Vice President People Strategy & Chief Human Resource Officer

Location: Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home & West Haldimand General Hospital

Posting No. : 26-04

Norfolk General Hospital (NGH) is seeking a dynamic and charismatic Vice President People Strategy & Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to join its senior leadership team. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a qualified, dynamic, innovative, accomplished and motivated individual to assume a pivotal role in developing and sustaining a high-performing workforce across NGH, the Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home (NHNH) and West Haldimand General Hospital (WHGH). The successful candidate will champion, support, influence and encourage a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism, and serve as a trusted partner in driving organizational success.

About the Position

The Vice President People Strategy & CHRO is a core member of the senior leadership team and reports directly to the President & CEO. As the VP People Strategy & CHRO and a member of the executive team, the individual will provide strategic leadership and direction for all facets of Human Resources (HR), and will be responsible for identifying and planning practices that further optimize team member satisfaction, retention, development, and performance at Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home and West Haldimand General Hospital. The VP People Strategy & CHRO will act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on talent management, including assessments, succession planning, performance optimization, and career development.

The VP People Strategy & CHRO will provide direction, leadership, planning, organizational and general management for a wide range of strategic consultative services, including organizational development, employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, compensation, benefits, training, labor relations, and policy development. The role also has overall accountability for driving, supporting, and executing a full range of HR operations including planning, organizing and controlling the following areas: Labour and Employee Relations, Employment Legislation, Recruitment and Selection, Benefit Plan Design and Administration, Disability Management & Attendance Support, Health and Safety, Disaster Management, Accessibility, Diversity & Inclusion, Salary Administration, Pay Equity/Job Evaluation, Employee Wellness, Scheduling, Employee Assistance Program, as well as Volunteer Services. You must possess a thorough understanding of the healthcare environment and possess broad experience with a full range of functions, systems and support, and contemporary HR initiatives that address both immediate and long-term manpower and financial needs. The individual will also lead the creation of annual objectives and performance metrics to ensure consistent execution and regulatory compliance across the organizations.

The ideal candidate is a visionary and dynamic healthcare leader with extensive experience in managing complex, multi-site healthcare operations. You are a strategic thinker with the ability to translate high-level goals into actionable plans while cultivating a collaborative, trusting, and engaging work environment that supports employee well-being, drives higher employee engagement, talent development and performance. With a proven track record of leading teams and driving innovation, the individual will have demonstrated success in leading strategies that support organizational goals while ensuring the HR teams deliver consistent, high-impact support, and continuous improvement in HR processes, tools and service delivery models. With expertise in change management, the VP People Strategy & CHRO will lead and support their team through transformation, while promoting a culture of excellence and accountability. The individual possesses a deep understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion, with an ability to integrate these values into organizational strategies. A relationship-builder by nature, the ideal candidate will have a strong ability to engage and align internal and external stakeholders as well as develop working relationships with existing union groups. The VP People Strategy & CHRO will also work collaboratively with the senior team, medical leadership, as well as staff and physicians to champion a patient-centered culture of excellence.

Education and Credentials:

• Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) or Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE) designation is required.
• A member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) with Certified Health Services Executive designation (CHE) preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Required)
• Master’s Degree (Preferred)

Qualifications, Leadership Skills and Experience:

• Progressive leadership experience in a senior Human Resources leadership role preferred with demonstrated increasing level of responsibility in management (minimum of 5 years required) and in the healthcare field and/or a similarly complex environment/sector.
• A reputation for openness, honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness.
• A leadership and management style that is positive, collaborative, consultative, honest, participatory, respectful, and empowering.
• Executive presence with strong conflict management, interpersonal, relationship-building, problem-solving and communication skills with the expertise to persuade and negotiate consensus and effective resolution of issues/disputes. Strong conflict resolution skills.
• A credible, highly strategic and inspirational leader who acts with integrity and moral wholeness. Fosters teamwork, employee morale, motivation and open communication with all levels of employees.
• Ability to plan, lead, organize, and execute in areas of responsibility to achieve desired outcomes and results.
• Must be self-directed, forward thinking, and innovative.
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing and implementing change through collaboration and respectful work relationships with internal and external partners.
• Impeccable integrity and ethics, respect for all disciplines and individuals, and a genuine desire to collaborate and partner for the good of the organization. Well-developed capacity for empathy. Champions and supports a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.
• Demonstrated experience with sound business and financial acumen to manage fiscal resources in a manner that is financially responsible and consistent with the overall goals of the organizations. Aligns work processes and programs to meet budget guidelines for the organizations.
• A demonstrated track record of driving innovation while thoughtfully and respectfully managing organizational change and people strategies that align with our mission, vision, and values.
• Proven ability to manage HR operations in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Experience working in unionized environments, with an understanding of the dynamics of labour relations and collaboration with represented employees.
• Experience planning and leading union contract negotiations, including developing comprehensive proposal packages that align with strategic priorities.
• Ability to manage through ambiguity, complexity, and organizational change.
• Ability to anticipate and respond to the changing needs of a diversified workforce by planning, creating, implementing and evaluating innovative programs while using analytics to identify emerging talent trends and assess organizational health.
• Ability to lead talent acquisition strategies to attract, hire, and onboard exceptional talent across various roles.
• Must possess a current driver’s license and vehicle.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Excellent interpersonal skills as well as strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Superior conflict management skills and expertise to persuade and negotiate consensus and effective resolution of issues/disputes.
• Must have analytical problem-solving skills as well as the ability to coordinate and communicate effectively with diverse others including colleagues, managers, and medical staff and be able to teach and develop others.

To be considered for this exciting leadership opportunity, please submit your resume in confidence by mail or email no later than 12:00 p.m. EST January 30, 2026 to Human Resources at indicating posting number 26-04

We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Successful candidates, as a condition of a job offer, would be required to provide a satisfactory vulnerable sector police check (original document) completed in the last 12 months.

In order to ensure equal opportunities during the recruitment and selection process, Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home and West Haldimand General Hospital provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities, upon request.
Please note that Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home and West Haldimand General Hospital does not use AI to screen, assess or aide in the selection of our recruitment process.

About Us

Located in Simcoe, Ontario, Norfolk General Hospital provides exceptional healthcare to a municipality of approximately 69,000 people. Our area of focus provides a continuum of service throughout the life span of the people we serve including Emergency, Critical Care, Obstetrics, Medicine, Surgery, and Complex Continuing Care. Employing approximately 550 highly skilled and dedicated employees, Norfolk General Hospital continues to be a full service 106-bed hospital with round the clock on-call coverage of Specialists in Surgery, Anesthesia, Internal Medicine, and Obstetrics, as well as on-site 24 hour per day medical coverage. Simcoe is less than one hour away from most major centers, including Hamilton and London, and only 90 minutes from the Greater Toronto Area. Situated in Norfolk County (Ontario’s South Coast), Simcoe is not far from Lake Erie and the 88 miles of shoreline that includes long stretches of sandy beach. In Norfolk County, life outside work is like no other. Shorter commutes, less traffic, and a vibrant culture; Norfolk County has it all. You can be 10 minutes from work and 10 minutes from hiking, biking, camping, or visiting one of our many beaches. Our vibrant, accessible, family-friendly community is filled with restaurants, breweries, wineries, theatres, festivals, golf courses and so much more. Norfolk County is a great place to grow and raise your family. Our houses are affordable and we have two strong education systems, in addition to a top-tier public college. Norfolk County is also a short drive from several urban areas including Hamilton, Toronto, and Niagara.