People & Culture Business Partner

About MaRS

MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) is a charitable organization and North Americas largest urban innovation hub dedicated to helping high-growth technology companies succeed. With a focus on climate health sciences and other emerging technologies MaRS supports startups tackling some of the worlds most pressing issues. Through its world-class facilities strategic programs and partnerships MaRS accelerates the adoption of groundbreaking Canadian technology and bolsters a globally competitive innovation ecosystem. MaRS is the place where you can play a meaningful role in the innovation economy.

We understand qualifications on a job posting can be daunting. If youre passionate about the role and believe you can make a meaningful impact we want to hear from you even if you dont meet every listed qualification. Were always looking for great talent to join our team on planet MaRS.

We actively encourage all candidates to apply including equity-deserving communities including those who identify as BIPOC racialized women people with disabilities and people with diverse gender identities expressions and sexual orientations.

We want you to be comfortable being your most authentic self throughout our recruitment process. Please reach out to if theres anything we can do to make your experience more accessible and inclusive including accommodations. Include Accessibility Request in your subject line.

About the Position

As a People & Culture Business Partner you serve as the primary liaison between your assigned lines of business and the broader P&C team. Reporting to the Director and head of the People & Culture team you seek to understand the business and organizational priorities so you can provide informed strategic guidance on people related this role you advise and support managers collaborate on cross-functional initiatives and lead end-to-end recruitment efforts. You play a key role in identifying emerging themes and issues surfacing thoughtful recommendations and ensuring your guidance aligns with organizational goals. With a strong focus on mitigating and managing risk you help shape a consistent people-centred approach that enables teamsand the organizationto thrive.

About you

You are passionate about your work and are a curious lifelong learner. You have a solid background supporting and advising managers and senior leaders on employee relations and other people-related issues.Ideally you also bring depth of experience in one or more of the following areas: recruitment employee experience and engagement organizational development performance enablement and/or benefits and compensation management. You are highly adaptable optimistic and a strong team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment.You are comfortable engaging with stakeholders at all levels and have a collaborative working style. You proactively identify challenges and propose thoughtful solutions.You bring strong analytical capabilities that help you interpret data identify trends and uncover insights.

Key Responsibilities

Advice and partnering

• Take the time to learn and understand the lines of business you supportincluding their goals and strategies.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with internal clients/managers; get to know employees; be approachable and welcoming.
• Leverage strong listening and observational skills to uncover underlying needs and issues.
• Provide guidance on day-to-day people-related matters including recruitment succession planning employee development performance management and employee relations escalating as required.
• Support termination strategy and execution in a thoughtful empathetic manner; mitigate organizational risk; liaise with external employment counsel when needed.
  
  

Recruitment

• Consult with managers on hiring needs and develop sourcing strategies and recruitment plans.
• Support managers in creating clear accurate and compelling job postings.
• Advise on interview approaches and selection criteria.
• Train managers on effective recruitment practices.
  
• Lead timely efficient and effective recruitment processes including posting roles screening resumes conducting preliminary interviews scheduling interviews occasionally participating in later-stage interviews coordinating work sample assignments gathering collective feedback drafting offer letters and negotiating terms.
• Support onboarding planning to ensure new hires are set up for success.
  
  

Program and Project Management

• Lead a portfolio of People & Culture programs and organizational development initiatives. Some program examples are: performance management and compensation reviews; employee engagement strategy and measurement; recognition programs; employer branding; hybrid work; appropriate use of AI.
• For annual programs manage timelines communications meetings and deliverables in collaboration with the broader P&C team.
• For new organizational development initiatives conduct research propose well-considered options present recommendations design solutions plan and oversee implementation measure effectiveness; continually refine and improve.
  

Team Collaboration

• Share your expertise and act as a supportive mentor and guide to others on the team.
• Step in to support colleagues when workload and timing allows.
• Bring a collaborative spirit to all projects actively seeking and considering input from the P&C team and from across the organization.
• Stay curious and informed about innovative and emerging People & Culture practices and approaches and share with the team
  
  

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 8 years of People & Culture experience with at least 3 years in a Business Partner role.
• Strong analytical capability: able to identify business challenges uncover insights to support decision-making and align people strategy with organizational strategy.
• Demonstrated success working in a fast-paced team-based environment partnering effectively with peers senior leaders managers and professionals to deliver on key objectives and enhance engagement productivity and teamwork.
• Strong listening and observational skills; ability to use powerful questions to bring about understanding and insight
• Business and organizational acumen with the ability to use insights to improve talent and business outcomes.
  

Applications will close at 5pm EDT on December 1 2025

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada reside in Ontario and be willing to work out of our Toronto office (101 College Street) a minimum of 3 days per week.

Salary Range:$85000 - $105000 up to 10% discretionary incentive target GRSP matching extended healthcare benefits wellness spending account and paid time-off.

#LI-MDD

Required Experience:

Senior IC