Description

General Bank of Canada (GBC) is a Schedule 1 Chartered bank headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, and part of the Wheaton Group. Founded in the 1950s, GBC has grown from an entrepreneurial vision into one of Canada’s fastest-growing small banks, providing innovative financing solutions across the automotive, aviation, and commercial sectors.

At GBC, our core values of Trust, Discipline, a People-Centric Approach, and Innovation guide every decision we make. Our nimble structure enables us to deliver forward-thinking banking solutions in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Proudly certified as a Great Place to Work for six consecutive years, we are committed not only to transforming banking but also to making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. Since 1969, our long-standing partnership with United Way has supported volunteerism, fundraising, and community programs that truly make a difference. When you join our team, you become part of an organization where innovation and community go hand in hand. We love it here, and we think you will too!

GBC is seeking a fulltime Human Resources (HR) Strategic Advisor to backfill a 15-month leave. As the Bank continues to grow, this role offers an exciting opportunity to lead day-to-day HR activities across the organization. The HR Strategic Advisor serves as a trusted partner to leaders and employees, bridging HR practices with business strategy to help teams achieve both current and future goals. By combining strategic insight with hands-on execution, this role delivers impactful HR solutions that drive organizational success.

Leveraging strong expertise and an empathetic approach, the HR Strategic Advisor provides proactive, tailored coaching and guidance to leaders throughout the Bank. This role also identifies opportunities to enhance the candidate and employee experience, playing a key part in shaping and strengthening the Bank’s culture.

This position focuses on building and maintaining strong, trusting relationships while delivering value-added HR services aligned with the Bank’s values and objectives. Working closely with the HR team, the HR Strategic Advisor supports the development, enhancement, and implementation of HR programs to meet the evolving needs of the organization and its employees.

Position Details

• Status: Fulltime (temporary)
• Duration: Up to 15 months
• Target start date: September 1, 2026
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Workplace Model: In-office
• Location: Edmonton, AB
• Salary Range: $69,094 to $93,481 annually, commensurate with qualifications
• Posting Deadline: Open until filled

Position Responsibilities 

Strategic HR Partnership: Collaborate with business leaders to develop a strong understanding of their needs to provide HR expertise and support on a variety of employee experience aspects. Develop HR strategies that support both short-term and long-term business line objectives and enable leaders to execute effectively.

HR Expertise: Provide HR insights, guidance and support as a trusted internal advisor and partner. Recommend strategies and approaches that align with employment legislation, internal policies, industry best practices and risk tolerances at the Bank. Stay updated with changes in employment law and regulations.

Business Literacy: Maintain an effective level of business literacy about the business unit’s strengths, challenges, plans, culture, and its competition. Understand the business unit’s strategic goals and how HR can support them. Stay informed about industry trends and the competitive landscape.

Employee Lifecycle: Support leaders to implement effective people processes and lead employee lifecycle aspects, including stay and exit interviews, environmental scans, and absence and disability management.

Talent Acquisition: Provide talent acquisition support by leading recruitment activities to enable leaders to hire, onboard and retain top talent. Participate in employer branding initiatives to increase brand awareness and attract top talent. Proactively develop recruitment strategies to build talent pipelines and ensure consistent and fair assessment processes.

Performance Management: Coach and support leaders in managing employee relations, including performance management, employee improvement plans, team development, conflict resolution, and conducting workplace investigations.

Data-Informed Advice: Leverage HR data and analytics to identify trends, provide insights and recommend actionable strategies to leaders to improve their operations and HR-related programs. Utilize performance metrics and analytics to drive continuous improvement.

Policy & Program Support: Assist in the development, enhancement and implementation of HR programs, policies, and procedures.

Miscellaneous: Lead continuous improvement initiatives across HR processes and functions, including:

• Collaborate with the HR team to support activities such as onboarding, orientation, and other HR functions
• Contribute to HR projects and initiatives as assigned
• Serve as the primary backup for administrative functions, including payroll and benefits
• Perform other related duties as required

Requirements

What You Bring to the Table

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related discipline
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in HR roles
• At least three (3) years of experience in an HR advisory or consultative capacity
• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with demonstrated ability to coach and influence leaders, resolve conflict, and build credibility and trust at all levels of the organization
• Solid knowledge of employment legislation, with the ability to interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations, and policies
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Outlook, and Word
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and adapt to new systems and technologies

Preferred Qualifications

• CPHR designation
• Experience in financial services or banking
• Experience or knowledge of Canadian federal employment legislation, including the Canada Labour Code, Accessibility Act, Employment Equity Act and
• Occupational Health and Safety regulations
• Payroll processing experience
• Experience working with HRIS platforms
• Knowledge of payroll legislation

What GBC Brings to the Table

At General Bank of Canada, we offer more than just a paycheque. We offer the opportunity to build your career and elevate it to new heights. Our compensation package includes base salary, group benefits, and a matched retirement savings plan program.

Our group benefits ensure you and your dependents are covered for extended health, dental, and vision care. We also provide flexible spending accounts, replenished annually, to help cover additional medical and wellness expenses. Recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Mental Wellness in 2025, we take mental health seriously. That's why we offer extra coverage for mental health practitioners and a dynamic employee assistance program.

As an employee, you can expect more than just our competitive compensation package, comprehensive group benefits, and matched retirement savings plan. We also offer the following:

• Generous paid time off to promote healthy work-life harmony
• A collaborative work environment where your voice and opinions are valued
• Exclusive employee perks, including discounts for various products and services
• Beautiful downtown office location with an on-site gym and Edmonton’s best rooftop patio
• Engaging social events each month, offering unique experiences and opportunities to connect with colleagues, meet new people and enjoy some fun
• Professional development and tuition support to help you advance your career
• Welcoming teams that celebrate diversity and prioritize inclusion
• Give back to your community. As a proud partner of the United Way, we offer numerous initiatives throughout the year for you to get involved and make a meaningful impact
• Make an impact and join one of our employee-led committees to develop leadership skills, expand your network and contribute to our strong corporate culture

How to Apply

We invite you to apply directly through our Careers portal at generalbank.ca/careers. If you need assistance, you can contact us at HR@generalbank.ca. While we appreciate all applications, only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted directly.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At General Bank of Canada, we believe that diversity drives innovation and fosters a culture of inclusion. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all employees. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the rich diversity of our communities and customers. 

Accessibility

We believe that accessibility is a fundamental aspect of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our goal is to ensure that every candidate has an equal opportunity to succeed during the interview process, and we will work with candidates requiring accommodations. If you require an accommodation, please reach out to our HR team directly (HR@generalbank.ca). 

Employment Equity

We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities, including those who are underrepresented in the financial services industry. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Applicant Privacy Notice

To learn how we collect, use, and protect your personal information during the recruitment process, please review our Applicant Privacy Notice at the following link: https://www.generalbank.ca/careers/