Job Description

Position

People & Culture Business Partner Lead

Department

People & Culture

Classification

Level 7

Salary

Our salaries generally range from $

99,470

-

$111,650 and are based on qualifications and experience

Languages

Bilingualism (English and French) is required

Term

Permanent Full-Time

Location

Hybrid (Ottawa)

Background

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice of municipal governments, representing the interests of cities and communities with the federal government. With over 2,000 members including Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural communities, and 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations, FCM represents over 90% of Canada's population. As the national voice of Canadian municipalities, FCM is an organization that strives to make the communities Canadians live in more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable.FCM aspires to be an organization that is deeply respectful, collaborative, empowering and transparent in our work. As the national voice for Canada's local governments, FCM is committed to strengthening Canada by achieving results for Canadian communities and cities, and by sharing knowledge and experience on the world's stage, so that others may improve the quality of life in their communities. All leaders in the organization are expected to lead in a manner that embraces these values, the corporate culture and the passion for FCM's mission.

Major Purpose

Reporting to the Director, People & Culture, the People & Culture Business Partner Lead plays a strategic and impactful role in nurturing an inspired workplace culture and delivering an exceptional employee experience at FCM.



As FCM continues to evolve as a member-driven and people-centered organization, the Business Partner Lead contributes directly to shaping this future through proactive, high-impact support to their client groups.


Serving as a trusted advisor, the Business Partner Lead fosters exceptional individual, team, and organizational performance through empowered leadership, coaching, collaboration, innovation, and human capital development. With deep expertise in people practices, strong business acumen, and a strategic mindset, the incumbent builds credible, value-driven relationships with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.



While the role supports a specific client group, the Business Partner Lead brings an enterprise-wide perspective--contributing to and delivering People & Culture strategies, programs, initiatives, policies, and technologies that advance FCM's strategic objectives. They pivot seamlessly between strategic planning, operational delivery, and innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of FCM's people and culture.



Grounded in FCM's core values, the Business Partner Lead actively advances a healthy, inclusive, diverse, and anti-racist workplace. The incumbent models the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and sound judgment, while demonstrating agility, accountability, and the ability to escalate issues when appropriate. Ultimately, this role is instrumental in shaping a high-performing, values-driven organization by aligning people strategies with FCM's purpose, culture, and strategic priorities--strengthening its position as an employer of choice.

Key Responsibilities

The People and Culture Business Partner Lead:


Collaborate with people leaders to identify and strategically meet individual and team learning and development needs. Acts as the primary People & Culture partner for designated client groups, providing strategic guidance and day-to-day support across the employee and manager lifecycle. Advises and influences leaders on complex Human Resources matters, offering insights, highlighting risks, and ensuring decisions align with policy, legislation, and best practices. Collaborates with managers to address employee relations issues, conduct investigations, and implement compliant, resolution-focused approaches. Provides interpretation and application of FCM policies and practices, manages exception requests, and ensures alignment with organizational standards. Supports leaders in fostering a healthy, engaging, and inclusive work environment while balancing organizational needs and promoting employee wellness. Leads and contributes to initiatives that build trust, strengthen employee engagement, and enhance talent retention. Monitors employment practices and decisions to ensure fairness, ethics, and compliance with evolving employment legislation. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of employment trends and legal requirements, and partners with team members to develop responsive policies and procedures. Partners with leaders to assess and deliver team- and organization-wide learning and development initiatives aligned to strategic priorities. Collaborates with Talent Acquisition to ensure the right talent is in the right roles, actively supporting the hiring of people leaders. Leads or supports strategic initiatives in areas such as organizational design, workforce planning, change management, succession, and leadership development. Works cross-functionally with partners (e.g., Finance, Anti-Racism, Equity & Inclusion (AREI)) to support headcount planning, budget cycles, and equity-related projects across the organization.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

You are an exceptional and experienced professional who has served as the primary People & Culture Business Partner for leaders and employees in a designated business unit. You have deep experience in providing People & Culture expertise and guidance at all stages of the people leader and employee journey, with special emphasis in: strategic workforce planning and talent acquisition; performance success; total rewards, learning and development, employee engagement, wellness and belonging. You understand the complexities of managing cultural change in an organization and have experience in generating transformative actions through improved People & Culture strategies and processes. You bring forward and apply the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity & inclusion in all work and communications. You have the right mix of strategic vision and operational know-how with a head for business and a heart for people. You build deep trust and credibility quickly with your peers and can influence at all levels of the organization. You are bilingual (oral and written) in both of Canada's official languages. You possess sound knowledge of the Ontario Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Act and other relevant laws and policies. You are legally eligible to work in Canada on a permanent full-time basis without sponsorship.

Language Requirements

Bilingualism (English and French) is required




The benefits to joining the FCM team include summer hours (Fridays off between July 1st and Labour Day); office facilities located in the ByWard Market, FCM's commitment to employee development and a competitive range of employee benefits and services. FCM encourages flexible work arrangements to support the wellbeing and productivity of employees.



The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is committed to fostering an organizational culture that embraces equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, where individuals from diverse racial and ethnic identities, nationalities, social economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and physical and mental abilities can thrive and be fully engaged at their best level.



FCM welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

The future of work at FCM includes a hybrid work model; therefore, this role will be a combination of virtual and on-site work. The successful candidate is required live within 80kms of downtown Ottawa and be authorized to work in Canada.

For additional information on this posting, or for further information on FCM, access our website at www.fcm.ca. Visit the careers section of our website to apply. The deadline for applications is

July 18, 2025.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, we will only contact those selected for an interview. All the applications will be kept on file for six months following the hiring.