Vice-President, People and Culture

St. John's, NL

The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) is seeking an inspiring, people-focused executive to join its leadership team as Vice-President, People and Culture.

The Organization

NLC is a Crown Corporation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with responsibility through the Liquor Corporation Act, the Liquor Control Act, and the Cannabis Control Act for the importation, sale, distribution and management of beverage alcohol and cannabis. NLC also ensures the delivery of programs that promote safe, responsible consumption.

NLC is one of the largest retailers in the province. Through 28 corporate retail locations, over 140 liquor express stores, more than 550 Brewer's Agent outlets, and over 1,400 restaurants, lounges, and other licensees, along with private order services, NLC offers over 4,000 products per year to consumers and its retail partners from more than 20 countries. It also regulates and distributes to 56 licensed cannabis retailers across the province, and offers customers a secure, legal online environment for cannabis purchases via ShopCannabisNL.com. NLC operates a 77,000 square foot distribution centre, as well as a manufacturing operation, Rock Spirits. The facility, which runs world-class blending, bottling and canning operations, ships to more than 30 countries around the world and has been in operation for over 65 years.

NLC operates with the expectation that it will generate revenue for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, with 100% of its profits reinvested in the province to fund key public services. NLC aspires to build trust in everything it does - with customers, employees, retailers, commercial partners, and communities, along with Government, to ensure a stronger Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Role

The Vice-President, People and Culture will be responsible for leading NLC's Human Resources strategy, ensuring that HR policies, programs, and initiatives support organizational strategic goals. They will foster a culture that places our people at the heart of what we do, emphasizing employee engagement, professional development, succession planning and workplace well-being.

Reporting directly to the President and CEO and serving as a key advisor to the Board of Directors, the Vice-President will lead NLC's efforts to foster a high-performing, inclusive, and engaged workforce. In this newly evolved role, the successful candidate will help shape the future of NLC's culture, modernize HR systems and practices, oversee transformative leadership development and training, and ensure employees are empowered and supported to thrive. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to an organization known for its high-performance standards, strong team spirit, exceptional customer service, community impact, and commitment to operational excellence.

Key areas of responsibility include:

Strategic People Leadership: Develops and implements an enterprise-wide people and culture strategy that supports NLC's growth and business priorities while promoting a collaborative, high-performance environment.

Talent Development and Organizational Effectiveness: Oversees leadership development and training, succession planning, and workforce strategies that enhance capability, foster career growth, and build organizational resilience.

Operational Excellence and Modernization: Oversees core HR functions including compensation, benefits, job classification, employee relations, Human Resource Management System (HRMS) optimization, and occupational health and safety, and wellness, while embedding data and technology into decision-making.

Culture and Engagement: Champions employee engagement initiatives, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) programs, and builds a workplace culture where employees are empowered to innovate and lead.

Governance and Board Relations: Provides strategic advice and reporting to the Board's Governance and HR Committee, supporting strong governance, and policy development related to the people and culture portfolio.

The Ideal Candidate

You are a strategic, relationship-driven HR leader with the expertise and vision to lead organizational change while nurturing a positive, people-focused culture. You are energized by the opportunity to shape culture, modernize systems, enhance leadership capacity, and ensure employees are engaged, supported, and aligned to strategic goals. You are a trusted advisor, a natural connector, and a champion of innovation and inclusion.

Qualifications and Experience:

While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.

• A degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; a master's degree or CPHR or CHRL designation is preferred.
• Significant leadership experience in HR in a similarly complex, unionized environment.
• Expertise in labour relations, workforce planning, talent management, and employee engagement.
• Proven success leading people and culture strategies aligned to organizational growth and transformation.
• Strong expertise in public sector governance and organizational design.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and employee engagement.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and conflict-resolution skills.

Skills and Attributes:

• Strategic mindset with operational delivery discipline.
• A trustworthy leader capable of working collegially and effectively within a unionized environment and build trusting relationships both internally and externally.
• Inclusive, collaborative, and authentic leadership style.
• Emotional intelligence and empathy in communication, ensuring a supportive and inclusive work environment.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills grounded in data and insight.
• Exceptional organizational skills, capable of managing multiple priorities and maintaining high standards of performance.
• Adaptability and resilience in navigating change and high-pressure situations.
• A "pitch in" kind of leader who supports and empowers their team.

Why Join NLC?

As a key member of a dynamic executive team, you will help shape the future of an organization with a broad province-wide footprint, strong community reputation, ambitious goals, and a people-focused culture. A competitive compensation package, including salary, pension, and benefits, will be offered to the successful candidate.

Application Process

NLC is committed to DEIB. The organization welcomes candidates who self-identify as Black, Indigenous or a person of colour with lived experience and expertise in incorporating DEIB practices into organizational systems and decision-making. Joining a vibrant community at NLC where we aspire to achieve equity and diversity in all areas, the successful candidate will be expected to show evidence of a commitment to DEIB and the promotion of a collegial and supportive working environment.

Please email [email protected] or communicate your needs to a recruitment professional named below to ensure that accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Michelle Doyle at [email protected], or Dr. Jennie Massey at [email protected] or submit your full application package online at: https://www.kbrs.ca/Career/17437019227700000008dvv

The Committee will begin reviewing applications on May 23, 2025.