution during a period of significant strategic growth and organizational renewal. As Associate Vice President, Human Resources, you will play a critical role in advancing the University’s people strategy, strengthening organizational culture, and supporting a respectful, engaged and high-performing workplace community. As AVP, you will join a committed and collaborative leadership team committed to institutional sustainability, academic excellence and continuous improvement.

Application Process

The University of Lethbridge is committed to Accessibility, Belonging and Community and strives to best support its diverse campus community. The University welcomes candidates who self-identify as Black, Indigenous or a person of colour with lived experience with demonstrated experience advancing equity, accessibility, belonging and inclusive practices with complex organizational environments. Joining a vibrant community at the University where we aspire to achieve equity and diversity in all areas, the successful candidate will be expected to show evidence of leadership and commitment to access and equity that promotes a collegial, collaborative and respectful working environment.

Please email accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to a recruitment professional named below to ensure that accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Abbey MacLeod at amacleod@kbrs.ca, Kyle Steele at ksteele@kbrs.ca, or Dr. Jennie Massey at jmassey@kbrs.ca or submit your full application by clicking "Apply Now" below.

The Committee will begin reviewing applications on June 29, 2026.
 
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