Mcgill University

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Vice-President, People & Culture

McGill University

Location: Montreal

Reason for search: New position

https://www.mcgill.ca/secretariat/files/secretariat/04.boyden_executif_profile_-_mcgill_vp_people_culture_-_en_002.pdf

About McGill University

McGill University is on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous peoples whose footsteps have marked this territory on which peoples of the world now gather.

Founded in 1821, McGill University is one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities and consistently ranks among the top institutions internationally. Renowned for the excellence of its teaching, research, and global impact, McGill is home to one of the most diverse student communities in Canada, with nearly 30% of its students coming from more than 150 countries. A member of the U15, the Global University Leaders Forum, and the Association of American Universities, McGill attracts exceptional talent committed to advancing knowledge and addressing society’s most pressing challenges. With more than 39,000 students, 12,000 employees, six affiliated teaching hospitals, and an extensive international alumni network, the University is distinguished by a longstanding tradition of innovation and global influence.

Across its three campuses and supported by world-class research centres, McGill offers a unique environment that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and groundbreaking discoveries. Located in the heart of Montreal, a dynamic, bilingual, and globally connected city, the University benefits from an exceptional setting where culture, research, technology, and innovation converge.

A Snapshot of the Opportunity

McGill University seeks an exceptional leader with deep expertise in people strategy, organizational culture, and employee well‑being for the position of Vice-President (People & Culture). As the University’s first VP (People & Culture), this leader will be collaborative, strategic, and visionary—bringing a dynamic, and relationships-focused perspective to the evolution of McGill’s workplace culture, in alignment with the President’s priorities to unite the McGill community around shared purpose, transform how the University works, engage locally with its Québec communities, and expand globally through strengthened partnerships. For more information about the priorities, please see: https://www.mcgill.ca/president/priorities.

The Vice-President (People & Culture) will provide inspiring leadership across all functions of human resources, championing initiatives that strengthen belonging, advance equity and well‑being, and inspire new ways of working together to achieve the University’s mission. This role offers an extraordinary opportunity for a values‑driven leader to build on McGill’s strong foundation and help shape a transformative path forward for the University.

Role Purpose

Reporting to the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-President (People & Culture) (VP P&C) is the University’s senior executive accountable for shaping and advancing an integrated, institution-wide people strategy that enables the achievement of McGill’s academic mission and long-term sustainability.

As a core member of the executive leadership team, the VP P&C defines the strategic direction for all people-related matters - including talent, culture, labour relations, total rewards, organizational effectiveness, and workforce transformation - ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and external realities. 

Working in concert with the Provost and Executive Vice-President Academic (PEVPA), the VP P&C will lead transformative efforts to achieve tighter integration across all functions supporting administrative and academic HR to ensure institutional alignment and enhance faculty and staff experience.

The VP P&C exercises university-wide authority to establish HR policy, set risk tolerance, and make cross-portfolio decisions impacting faculty, staff, and leadership across the University. The role serves as the principal advisor to the President and executive team on human capital, organizational performance, and culture, and represents the University externally on matters affecting its workforce, reputation, and employer positioning.

Ideal profile

A strategic and deeply people-centered leader, the Vice-President, People and Culture will play a defining role in shaping the future of one of the world’s most prestigious universities. You are a visionary executive, recognized for your ability to lead complex organizational transformations within highly consultative, unionized, and matrixed environments. You are bilingual in both official languages and understand the unique realities of the academic sector and are able to operate with confidence in contexts where shared governance, influence, and collaboration are essential to success.

You bring extensive experience in organizational strategy, labour relations, leadership development, and large-scale change management. Combining political acuity, rigour, and emotional intelligence, you inspire trust through your integrity, sound judgment, and ability to unite stakeholders with diverse interests around a common vision. You are both a thoughtful strategist and a culture builder, deeply committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and Indigenous reconciliation.

Forward-looking and intellectually curious, you stay attuned to emerging workplace trends and know how to leverage data, technology, and innovative approaches to enhance the employee experience and advance the University’s mission. Authentic, resilient, and collaborative, you are motivated by the opportunity to help shape an inclusive and engaging workplace that reflects McGill’s ambitions for the years ahead.

Equal Opportunities

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates including racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

To apply

The new Vice-President will take office in January 2027 or as mutually agreed. Consideration of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Interested persons should forward their CV and all other relevant documents to Marie-Hélène Gaudreault, Partner, Boyden Ottawa, and Chantal Hevey, Partner, Boyden Montreal, at [email protected]  by August 7, 2026, taking care to indicate the position title in the subject line of their message.

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Our recruiters review all applications and always make the final hiring decision. We may use AI-assisted tools to help review applications.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.