ventureLAB INNOVATION CENTRE

o/a ventureLAB

Senior Manager, People & Culture — Job ID 202520

Position Profile

About ventureLAB

ventureLAB is a not-for-profit leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada. Our organization is led by seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders with decades of industry experience in building IP-rich start-ups, scale-ups, and global multinationals to help businesses scale. Located at the heart of Ontario’s innovation corridor in York Region, ventureLAB is part of one of the biggest and most diverse tech communities in Canada. Since 2011, ventureLAB has enabled over 4,000 tech ventures to create over 6,800 jobs and raise more than $420 million in investment capital through our initiatives focused on raising capital, talent retention, technology and IP commercialization, and customer acquisition.

‍

Together with our community of entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and partners, we enable technology startups to accelerate the commercialization of transformational products on a global scale. ventureLAB is home to the Hardware Catalyst Initiative — Canada’s only lab and incubator for hardware and semiconductor-focused companies.

‍
Our Mission
Powering hardtech founders to build and scale globally competitive ventures that advance Canada's knowledge-based economy.

‍
Our Vision
Born Global. Built to Scale. Inclusive by Design. Inspire a new generation of global founders who choose Canada to scale IP-rich tech titans creating innovative hardware and scale-ready enterprise software solutions that transform communities and establish a blueprint for a more sustainable, inclusive tech ecosystem.

‍

Our Values — Team RIVIR

• Relentless: We are tenacious and resilient. We follow through and remove roadblocks so together we succeed and go further.
• Inclusive: We are empathetic, open-minded and collaborate respectfully so that we build trust with each other and value diverse opinions, ideas and perspectives to learn and make better decisions.
• Visionary: We inspire bold futures with our founders, team, partners and community by challenging each other respectfully and thinking differently.
• Innovative: We celebrate ingenuity and empower the team to create new ideas, processes and strategies. We are curious and resourceful by asking questions for clarity.
• Results: We are proactive and plan. We are accountable and focused. We are direct and transparent through fact-based discussions.

‍

ventureLAB is made up of passionate, driven individuals, and is growing quickly. It is a fast-paced, flexible environment where individual contributors make a big difference and work collaboratively to achieve shared goals. We are proud to be one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures and a Great Place to Work®.

Position Profile: Senior Manager, People & Culture

Reporting to the Director, People & Culture, the Senior Manager, People & Culture has a strategic role within ventureLAB’s mission-driven culture, aligning talent initiatives with ventureLAB’s mission and ensuring the organization has the capacity for sustainable growth. The Senior Manager will leverage their experience to drive success in employee engagement, talent recruitment and development, and performance optimization while ensuring compliance with internal processes and regulatory requirements.

‍

The Senior Manager has a critical role in evolving a thriving workplace culture rooted in inclusion, innovation, accountability, and continuous learning. The ideal candidate will bring a mix of strategic thinking and operational excellence, with the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization and influence positive change. While the Senior Manager does have significant operational responsibility, they will have the support of ventureLAB’s HR Coordinator.

Key Responsibilities

‍
People Leadership

• Work alongside the Director, People and Culture to empower and support a high-performing mission-driven organization in alignment with ventureLAB’s strategic goals.
• Support ventureLAB’s leadership team in forecasting talent requirements and build out talent acquisition and employee development programs to meet those future needs.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and develop and implement programs that allow ventureLAB to accelerate its growth.
• Lead culture-building initiatives that refresh and reinforce employees’ understanding of ventureLAB’s mission and values.

‍

Employee Lifecycle

• Manage and improve ventureLAB’s recruitment processes in order to meet current and future talent requirements and increase long-term retention.
• Lead ventureLAB’s onboarding and integration activities to ensure all new employees are welcome and equipped for their roles.
• Support employee growth and development, maintain robust succession plans and provide work with the team to provide employees with opportunities for internal growth and mobility.
• Champion initiatives that support continuous learning, leadership development, and career progression.
• Monitor and analyze talent metrics to inform data-driven decisions.
• Support senior leadership in the assessment and execution of change management activities that align the team with its mission and growth plans. This includes highlighting risks, planning mitigation strategies and proposing ideas that increase employee adoption of any proposed changes without compromising employee engagement and commitment.

‍

Employee Experience & Engagement

• Lead employee engagement efforts including surveys, focus groups, and action planning.
• Provide coaching and support to people managers to ensure a consistent and effective approach to managing performance, feedback and manager/employee relationships.
• Foster an inclusive work environment where all employees feel seen, supported, and empowered.
• Design and drive recognition, wellness, and retention programs.

‍

HR Operations & Compliance

• Oversee ventureLAB’s people policies, practices, and processes, maintaining compliance with ventureLAB’s governance structures and any applicable legislation.
• Ensure consistent operation and update of performance management processes, compensation administration, and benefit operation.
• Maintain and continuously improve HRIS systems, records management, and reporting processes.
• Manage relationships with vendors such as HR systems, benefit providers, and training partners.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field; CHRP/CHRL designation is an asset.
• Work Experience: 6–8 years of HR/People roles; 3+ years in a strategic or managerial role.
• Sector Experience: Supporting Growing Organizations, Change Management, Driving Cross-Functional Initiatives.
• Knowledge: Ontario Employment Law, HRIS Platforms, HR Best Practices.
• Skills: Leading by Influence, Communication, Problem-Solving, Conflict-Management,.
• Skills: Passion and Excitement about People and Team-Building, Judgment, Professionalism and Discretion.

Salary & Benefits

Salary Range: $85,000 to $95,000 CAD per annum. In addition to salary, ventureLAB offers:

• Comprehensive Health and Dental Benefits Package
• 3 weeks of Annual Paid Vacation
• Annual Funding for Professional Development Activities
• Access to Innovation Ecosystem Events and Networks

Why Join ventureLAB?

• Be part of a mission-driven team accelerating Canada’s most innovative tech startups.
• Make a real impact on the future of talent, innovation, and economic growth.
• Thrive in an inclusive, collaborative, and high-growth environment.

‍

Our Hybrid Work Structure

‍

ventureLAB offers a hybrid work model that balances flexibility with in-person connection. This role is eligible for remote work; however, team members are regularly expected on-site, including each Thursday and for key events, meetings, and engagements.

How to Apply

Apply by Friday, August 22, 2025 to hr@venturelab.ca quoting “Senior Manager, People & Culture – Job ID 202520” in the subject line. Include your resume, salary expectations, and a brief note telling us why you’d be a great addition to the ventureLAB team. Early submissions are encouraged as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

‍

At ventureLAB, we value diversity, inclusion, and respect. Diverse experience, perspectives, and backgrounds bring great ideas and create stronger teams. We embrace it, because we know that by including everyone, we all thrive. Accommodations are available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the recruitment process.

‍

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only qualified candidates will be contacted.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍