Manager, Talent

Position Details: Full Time, Permanent / Full Time, Contract (New Role)

Location: Toronto or Greater Toronto Area (remote, hybrid or onsite)

Taking care of our environment has never been more important than it is today. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for a Manager, Talent to join a team committed to protecting our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.

NCC is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, we have brought people together to conserve and restore more than 20 million hectares across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, evidence-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.

NCC recognizes that we work on lands that have long been cared for by Indigenous Peoples under their own laws and knowledge systems. We are committed to transforming how we do our work, advancing Reconciliation through conservation, and working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful, respectful, and supportive ways.

Position Summary

This role will play an essential role in advancing the talent strategies for all client groups across NCC with a focus on supporting recruitment and selection. At a high level, this role will design, execute, and continuously improve impactful talent initiatives that attract, develop, engage, measure performance and, retain our talent while ensuring a positive employment experience for all. This role also helps to identify client group needs and deliver effective learning and performance-focused programs for NCC.

Job Responsibilities

Recruitment and Selection

• Design, manage and execute on talent attraction, interviewing and selection activities, ensuring alignment with our EDI framework. Advise leaders and hiring managers on best practices for all steps in the recruitment process, leveraging new and existing technologies, etc.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to understand and develop their talent goals and identify recruitment and selection solutions to align with their needs. This includes partnering with hiring managers to create or revise position descriptions for job postings, supporting them with the processes for screening applications and interviewing candidates, etc.
• Lead and execute on hiring initiatives as required including the recruitment and selection for scientific and hard-to-find roles, management, technical and senior management positions.
• Proactively source and utilize data and market intelligence to inform search and hiring decisions and deliver on current and future talent needs for NCC. This includes gathering and presenting relevant market data on hiring trends, talent strategies, sourcing solutions, etc. Track recruiting metrics to determine efficiencies and areas for improvement – provide updates to senior management and other stakeholders.
• Establish strong relationships with internal employees and hiring managers to foster a partnership throughout the interview process.
• Ensure a positive candidate experience with frequent and timely communication throughout recruitment process.
• Act as an ambassador for NCC; educate candidates on the mission, culture, career growth, benefits and many advantages of working for NCC.

Talent Management

• Develop and manage effective talent processes and the related change management and communications plans, to ensure timely and efficient execution of the talent components for all roles including seasonal interns. Review industry trends and recommends enhancements, implementing changes as required.
• Administer, execute and report on the performance management process and systems/tools, providing insights and metrics to improve engagement in the annual process. Provide guidance to clients throughout all stages of the performance management process including communication, coaching, development planning, etc.
• Lead, deliver, manage and report on the annual employee engagement survey, providing insights and recommendations to improve engagement, leveraging best practices across all industries. Provide support to client action plans and provide metrics, reporting data, analysis, etc.
• Develop initiatives to support NCC’s talent landscape including the performance management cycle, interview guides, skills matrices and training for hiring managers.
• Deliver measurable talent activities, ensuring satisfaction and, actively seeking to improve how NCC attracts and retains talent by understanding and leveraging best practices across all industries and ensuring alignment with our EDI framework.
• Practices effective risk management and mitigation for talent strategies including legislative compliance. Remain abreast of emerging industry and legislative changes.
• Develops viable tactical strategies for talent attraction, recruitment and acquisition and, participate in short- and longer-term talent plans including preparing business cases and monitoring of client or department objectives.

Learning & Development

• Develop, manage, facilitate, co-ordinate, and evolve key learning programs and corresponding action plans including tailored training and development for senior leaders, middle manager programming, leadership assessments, etc.
• Supports the design, development, and management of effective learning and performance-focused solutions (e.g. assesses client needs, develops the learning strategy, designs program, and identifies delivery methods and methodology).
• Develop and present content in both official languages to a wide range of stakeholders. Host learning programs delivered by external vendors or internal HR team members, ensuring a seamless experience for participants.
• Monitor and report on learning metrics and program effectiveness, using data to refine programs to maximize engagement and impact.
• Manage program correspondence, including training surveys, gathering feedback from participants, responding to participant inquiries and questions, collaborating with HR and leveraging feedback to strengthen the overall program experience.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Develop strong internal relationships and closely collaborate with client groups, key business stakeholders, HR partners and learning forums to develop a deep understanding of NCC talent needs and priorities to align with organizational goals.
• Socialize talent, performance, engagement and learning programs and gather input from key stakeholders and clients to ensure initiatives address the needs of the client groups and align key messaging.
• Leverage internal relationships with clients and external relationships with vendors, to drive talent engagement and reinforce the value of NCC learning programs.
• Create and execute effective and timely internal communications to ensure clarity and understanding of talent initiatives, programs, tools, changes, etc.

Skills and Qualifications

• Fully bilingual in English and French (verbal and written).
• Post-secondary education in Human Resources, or related experience combined with at least five years of experience in talent management, learning and development and employee engagement.
• A minimum of five years of relevant experience developing, leading and executing the entire recruitment cycle for a wide range of technical, complex and scientific roles including senior and leadership.
• Certification in Human Resources or learning and development is required.
• EDI experience integrated with employee engagement, onboarding and offboarding experience.
• A high level of competency with talent systems and data: ATS/LMS/HRIS, advanced Excel management, and reporting ability along with Proficiency with MS Office Suite.
• Proven ability to draft and execute broad employee communications with a professional and impactful lens. Expertise to engage with clients and stakeholders effectively, both orally and in writing with a wide variety of audiences internally and externally.
• Effective training, facilitation and presentation skills, delivering in both languages and in remote and in-person settings.
• At least one to two years of experience with adult learning training content development along with one to three years of experience leading teams or people.
• Exceptional organization, prioritization, attention to detail, and follow-through skills.

Application Deadline

May 20, 2026 | 11:59pm EST, 9:59pm Mountain Time, 8:59pm Pacific Time, 10:50pm CST, 00:59 am +1 AST

At NCC, we're committed to providing a healthy, safe, barrier free and inclusive, workplace, where respect and diversity are recognized assets. We strive for bold conservation achievements in which equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are the norm. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. NCC implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. For a confidential inquiry, contact us by email at hr@natureconservancy.ca to make any required arrangements. If you have questions regarding accessible employment at NCC, please email us at hr@natureconservancy.ca.