Manager, Human Resources
Vancouver Aquarium | A Herschend Family Entertainment Property
Full-Time Temporary — 18-Month Leave Coverage
Vancouver Aquarium is one of Canada's most beloved conservation and entertainment destinations, and part of Herschend Family Entertainment — a company built around a simple promise: bring families closer together and create memories worth repeating. Our team lives our Core Values every day: we greatly exceed guest expectations, serve others, create emotional connections, and constantly improve. If you want your HR work to have a visible, meaningful impact on people and on the guest experience, you'll feel right at home here.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We're looking for a Manager, Human Resources to join our team on a full-time, temporary basis to cover an 18-month leave. This is a high-visibility role for an HR generalist who is equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves on day-to-day employee relations and thinking strategically about retention, succession, and performance. You'll partner directly with the Director, Human Resources to shape and deliver HR programs that support a fast-paced, guest-facing organization — and you'll have real ownership over initiatives from day one.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Own the full spectrum of HR service delivery — employee relations, performance management, recruitment, job evaluation, compensation, and learning & development — for a diverse, multi-site workforce.
- Partner with the Director, Human Resources to design and deliver strategic HR initiatives that strengthen retention, succession planning, and performance management across the organization.
- Maintain and continuously improve HR policies and practices, and champion clear, effective communication so employees always know where they stand.
- Help shape a compelling, well-defined Employee Value Proposition that helps us attract and keep great people.
- Design and roll out HR programs that respond to evolving workforce needs and drive both performance and retention.
- Lead the employee recognition program and platform, keeping it fresh, relevant, and genuinely valued by the team.
- Assist in implementing HR technology solutions that modernize service delivery and support the organization's broader transformation goals.
- Strengthen performance management practices across the business, building tools and frameworks that make expectations and growth paths clear.
- Identify critical skills gaps across the organization and design targeted training to close them.
- Coach and train internal stakeholders on HR matters, building their confidence and capability to handle people issues well.
- Build genuine, trust-based relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, from frontline teams to senior leaders.
- Lead employee relations matters end-to-end, including investigations, discipline, performance management, and terminations, always with fairness and sound judgment.
- Own HR metrics, reporting, and workforce analytics — turning data on recruitment, talent trends, engagement, and turnover into insight that shapes decisions. Partner with senior leaders on data-driven workforce planning and talent strategy.
- Take on special assignments and projects for the Director, Human Resources, contributing wherever the business needs you most.
WHAT YOU BRING
- A degree in Business or Human Resources Management, plus 7+ years providing advisory or consultative HR services.
- Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation preferred.
- A track record of developing and delivering long-term HR initiatives that stick.
- Strong knowledge of HR principles, policies, and practices across recruitment and retention, compensation, performance management, and employee relations.
- In-depth knowledge of the BC Employment Standards Act, the BC Human Rights Code, and the Pay Transparency Act, and how to apply them in practice.
- Experience developing job descriptions and HR policies, and reviewing job evaluation frameworks.
- A creative, solutions-oriented approach to solving business problems through HR.
- Sound judgment in applying risk management principles to HR practice.
- Excellent judgment, initiative, and discretion — you know when to lead and when to listen.
- Superior oral and written communication skills.
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000 annually.
Consistent with our approach to fair and transparent pay, the successful candidate will typically be hired between the minimum and the midpoint of this range, with placement based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity. The midpoint of the range represents the P50, or the 50th percentile — the market median rate of pay for this role, and the point at which an employee is considered fully competent and performing at the expected level.
WHY JOIN US
This is a chance to make a real, visible impact in a role with genuine breadth — spanning employee relations, talent strategy, and organizational effectiveness — inside a values-driven organization that measures success in the memories it creates for families and the culture it builds for its own team.
Vancouver Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible workplace where all employees feel valued and respected.
This is a hybrid role, requiring 4 days per week on-site with 1 day available for remote work.
