Senior HR Business Partner

Location: This hybrid role requires 3 days on-site at our Burnaby, BC office and 2 days remote per week.

Term: 18-month contract

Welcome to Specsavers – where we’re not just about eyecare and eyewear, but changing lives through better sight. Ranked the 5th Best Workplace™ in Canada and 12th globally by Great Place to Work®, we’re proud of our optometrist-owned model that makes high-quality, eyecare and eyewear accessible to all Canadians.

Founded 40 years ago in the UK by visionary husband and wife optometry duo Doug and Mary Perkins, Specsavers has remained privately owned since day one. Today, we are a $7.8 billion global business with over 45,000 colleagues across more than 2,700 retail optical locations.

In Canada, our support office is based in Burnaby, BC. Since entering the market in 2021, we’ve been scaling rapidly, now with over 270 locations nationwide. With advanced clinical equipment and a wide range of affordable, high-quality eyewear, we’re transforming the way Canadians experience eyecare.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a values-driven organization, join us as we continue to grow. Together, we can change lives through better sight.

What You’ll Do

The main purpose of this role is to partner with the Support Office teams in Canada to deliver high-quality HR support. You will work closely with local leadership to provide first-class HR service, both in day-to-day support and in implementing the People Plan, ensuring the function has the capability and resources to meet current and future goals. This role also contributes to broader HR initiatives across the wider Canada business.
This requires building credible relationships through genuine partnership, while constructively challenging and shaping leadership thinking with energy, pragmatism, and a solutions-focused mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality HR support to the Support Office teams across the Canadian region.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with stakeholders through open communication, credibility, and collaboration.
• Support people leaders by providing coaching and guidance in the areas of performance management, talent management, compensation and change management with a view to drive accountability.
• Champion and deliver the Canadian People Plan, including organizational design, diversity & inclusion, talent development, occasional support of recruitment, and cultural initiatives.
• Act as a key strategic business partner to leaders across select client groups: Finance, Technology and others as required.
• Manage employee relations matters promptly and effectively, fostering a positive and compliant work environment.
• Manage end-to-end employee lifecycle from onboarding through exit.
• Lead annual compensation and quarterly bonus reviews for business area.
• Support the talent agenda by facilitating people reviews, building talent pipelines, and workforce planning to align with Specsavers’ growth ambitions.
• Drive employee engagement by coordinating the execution of the Great Place to Work program and leveraging insights to co-create solutions with business leaders.
• Partner with Head of L&D to deliver training and leadership support to Support Office employees
• Apply HR expertise to influence change management, organizational effectiveness, and leadership capability.
• Identify and mitigate legal and business risks related to people practices.
• In conjunction with Heads of HR, continuously improve HR processes to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and employee experience.
• Support the implementation of people initiatives across the wider Canadian business.

What We’re Looking For

• HR Business Partnering Experience– Minimum 3-5 years of HR experience, including working in a business partnering-type role; 1-2 years working in the capacity of a Sr HRBP preferred.
• Proven experience operating in a true HR Business Partner capacity
• Well-Rounded HR Knowledge– A strong generalist background with working knowledge across key HR areas including Learning & Development, Change Management, Rewards, Talent, Organizational Effectiveness, and Employee Relations.
• Strategic & Pragmatic Thinking– Able to think strategically and contribute to long-term planning, while remaining grounded in the day-to-day realities of HR delivery, comfortable driving practical, people-focused solutions
• Stakeholder Influence– Skilled at building trusted relationships and influencing leaders at all levels to drive business outcomes.
• Change Leadership– Confident navigating ambiguity and leading people through change in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
• Strong Communicator– Excellent communication and listening skills, with the ability to engage and influence at all levels.
• Commercial Acumen– Understands how HR initiatives contribute to business performance and can demonstrate tangible value. Able to balance the needs of the business with needs of people.
• Resilience & Agility– Tenacious, resourceful, and emotionally intelligent—able to manage competing priorities and adapt to shifting demands with a positive mindset.
• Self-Starter in a Global Matrix– Comfortable working independently, taking initiative, and delivering results within a complex, global matrix organization.

Compensation: $110,000 - $125,000 base salary, plus quarterly bonus, profit sharing, and benefits. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience

Speccies’ Benefits

• 4 weeks of vacation and 1 paid volunteer day per year
• 1 extra paid day off plus an eyecare voucher to celebrate your birthday.
• Health and dental benefits, RRSP matching and a Healthcare Spending Account active from your first day.
• Mental health and wellbeing support, including $3,000 annually for practitioner care and access to our Employee Assistance Program.
• Quarterly bonuses, based on your performance.
• Annual Profit Share program to recognize your part in Specsavers’ success.
• Free parking, access to the building gym, and a fully stocked kitchen with snacks and coffee/tea.
• On‑site wellness offerings in-office, including RMT and yoga sessions.
• Team and company social events, including holiday and annual celebrations.

Behaviours We Value

• Collaborative: We work together as one Specsavers to deliver on our purpose
• Curious: We question, explore, and seek out diverse perspectives to develop our knowledge and understanding
• Courageous: We challenge the status quo, we experiment with good ideas, and we are brave, bold, and fast in our decision making
• Compassionate: We care, support, and help each other
• Commercial: We treat money wisely and make decisions that are good for our customers, our partners, our people and for the long term

We hope that in applying with us, you value these things as well!

Our Hybrid Work Model

Experience the best of both worlds. At Specsavers, we embrace a hybrid approach that balances in-office collaboration with the flexibility to work from home. We come together in office three days a week to connect, innovate, and keep our culture thriving.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Specsavers, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that a diverse team enriches our work environment and enables us to achieve our goals. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. If you believe you can contribute to our mission and vision, we welcome your application, even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We value the unique skills and perspectives each individual brings to our team.

Accessibility and Accommodations

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know by contacting us at careers.ca@specsavers.com . We will work with you to meet your needs and ensure a fair and equitable experience.

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