Manager, Strategic Talent Acquisition

October 23, 2026
Kitchener, ON, CA
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Position: Manager, Strategic Talent Acquisition

Work Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Location: (WRHN) – All Sites / regional presence as required

Reporting to: Director, People Operational Services

Position Summary

WRHN is seeking a strategic and execution-focused talent acquisition leader to serve as Manager, Strategic Talent Acquisition. Reporting to the Director, People Operational Services, this role leads the Talent Acquisition Centre of Expertise and is accountable for enterprise recruitment strategy, standards, specialized expertise and continuous improvement across WRHN.

Reporting to the Director, People Operational Services, the Manager, Strategic Talent Acquisition leads WRHN's Talent Acquisition Centre of Expertise and is accountable for enterprise recruitment strategy, service delivery, talent attraction, sourcing, internal mobility alignment, recruitment governance and continuous improvement. The role provides strategic leadership to the Talent Acquisition team while partnering with Human Resources Business Partners, People Operations and organizational leaders to deliver integrated, data-informed talent solutions that support workforce sustainability and organizational success

Responsibilities at a Glance

Strategic Talent Acquisition Leadership

  • Lead WRHN's Talent Acquisition Centre of Expertise, establishing enterprise recruitment strategies, standards, programs and practices that support organizational priorities and workforce needs.
  • Provide expert consultation on labour market conditions, talent availability, sourcing strategies, recruitment risk and workforce planning considerations.
  • Translate workforce, succession and organizational priorities into actionable talent attraction, sourcing and pipeline strategies.

Recruitment Service Delivery & Team Leadership

  • Lead a high-performing Talent Acquisition team focused on service excellence, strategic partnership, measurable outcomes and exceptional execution.
  • Oversee recruitment delivery for non-management positions and provide leadership and expertise for executive, leadership, critical and hard-to-fill searches.
  • Allocate resources, manage competing priorities and ensure recruitment services are delivered effectively, consistently and in alignment with organizational goals.

Internal Mobility & Recruitment Governance

  • Provide functional leadership and strategic direction for internal mobility programs while ensuring alignment between Talent Acquisition and People Operations.
  • Establish service standards, clear accountabilities, escalation pathways and seamless handoffs that create an integrated experience for leaders and candidates.
  • Ensure recruitment practices are compliant, equitable and aligned with organizational policies, collective agreements and legislative requirements.

Recruitment Innovation, Analytics & Continuous Improvement

  • Leverage recruitment data, stakeholder feedback and labour market intelligence to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
  • Champion continuous improvement, digital enablement and responsible use of technology and artificial intelligence to enhance recruitment outcomes and efficiency.
  • Develop meaningful performance measures and use insights to strengthen decision-making, service delivery and organizational results.

Stakeholder & Candidate Experience

  • Build trusted partnerships with leaders, Human Resources Business Partners, physicians and People, Culture and Experience colleagues to deliver integrated talent solutions.
  • Champion an exceptional candidate and hiring manager experience that reflects WRHN's values and employer brand.
  • Develop and maintain external partnerships that strengthen talent pipelines and support workforce sustainability.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master's degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
  • Advanced knowledge of strategic talent acquisition, labour-market research, sourcing, selection, candidate experience, recruitment technology, employment legislation and collective-agreement environments.
  • Understanding of contemporary HR operating models, including HR Business Partner, Centre of Expertise and HR Operations accountabilities.
  • CHRL/CHRP designation, professional recruitment designation or advanced talent-acquisition certification preferred.
  • Minimum seven to ten years of progressive talent acquisition or related HR experience, including at least three to five years in a formal leadership role.
  • Demonstrated success leading a strategic talent acquisition function or COE in a large, complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
  • Experience developing attraction, sourcing, search and pipeline strategies that respond to organizational priorities and difficult talent markets.
  • Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders, lead complex or executive searches, influence without authority and translate data into actionable insights.
  • Experience leading recruitment transformation, technology implementation, service-model redesign or continuous improvement.
  • Experience in healthcare, a unionized environment or another highly regulated sector is a strong asset.