Senior People and Culture Partner

Skjodt-Barrett Foods • Brampton • 1w ago

Who we are

Skjodt-Barrett is a world-class manufacturer of food solutions and custom ingredients for North America's most beloved and trusted brands. We take pride in working closely with our customers to understand their unique needs and create innovative, individualized solutions that deliver joy to their customers.

A family-founded company started over 35 years ago, we are backed by the investment company Axel Johnson Inc (AJI). With their investment and support, we are well-positioned to foster growth and explore new opportunities.

Our customers, blue-chip international brands and mid-sized producers alike, are why we exist. Our teams of innovators, communicators, and managers are the people who meet their needs, build trust, and exceed their expectations.

Who we need

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, we are looking for a Senior People and Culture Partner to join our team. As our new Senior People and Culture Business Partner, you will blend strategy with execution to support Directors and Executive Leaders in building high-performing talent and an innovative, rewarding culture. You will foster trusting partnerships across the business and drive impactful talent strategies aligned with company objectives. You will leverage your experience to advise leaders and drive success in performance optimization, employee relations, engagement, talent development, and more.

This is a hybrid role working 2-3 days per week onsite at our cutting-edge facility in Brampton, Ontario.

Who you are

You are an experienced HR Business Partner motivated by the opportunity to contribute to an organizational transformation. Driven by a passion for people and culture and strong core values, you believe every action and conversation reflects on your organization, presenting an invaluable opportunity to make a meaningful impact and foster engagement. With extensive experience in transformation, you excel in advising and supporting functional leaders and aligning people and culture initiatives with business needs.

What's in it for you

Influence and Exposure. You want to step into a high-impact role with direct access to the executive team and regular engagement with owners. You will work alongside involved leaders who are invested in building a strong People and Culture foundation. This is an opportunity to gain cross-functional exposure, shape strategic priorities, and help drive a transformative phase of growth. The access and visibility you will have here are unparalleled, setting the stage for accelerated learning and advancement.

Impact and Autonomy. You will take the lead on People and Culture initiatives, from consultation and planning through execution and post-project review. You will have the autonomy to shape initiatives in response to business needs and secure buy-in across departments. You will design and deliver change management strategies, guiding leaders through transformation and ensuring alignment at every stage. You will also benefit from the broader AJI HR network, gaining access to shared expertise, coaching, and long-term career development resources.

How you will make an impact:

Partner with senior leadership. You will work closely with senior leaders to understand and address their business goals. You will partner with them to create and execute a talent strategy, influencing senior leadership on overcoming barriers to success, and driving proactive solutions. You will identify opportunities to optimize organizational design and workforce planning, ensuring our approaches are both effective and efficient.
Support team performance and development. As an advisor, you will support leaders in enhancing team performance through various initiatives, including performance reviews, feedback, coaching, and career development. You will play a key role in developing leadership capabilities by guiding them on best practices for talent management, such as organizational design, performance management, and succession planning. Your efforts will contribute to building a high-performance environment where leaders and teams thrive.
Be a source of support. You will be a vital source of expertise, guiding complex employee relations and talent management challenges. You will collaborate with peers to address and resolve issues promptly and sensitively. You will drive continuous improvement by identifying areas for impactful change, ensuring that our talent management practices evolve and remain effective.
Foster relationships. Working alongside the Chief People Officer and the broader people team, leveraging cross-functional knowledge to empower and support a high-performing organization. You will guide the HR team across Canada and the US in transforming our HR function, enhancing strategic business partnering, and improving service delivery. Partnering with external talent acquisition resources, you will support strategic hiring initiatives to meet organizational needs.

What you bring to the role:

The experience. You bring expertise in advising leaders and aligning people programs with business needs. With deep knowledge of performance management, total rewards, employee relations, and culture, you are skilled in navigating complex environments. As a strategic thought leader, you can independently execute your ideas and champion plans while remaining open and flexible to feedback. You have an in-depth understanding of employment standards and applicable employment legislation across Canada. US HR experience would be an asset.
The consulting approach. You are a trusted partner, empowering your clients with strategies and tools to meet business goals. Building strong relationships, you influence without authority, always seeking to understand root causes and propose solutions. You have a proven ability to influence and drive change, and you are interested in understanding others, hearing their perspectives, and addressing their concerns.
The project management skills. You identify gaps, propose solutions, and see initiatives through from planning to rollout. You adapt seamlessly to shifting priorities and ensure projects meet deliverables, budget, and timing.
The interpersonal skills. You have outstanding professional written, verbal, and presentation skills. You can navigate conflict, manage stressful situations, mediate, and facilitate discussions at the senior leadership level. You can work across teams and with any stakeholder level. You genuinely appreciate and actively promote diverse experiences and backgrounds.
The accountability. You take ownership of your work and its impact, appreciating diverse perspectives and fostering a collaborative culture. You are driven, humble, and a team player committed to driving success.

Why join?

We've got great taste. We care deeply about fostering a culture of transparency, responsibility, and integrity. It's what drives us to make great-tasting, convenient, and healthy ingredients and finished products that our customers depend on. With a focus on nurturing and growing our employees' careers and professional satisfaction, we believe in open communication, idea sharing, and knowledge building. Skjodt-Barrett is committed to building an inclusive culture that helps to create longevity, growth, and innovation in the food industry.

We are working towards a sustainable future. We believe that what's good for people and the planet is good for profit. It is everyone's responsibility to do their part. We recognize the growing need to prioritize sustainability in manufacturing, and we continue to take steps to evolve. We strive to accelerate the adoption of sustainable packaging and food products to be a responsible partner for our customers and for the greater good. We take our role as a supply chain partner to heart and adhere to a strict Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure that our vendors uphold the integrity and values we live by.

We believe actions speak louder than words. Every day, we come together to exceed the expectations of our customers, each other and ourselves, inspired by our values:

We care. About family, honesty, and respect.
We communicate. Across every level, often, effectively, and clearly.
We Empower. With trust, integrity, and accountability.
We Deliver. Every time, through teamwork, innovation, and results.

We support and care for our employees and their families.

Benefits and perks we offer include comprehensive health, dental, paramedical and long term disability.

Apply now.

At Skjodt-Barrett, we aim for diversity, equality, accessibility and inclusion in all of our operations and interactions. We welcome and appreciate candidates with a range of backgrounds and experiences. If you have 70% of the qualifications we are looking for and want to play an integral role in delivering innovative food product solutions, apply to express your interest.

What you can expect from our interview process:

A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor to discuss your interest in the role and the company. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview.
A virtual interview with the Chief People Officer to learn more about your experience and providing you with an opportunity to learn more about the role.
An in-person, situational interview with the Chief People Officer, providing an opportunity to ask about change management initiatives.
A final in-person interview with key Executive Leadership team members. You will meet the leaders you'll be working with, and have an opportunity to ask questions about the organization’s strategic goals.

Skjodt-Barrett welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Please let us know what accommodations you require across the selection process.