Engagement Details

• Fractional: likely 10–20 hours/week to start, with flexibility to scale up/down

• Location: Toronto‑based or Canada‑based; ability to be onsite in Toronto periodically is a plus

• Start: ASAP (hires ramping in the next few weeks)

Overview
We’re working with a fast-growing aerospace startup based in Toronto that is scaling from 5 to 20 to 25 employees over the next 6 to 12 months. The company is building advanced rocket technology and entering a critical growth phase.

They’re looking for a fractional Head of People or Senior HR Lead to establish the foundational people infrastructure as they scale. This includes building core HR systems and processes, supporting rapid hiring, and helping attract and onboard senior engineering talent from around the world.

It’s a rare opportunity to shape the people function from the ground up within a highly ambitious, technical, and mission-driven environment.

Key Outcomes (next 3–6 months)

• HR infrastructure designed and stood up (systems, policies, basic processes)

• Competitive, family‑friendly total rewards in place (for Canadian and international hires)

• Clean, consistent employee lifecycle: offer → onboarding → probation → ongoing HR support

• International hires feel supported pre‑arrival and during relocation

Core Responsibilities

1. HR Infrastructure & Compliance

   • Select and implement an HRIS appropriate for a 20–40 person, engineering‑heavy company

   • Set up core HR processes (employee records, time off, performance basics, etc.)

   • Draft and socialize key policies (e.g., vacation, leaves, hybrid/remote, travel)

   • Partner with external legal counsel/payroll as needed for compliance in Canada

2. Total Rewards & Benefits

   • Design and benchmark compensation bands for senior and junior engineering roles

   • Recommend and implement a benefits package aligned with hiring senior international talent (families, dependents, etc.)

   • Help structure equity/bonus components in partnership with leadership

3. Onboarding & Employee Experience

   • Design and run a repeatable onboarding program (in‑person and remote starts)

   • Coordinate with IT/ops for hardware, accounts, and access

   • Build welcome / swag / first‑week experience so the company feels “well‑run and professional”

   • Set up basic feedback loops (surveys, 1:1 templates, etc.)

4. Visa / Relocation Coordination (People side)

   • Act as internal coordinator with immigration/relocation vendors (legal work owned by vendors)

   • Ensure employees and families have a clear point of contact for people‑related questions

   • Build checklists and timelines for pre‑move and post‑arrival

Profile

• 7–10+ years in People/HR, including building or significantly scaling HR in a startup or small company (20–100 people)

• Hands‑on experience implementing an HRIS and benefits from scratch

• Experience supporting international hires, visas, and relocations (directly or via external partners)

• Experienced partnering with highly technical teams and engineering leadership. Thrives in in-office environments, especially within hardware and R&D-driven companies. Engineering-led culture is essential.

Please include your hourly rate in the additional information field