Human Resources Manager - WG1061

About the Organization

Summit Search Group has been retained by Orenda Commodity Services Ltd. on the recruitment of their inaugural HR Manager. Orenda is a family-owned, vertically integrated agri-food company with deep roots in Manitoba agriculture, specializing in wild bird food blending, packaging, and distribution. Operating from processing facilities in Winkler and Ste. Agathe, with sister operation Elskamp Farm located in Woodlands, Orenda has built a true farm-to-shelf business across southern Manitoba, managing everything from farm sourcing and commodity markets to custom blending, packaging, and logistics into retail, pet store, and bulk channels across Canada and beyond.

With expertise spanning all aspects of special crops, including commodity markets, processing, blending, and shipping, Orenda has built a reputation for quality and reliability grounded in decades of agricultural experience. The recent acquisition of the Scoular processing plant in Winkler has meaningfully expanded the organization's capacity and reach. With a combined team of approximately 80 people across three sites, Orenda and Elskamp Farm are at an exciting inflection point in their growth, and are ready to bring dedicated, professional HR support in-house for the first time.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to senior leadership, the HR Manager will be Orenda's first dedicated HR resource, providing hands-on support and oversight across all three locations in Winkler, Ste. Agathe, and Woodlands. This is a genuine opportunity for an HR professional who is ready to take on meaningful ownership and breadth, building HR infrastructure from the ground up within a growing, people-focused organization that takes real pride in the quality of its product and the people behind it.

The HR Manager will serve as the go-to resource for site managers and employees across all locations, supporting everything from recruitment and onboarding to policy development and day-to-day employee relations. The role requires a minimum of one day per week on-site at each location, with a vehicle allowance provided to support regular travel. The person stepping into this role will have the autonomy to shape how HR is done at Orenda and the chance to make a real and lasting impact on an organization that is growing with purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Support full-cycle recruitment across all three sites, from posting roles and screening candidates to coordinating interviews and supporting hiring decisions.
• Work closely with site managers across Winkler, Ste. Agathe, and Woodlands to understand their teams and provide practical, responsive HR support on a day-to-day basis.
• Develop and update HR policies and contribute to building out an employee handbook and foundational HR infrastructure suited to a growing, multi-site organization.
• Oversee onboarding and orientation processes across all sites, ensuring new hires feel welcomed, prepared, and set up for success from day one.
• Support employee relations conversations and assist with workplace matters as they arise, balancing empathy and practicality with alignment to Manitoba employment standards.
• Identify and implement improvements to how HR is delivered across the organization, building consistency, efficiency, and scalability as Orenda continues to grow.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience with a solid generalist background and the confidence to own a broad scope independently in a lean, multi-site environment.
• Post-secondary education in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Working knowledge of Manitoba employment legislation and HR best practices, with the ability to provide sound, practical guidance to managers and employees across all levels.
• Demonstrated experience in full-cycle recruitment, with comfort owning the hiring process end to end; exposure to policy writing or employee handbook development is an asset.
• A self-starter with strong interpersonal skills and a natural ability to build relationships across an organization; valid driver's licence and reliable vehicle required for regular travel between three sites.
• A background in agriculture, food processing, or manufacturing is considered a meaningful asset given the nature of Orenda's operations and team environment.

For more information, or to submit your resume, please reach out to Gail Eckert at Summit Search Group, [email protected]

Summit Search Group has a strong commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. We strive for continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors and proactively managing bias throughout our process.