Director, People Services

Req ID:
Department/Program: IWK People Services 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE)  x 1 position
 Start Date:
Union Status: Management / Non-Union
Compensation: $ $ /hour
Closing Date: January 7th, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

This is not a designated position; however, preference will be given to qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. Please self-identify on your application.

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other's talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi'kma'ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi'kmaq people. Working in Mi'kma'ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Director at the IWK champions transformational change through effective leadership and collaboration, in order to make a positive difference in the well-being of patients and families with all their diversity.

Reporting to the Vice President, Clinical Support and System Integration, the Director, People Services, leads the development and execution of strategic and operational plans that deliver the best care and service, while seeking continuous improvement that drives superior performance.   The director will lead the majority of the functions in the department, including HR consulting, workforce planning, HR systems and analytics, compensation & benefits, recruitment & onboarding, labour relations, centralized staff scheduling, and volunteer resources. You will also work in collaboration with the VP and other senior leaders to advance our people strategy, learning, leadership development, recognition, engagement, people services digital strategy as well as supporting and equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation and accessibility (EDIRA) initiatives aligned with people strategy and EDIRA strategy.

The Director emulates the mission, vision, and values of the IWK Health through inspiring, motivating and guiding others towards excellence.  The Director is accountable for the development of high performing teams that achieve organizational/department/ program goals and objectives, as well as the efficient utilization of resources (people, capital, and financial).  The Director facilitates and champions a learning and research environment that aligns with the strategic directions of the program and organization.

75 hours biweekly - eligible for hybrid work model
Participation in on-call coverage will be required.

• Masters Level Degree in human resources, business administration, health administration or related fields.
• Graduate diploma or certificate in Human resources Management
• Equivalent experience and/or alternative education may be considered.
• Registration with relevant health or professional discipline/college or association.
• CPHR designation required, will accept CPHR associate with a commitment to obtain the full designation.
• 5-8 years of experience in relevant field of expertise of which a minimum of 3 years must be in a leadership role in a unionized environment.
• Expert content knowledge in key areas of leadership responsibility
• Expert knowledge in field to critically analyze evidence-based practices to inform strategy development and organizational planning.
• Evidence-based collaborative problem solving of complex multifaceted issues.
• Quality improvement methodologies. (e.g., LEAN)
• Strategic planning/systems thinking.
• Proficient in HR systems and technology with moderate expertise
• Excellent interpersonal skills as reflected by active listening, interest based negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills that are responsive to audience needs.
• Advanced communications skills/positive energetic public persona.
• Cultural competence.
• Expertise in leading complex change.
• High level of emotional intelligence – self-awareness/self-reflection.
• Advanced skills in motivating, coaching and mentoring staff/teams.
• Collaboration, negotiation, and persuasion skills are paramount as this role requires the input of internal and external key partners.
• Ability to provide high levels of interpersonal sensitivity and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated strong working memory.
• Competencies in other languages an asset.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.