Assistant Director, Human Resources

Professional Exempt (On-Site)

The Burnaby School District is on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish Nations of Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish.

The Burnaby School District is the fourth largest in BC. The District operates 41 elementary and 8 secondary schools, including a range of district and provincial resource programs. The District supports and provides learning to 25,000 Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) students and to more than 6,000 adult learners through our established Burnaby Community & Continuing Education program. With more than 100 languages spoken in the homes of its students, the District is one of the most culturally diverse in Canada.

We have exceptional talent in our District and pride ourselves on being an engaging, collaborative, and supportive employer, as well as a progressive leader in education. We offer and welcome employees to take the opportunity to develop their careers within our District. There are many opportunities for those employees that possess the qualifications and capability to access positions of advancement. Employees are supported throughout their careers to engage in professional development opportunities by encouraging learning on assigned professional development days, providing professional development workshops, and providing the opportunity for reimbursement of external professional development.

We are currently seeking an experienced Assistant Director, Human Resources to join our collaborative and forward-thinking HR team. Reporting to the Executive Director of Human Resources, this exempt position plays a strategic and operational leadership role across a wide range of HR services in a unionized environment.

Key Responsibilities

Employee and Labour Relations

• Act as the HR lead for assigned client groups, offering expert guidance on the interpretation and application of contracts, collective agreements, labour legislation and regulations.
• Lead employee and labour relations matters, including investigations, grievances, performance management, and progressive discipline.
• Serve as a liaison with union representatives and support collective bargaining preparations and negotiations.
• Provide coaching and strategic support to leaders and HR team members on labour relations best practices.
  
  

Attendance and Disability Management

• Oversight for the District’s attendance management program.
• Analyze trends and maintain data to improve employee well-being, reduce absenteeism, and guide decision-making.
  
  

Human Resources Operations

• Supervise and mentor HR staff, providing oversight and support across key functional areas such as staffing, recruitment, onboarding, seniority, layoff, and leave management.
• Support exempt compensation processes, employment contract administration.
• Oversight for the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) management.
• Ensure continuous improvement of HR policies, procedures, and systems in line with strategic goals.
  
  

Strategic HR Leadership

• Contribute to the District’s long-term HR planning, including succession planning, performance management, and change management.
• Support equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation initiatives across the District.
• Represent the HR department on district-wide committees and special projects.
  
  

Qualifications

• A university degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive HR experience in unionized environments, with demonstrated success in labour relations, disability management, and HR operations.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, manage complex cases, and work collaboratively across departments.
• Excellent knowledge of employment-related legislation including the Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act, Workers Compensation Act, and privacy legislation.
• Proficient in HRIS platforms and data analysis tools.
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, and project management skills.
• High degree of discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism.
• Experience and demonstrated success working in a unionized environment.
• Experience in a school district or other public sector environment is preferred.
  
  

Application Process

Please submit a cover letter, detailed resume including professional credentials, and the names of at least three current references via Make a Future. Successful applicants will be required to consent to a Criminal Record Search prior to employment.

Why Join Burnaby School District?

The annual salary range for this position is $124,779 - $155,974 and based on experience and education. The District also offers a comprehensive benefits package and participation in a pension plan.

We are proud to foster an engaging and inclusive environment that values continuous learning and professional development. Our employees have access to advancement opportunities, workshops, professional learning days, and reimbursement for external training.

The Burnaby School District embraces diversity and inclusion as a strength and strives to create a welcoming community where everyone belongs. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including Indigenous, Black, and people of colour, people of all genders, LGBTQ2+ individuals, and persons with disabilities.

Successful applicants will be required to consent to a Criminal Record Search prior to employment. Only those persons selected for interviews will be contacted.

Thank you for your interest in the Burnaby School District!