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Focus Area Information - Human Resources

Human Resources in the Ontario Public Service

The Ontario Public Service is modernizing its human resources (HR) to deliver services that are strategic, process-smart, integrated, customer-focused and cost-effective.

HR professionals provide key strategic and operational support to clients in planning for and delivering on business priorities. They also develop and deliver modern enterprise human resource strategies, policies, programs and services that support the OPS as an employer of choice.

Knowledge

  • Human Resource Management: knowledge on the strategic use of people to achieve business goals. The application of HR management principles on an operational level focuses on the day-to-day processes of human resource planning, recruitment and selection, classification, salary, performance management, training and development, and the employer/union relationship
  • Interpretation and application of legislation, collective agreements and policies: includes Ontario labour and employment legislation, multiple collective agreements and a wide range of HR policies, procedures and guidelines related to recruitment, health, safety and wellness, performance management, and learning and development

Skills

  • Analytical: identify trends and relevant themes to support the development of user-focused and evidence-based findings and recommendations
  • Communication: present information using traditional and/or digital media in a clear, concise and accurate manner through effective written, oral and visual communication
  • Collaboration: work with others across the organization to identify and solve a problem or achieve a common goal that is mutually beneficial
  • Client Focused: anticipate and identify client needs to respond and provide better services with a goal of maximizing client satisfaction. Customers and clients may include the public, colleagues, partners, and peers
  • Problem-Solving: recognize, understand and resolve a problem by breaking it apart into smaller pieces, and evaluating options and identifying alternative solutions. This also includes the ability to blend robust analysis with creativity to solve new and changing problems, as well as challenging the status quo where appropriate
  • Relationship Management: build and maintain strong working relationships with clients, stakeholders, partners and colleagues while demonstrating respect, ethics and extending trust in order to achieve organizational goals
  • Planning and Coordinating: prioritize tasks and manage competing priorities to effectively manage time in order to meet deadlines.

What to Expect

As a human resources intern, your work could include:

Strategic and Corporate Human Resources

  • Analysis of ministry workforce trends, gaps and opportunities to inform strategy development and, to develop and implement change management strategies to support achievement of ministry business objectives, including organizational assessment/diagnostics
  • Develop and deploy employee engagement programs
  • Assist in providing leadership and oversight for setting human resources strategy and policy that supports the government’s commitment to a healthy, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace across the public sector in Ontario
  • Assist in delivering enterprise learning solutions and monitoring organizational learning needs, developing strategies, and providing learning expertise and advice
  • Develop the integration of essential talent programs to optimize sourcing, assessing, diversifying, developing and deploying public service talent

Human Resources and Talent Acquisition Services

  • Provide quality service-oriented advice to clients by interpreting and applying appropriate legislation, collective agreements, policies and procedures
  • Assist in providing specialist services to line managers, OPS employees and HR business units in the areas of workforce health and safety, ergonomic education and assessment, workplace safety audits and injury support
  • Assist in providing services relating to the development and implementation of new, pay equity compliant job evaluation systems. Participate in the development, delivery and maintenance of a classification service which ensures consistent application of job evaluation systems for bargaining, non-bargaining and executive groups across the OPS
  • Provide end-to-end talent acquisition services for all positions

Looking Ahead

This is just the beginning of your career in the Ontario Public Service.

An internship is an opportunity to learn and develop your human resources skills in the public service. An internship in this area can prepare you for a career as a/an:

  • Human Resources Advisor
  • Talent Acquisition Specialist
  • Job Evaluation Specialist
  • Organizational Capacity Consultant
  • Workforce Planning Analyst
  • Health, Safety and Wellness Advisor
  • Learning Consultant

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