Director of People and Culture

Job description

COMPANY SUMMARY Sapling Financial Consultants is a management consulting firm, founded in 2015. What started as an idea from a kitchen table has turned into a trusted advisor serving clients across North America. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with newly opened satellite offices in Atlanta and New York, Sapling is supported by a team of 30 professionals, delivering high-quality financial modelling, due diligence, interim FP&A and data analytics solutions tailored to mid-market companies, private equity firms, investment banks, search funds and independent sponsors, infrastructure and electricity developers, as well as entrepreneurs. More than half of Sapling’s clients are based in the U.S., reflecting its expanding geographic footprint and growing reputation in management consulting. The firm continues to scale its capabilities, invest in new talent and maintain flexibility in response to shifting market conditions. During periods of economic uncertainty, Sapling has consistently demonstrated steady growth. The firm was recognized for its excellence, being awarded the CanadianSME National Business Award for Best Professional Service in 2023, receiving Ragan’s 2025 Workplace Wellness Award in the category of Learning & Development – Wellness Initiatives, as well as being ranked among Canada’s Top Growing Companies by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine for three years in a row. Our guiding principle is We Live for A+. We aim for nothing less than top-tier work because that’s what our clients expect, and what we expect from ourselves. If you are someone who strives for excellence, not because you must, but because you take pride in doing great work and enjoy seeing how far you can go, then Sapling might be exactly where you belong. POSITION SUMMARY, DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS Position Summary We are looking for a Director of People and Culture who above all wants to help build an exceptional team and ensure that Sapling’s mission to live for A+ is a constant reality for all employees and clients. Our next big growth milestone is to get from 30 to 100 people and this role will be instrumental in achieving that goal. The ideal candidate is a strategic and hands-on leader focused on employee relations, talent acquisition, and staff development. They bring significant HR leadership experience, strong business acumen, and experience within consulting, professional services, or similarly high-performance environments. We are a boutique consultancy that differentiates itself from the big firms with best-in-class work and a strong functional expertise, and we have no interest in diluting our brand. In this role, you will champion support for colleagues across their entire lifecycle, overseeing the administration of key Human Resources processes and programs. We’re looking above all for someone with a longer-term outlook who wants to join like-minded people in building a successful company founded on that principle of creating high-impact value for clients and high-performance. Ultimately, you will play a large role in a small but growing team with big ambitions for the future. Responsibilities Employee Experience: design and own the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through development and offboarding Manage employee relations and conduct internal reviews Support employee engagement initiatives and handle employee queries Advise leaders and support colleagues on Human Resources-related subjects and performance management Culture Building: take a strategic approach to building culture, work with leadership to define company values and ensure those values are reflected in hiring decisions and performance reviews Partner closely with executive leaders and hiring managers to understand workforce needs and talent priorities to hire, train, and develop team members Build capabilities and design and drive recruitment and onboarding and training strategies that align with best practices & priorities Driving Talent Strategy: lead workforce planning, skills mapping, leadership development, and succession planning Oversee hiring across consulting, sales , marketing, and admin teams across Canada and the US Build scalable recruitment strategies and processes to support the company’s continued growth Drive recruitment planning, forecasting, and pipeline strategy across multiple business areas Work on strengthening Sapling's brand and market presence across campus and experienced talent markets Overseeing HR Operations: ensure compensations, benefits, and compliance runs smoothly across our Toronto office and US employees Maintain Human Resources standards, including employee files and HR data management Maintain and share up-to-date knowledge of relevant policy changes, trends, rules, and regulations Oversee the implementation of benefits programs, and manage the day-to-day operations of relevant plans and policies to ensure compliance with legislation Play a key role in risk management by supporting compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies, liaising with firm’s legal counsel as necessary, and implementing changes Evaluate and improve HR systems, tools, workflows, and operational processes to support scale People Analytics: use data to measure engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness Lead Human Resources analyses and drive efforts based on insights to improve retention and engagement Use recruitment data and market insights to inform hiring strategies, improve outcomes, and identify opportunities as needed Skills & Qualifications 7+ years of progressive human resources experience, including leadership experience overseeing HR within professional services or consulting Strong analytical and operational mindset with experience using operational, HR, and recruitment data to drive decision-making and strategy Strong understanding of talent acquisition and retention within consulting, professional services, or similarly high-performance environments Proven ability to build and scale recruitment and talent retention strategies in fast-growing organizations Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills Comfortable operating both strategically and hands-on in a high-performance and fast-paced environment Experience with ATS platforms, HR and recruitment systems, and HR and recruitment operations best practices Human resources certification or professional human resources affiliations Demonstrated success hiring high-performing talent with a focus on quality, precision, and long-term fit APPLICATION DETAILS Start Date: ASAP Location: Toronto Compensation Range: CAD $120-$160k Job Type: Permanent, full-time Application Materials: Resume Cover Letter (non-AI) focusing on your career achievements and goals and how they will help make you successful in the role Answering a couple of questions on our online form We do not use AI to review your application. When it is reviewed, it is reviewed by a human being, likely a senior one, at Sapling. Sapling Financial Consultants is an e qual opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity .