HR Generalist (14-month contract)

Do you have a passion for wine and enjoy working in a dynamic, growing organization? Are you an experienced HR professional who thrives in a hands-on environment and is comfortable managing day-to-day HR activities with a high degree of accountability and judgment? If so, this may be the right opportunity for you.

Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits is the third-largest producer of VQA wines in Niagara, Ontario. We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Generalist to support our organization during a maternity leave period (14-months). This role will play a key part in ensuring continuity, consistency, and strong day-to-day HR support across the business.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this role will manage core HR operations and provide practical, trusted support to leaders and employees across multiple business units. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating with minimal day-to-day direction while maintaining close alignment with established people practices, governance, and escalation protocols.
This position is primarily onsite at our Niagara-on-the-Lake office, with flexibility for remote work (1–2 days per week).

Does This Sound Like You?

• You are an experienced HR Generalist who enjoys being hands-on and close to the business.
• You are comfortable managing day-to-day HR matters independently while knowing when to escalate more complex or sensitive issues.
• You bring sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion to employee and manager interactions.
• You thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment and can balance multiple priorities effectively.
• You build strong relationships based on trust, credibility, and consistency.
• You value continuous improvement and look for practical ways to strengthen HR processes and practices.
• You are passionate about supporting people and enabling leaders to succeed.

What You Will Do

• Manage day-to-day HR operations across the employee lifecycle, ensuring consistency and compliance with company policies and employment legislation.
• Serve as a first point of contact for employee and manager inquiries related to HR policies, procedures, and programs.
• Support leaders with routine employee relations matters, including performance management, attendance concerns, and workplace issues, escalating complex or high-risk matters to the Chief People Officer as appropriate.
• Coordinate full-cycle recruitment for assigned roles, including job postings, candidate screening, interview coordination, and onboarding, in partnership with hiring managers and the Chief People Officer.
• Lead onboarding and offboarding processes to ensure a positive and consistent employee experience.
• Conduct exit interviews and summarize themes and insights for leadership review.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records in RISE (HRIS) and SharePoint.
• Update HR documentation and employment policies as required, in alignment with established frameworks and approvals.
• Apply employment legislation (ESA, OHSA, Human Rights Code) in day-to-day HR activities, seeking guidance on complex or precedent-setting matters.
• Member of the Joint Health & Safety Committee and support required documentation, follow-ups, and reporting.
• Coordinate and validate bi-weekly payroll inputs and changes, working with the external payroll provider and escalating issues as needed.
• Support benefits administration and act as a liaison with benefits providers as required.
• Analyze employee data and prepare reports to support people-related decision-making.
• Participate in and support HR projects and initiatives aimed at improving employee engagement, communication, and operational effectiveness.
• Act as a reliable extension of the Chief People Officer, ensuring continuity of HR operations and consistent application of people practices during the maternity leave period.

What You Will Bring

• 5–7 years of progressive Human Resources Generalist experience, with demonstrated ability to manage core HR activities with minimal day-to-day supervision.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Human Resources Management or a related discipline.
• Solid working knowledge of Ontario employment legislation and HR best practices.
• Practical experience supporting employee relations matters in a non-unionized environment.
• Working knowledge of payroll processes and statutory requirements; hands-on payroll experience is an asset.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build credibility and trust at all levels of the organization.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working in a role that balances independence with collaboration and escalation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HR systems; experience with RISE People is an asset.
• Ability to work onsite and travel between company locations as required.

What You Can Expect

• A growing, stable organization with a strong sense of purpose, collaboration, and pride in its products.
• A supportive leadership team and a clear reporting relationship to the Chief People Officer.
• A competitive compensation package.
• A primarily onsite role with some flexibility.

Diamond Estates and its divisions are equal opportunity employers. We welcome and encourage applications from people with differing abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all aspects of the selection process.
Please note that when applying, you will be directed to a site hosted by The Talent Company, our recruitment partner who is supporting us with this search.

JOB VACANCY STATUS
This role is currently vacant, and the organization is accepting applications with the intention to hire as soon as possible.

HIRING RANGE
The anticipated hiring range for this role is $60,000-$75,000 (dependent on level of experience).

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – BY RECRUITERS & HIRING MANAGERS
At The Talent Company, people are at the centre of our recruitment process. While we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools for limited administrative purposes (such as writing creative outreach messages, summarizing interview notes or transcribing reference checks) AI is never the decision maker. Resumes and candidate information are personally reviewed by our recruiters, and all hiring decisions are made by people who bring judgment, care, and expertise to each match. If a client’s recruitment process involves a greater degree of AI use during their own interviews or assessments, we will communicate that to short-listed candidates, so they are aware in advance. Our commitment is to use technology responsibly, while ensuring fairness, transparency, and respect at every stage of the process.

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – BY CANDIDATES
We recognize that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support their job search, for example to refine writing style or gather research. While this can be appropriate, the information you provide in your resume, screening questions, and interviews must always be truthful and accurately reflect your own experience, knowledge, and competencies. AI should never be used to create or exaggerate credentials. Our goal is to understand the real you – your skills, your story, and your potential – so that we can make the best possible match between you and the organizations we serve.

ACCOMMODATION & INCLUSIVITY
At The Talent Company, we recognize the value of different perspectives and experiences in prompting innovation, sparking creativity, and solving problems. As an equal employment opportunity organization, we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, Aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, persons with disabilities and all other categories protected by law.

We are committed to Equal Opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please let us know by emailing if an adjustment or adaptation is required at any stage to support you during the recruitment journey.