Director of Talent and Culture

About Boustan:

Boustan is a leading shawarma franchise network in Canada. We are committed to offering our customers not only exceptional food, but also outstanding service. We believe that excellent consumer-focused marketing is at the heart of any successful restaurant, and we're determined to ensure that every franchisee in our network benefits from top-notch marketing support and advice. We are currently looking for a Director of Talent and Culture to join our team.

Position Summary:

The Director of Talent and Culture will serve as the architect and leader in defining and implementing a cohesive, performance-driven culture across the network of restaurant franchises. This role will build and institutionalize the structures, processes, and strategies that shape employee experience, leadership development, performance excellence, and organizational growth. The Director will design and execute scalable systems that align with the company's mission, vision, and strategic goals.

The ideal candidate will have experience building organizational culture, designing talent strategies, and leading change within multi-unit environments. They will possess a proven ability to inspire, build relationships, and implement innovative approaches to leadership development, employee engagement, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Define and Lead Organizational Culture

• Develop a clear, compelling, and sustainable vision for organizational culture that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, performance, and excellence.
• Foster alignment between the head office and restaurant employees by designing strategies that support employee engagement, recognition, and motivation.
• Lead change initiatives to embed a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability across all locations.

2. Build and Implement Talent Strategies

• Identify gaps in workforce performance and design programs to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
• Recruit, select, and onboard head office staff to meet organizational needs and support Boustan's growth.
• Develop and implement strategies related to talent acquisition, performance management, succession planning, leadership development, and retention.
• Establish a framework for career growth opportunities and professional development pathways for employees at all levels.

3. Establish Key People Processes and Frameworks

• Build foundational HR and talent management processes from the ground up, including performance evaluations, onboarding, learning and development, succession planning, and employee feedback systems.
• Implement strategies to ensure fair and equitable processes that support employee engagement, fairness, and transparency.

4. Leadership Development & Coaching

• Partner with leadership teams across the restaurant network to build leadership capacity and ensure alignment with the company's cultural goals.
• Establish leadership coaching programs and development opportunities to empower managers to drive engagement, performance, and accountability.

5. Employee Experience and Workplace Engagement

• Actively listen to employee feedback to inform strategies that improve employee satisfaction, performance, and retention.
• Create strategies to ensure every employee feels valued, supported, and connected to the brand and its purpose.

6. Franchisee Training

• Design and execute scalable systems that align with the company's mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Conduct comprehensive training sessions for new and existing franchisees and their staff on Boustan values, culture, operational procedures, and customer service standards.
• Provide ongoing coaching and support to franchisees to help them achieve and maintain service excellence.
• Develop training materials, manuals, and resources to support the training program.
• Monitor and evaluate service standards across the franchise network, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.

7. Data-Driven Decision Making

• Identify key metrics to assess employee engagement, performance, retention, and organizational health.
• Regularly analyze trends and data to adjust strategies and monitor progress toward cultural and talent goals.

8. Partner with Operations and Leadership Teams

• Collaborate cross-functionally with the operations team, senior leadership, and other departments to ensure alignment on cultural and performance goals.
• Act as a trusted advisor and change agent to senior leadership and operational leaders, ensuring culture change is embraced and sustained.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field; a Master's degree is preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in talent development, HR leadership, or organizational culture transformation, preferably in multi-unit environments like restaurant franchises or hospitality organizations.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing successful talent strategies and culture change initiatives from the ground up.

Skills:

• Energetic, creative, and proactive problem solver with the ability to operate in a fast-paced, dynamic, and entrepreneurial environment.
• Leadership & Influence:
  Proven leadership experience, with a strong ability to influence change, inspire diverse teams, and build relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic Thinking:
  Ability to see the big picture and create innovative, scalable solutions.
• Change Management Expertise:
  Expertise in talent development strategies, leadership coaching, employee engagement, organizational design, and change management.
• Data Analysis:
  Strong analytical capabilities with experience using data to inform decisions, evaluate progress, and refine strategies.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management:
  Strong interpersonal and communication skills to connect with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Bilingual in written and oral French and English.
• Familiarity with HR technologies and talent management tools.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits package
• Opportunities for advancement and professional development
• Join a dynamic and supportive team dedicated to excellence