HR Manager Canada

Reports to US CPO

Location Toronto

About Context Creative

Context is not a traditional design firm, nor an advertising agency. Trusted by clients providing vital public services, we make meaningful connections to solve complex communications and design challenges that affect real people and drive positive change. Context Creative is part of Mod Op, a full-service advertising agency with offices in Toronto and Calgary and across the USA and Panama.

Job Overview

We’re seeking a HR Manager for Canada to join our growing team.

The HR Manager is responsible for managing day-to-day HR operations and providing practical HR support to employees and managers in Canada. This position administers HR programs, policies, and processes in compliance with Canadian employment laws and best practices. The HR Manager will support benefits plan design, coordinate compliance tasks, assist with policy updates and trainings, maintain HRIS in Canada and provide general HR guidance to managers. This role requires strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and relationship-building abilities within a hands-on environment.

Essential Functions

Compliance, Policy, and Governance

• Ensure HR practices comply with Canadian (with emphasis on Ontario and Alberta) employment laws and regulations.

• Assist in creating and maintaining the Canadian employee handbook, agreements, HR documents and policies; support the upkeep of a compliance calendar.

• Ensure all legislated trainings, privacy and records management activities are administered for compliance.

Cross-Border and Multi-Province Alignment

• Work with US, Toronto and Calgary teams to help ensure Canadian HR activities and processes are consistent with company standards, while recognizing legal/cultural differences.
• Support communication and documentation of key policy variations across Canada (Toronto/Calgary).

Employee Relations and Workplace Support

• Serve as a general point of contact for HR inquiries from Toronto employees and managers.

• Provide guidance on performance management, basic conflict resolution, accommodations, and terminations following company policy and Canadian law.

• Document and escalate employee relations matters as appropriate to the CPO and Legal.

Payroll and Benefits Support

• Coordinate and verify payroll inputs for Toronto based employee changes, hires, terminations, approvals with Finance, address employee payroll questions.

• Monitor PTO usage to ensure compliance with policy and procedures.

• Review plan design, working with brokers and Finance as needed for renewals, assist in benefits communication and education.

• Support Toronto team with short and long terms leaves as needed.

Talent, Onboarding, and Offboarding

• Assist Toronto leadership and the US team with job postings, interview coordination, and new hire offers.

• Own Onboarding and offboarding process alignment across Canada through the HRIS platform.

• Guide Toronto new hires through onboarding and orientation; help coordinate 90-day reviews and check-ins.

• Support offboarding, conduct exit interviews.

HR Operations and Systems

• Maintain employee records and ensure HRIS/ATS data accuracy in alignment with US HR operations.

• Produce regular HR metrics and headcount reports; update organizational charts as needed.

• Maintain standard templates, checklists, and workflows for HR processes.

• Work towards deeper integration through leveraging the Rippling HRIS platform to sunset legacy systems.

Health, Safety, and Accessibility

• Coordinate required training and documentation related to OHSA.

• Support accessibility compliance and workplace accommodations, escalating as needed.

Projects and Initiatives

• Participate in the execution of Canadian components of global HR initiatives.

• Unify policy and process across Canadian locations when possible.

• Help communicate and roll out new people programs in Canada; provide resources and support to managers.

Required Abilities:

• Familiarity with Ontario and Alberta employment legislation, health & safety, and accessibility regulations.

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to handle employee relations support and documentation.

• Working knowledge of Canadian payroll and benefits administration practices.

• Organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks.

• Experience or interest in using AI productivity tools.

• Proficiency with HRIS/ATS, reporting tools, and Microsoft 365.

Education and Experience:

• 5+ years of generalist or HR advisory experience

• Experience in a growing company is an asset.

• Demonstrated hands-on implementation of HR programs and policies.

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or a related field required. CHRP/CHRL (Ontario) or CPHR designation (or progress toward) is preferred.

• • Experience using Rippling HRIS is preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• No direct reports. May coordinate work of vendors/contractors. May help onboard junior HR support staff in the future

Travel

• Occasional travel within Canada and periodically to the US for team events; 0–5% expected.

• Flexibility to join key meetings across North American time zones is required.

• Ability to commute to be in office on a regular basis in a flexible hybrid environment.

Functional Requirements

• Ability to work at a desk/computer for extended periods in a hybrid office environment in Toronto.

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, in accordance with PIPEDA, company policy and general confidentiality best practices.

• Reliable and secure internet connectivity for collaboration teams in Canada and the US; ability to adjust schedule for key meetings across time zones.

Company Culture and Perks

We are a growing, fast-paced, and purposeful agency, driven by a set of core values that define everything we do. We offer:

• Flexible, hybrid work arrangements.

• Annual company shutdown during the holiday season.

• Frequent studio-wide social events.

• Budget and time allotted for professional development.

• Commitment to wellbeing and work life balance.

• Competitive benefits package.

Diversity and Inclusion

Some of our best ideas emerge when different perspectives collide. That’s just one of the reasons we’re committed to building and retaining a team that reflects diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences and abilities. Through our core values, we’re also fostering a culture where everyone feels heard, included and comfortable being themselves.