People & Talent Acquisition Manager

Overview

BusPlanner seeks a People & Talent Acquisition Manager to independently lead recruiting and talent sourcing efforts for our expanding team. This pivotal role involves hands-on recruitment, strategic hiring initiatives, and foundational people operations, making it ideal for proactive, energetic, and meticulous professionals eager to attract high-quality candidates in a fast-growing environment.

As our first dedicated hire in this capacity, you will collaborate closely with leadership to manage the complete recruitment process, establish efficient onboarding and compliance practices, and foster employee engagement. You'll play a key role in shaping company culture and spearheading recruitment across offices in Waterloo, sourcing and securing top talent through both inbound and outbound approaches.

About BusPlanner

BusPlanner is Canada's premier provider of student transportation management software, utilized by hundreds of large school boards and consortia from coast to coast, including Toronto District, York Region, and Peel Region School Boards. Our solutions optimize route planning, operational management, and communication between transportation teams and families.

We are a Canadian-owned company with extensive expertise in K-12 education and a solid record of supporting diverse school district needs nationwide. Currently scaling quickly, we are focusing on team growth to enhance client service from British Columbia through Newfoundland.

Our leadership team includes experienced entrepreneurs who have built and expanded several successful software ventures, such as FieldEdge and AutoLeap, with significant growth and substantial investments from notable venture capital.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full recruitment lifecycle across all company functions autonomously.
• Create compelling job descriptions and source exceptional candidates proactively using various platforms.
• Conduct candidate screenings, coordinate interviews, and handle offer management.
• Execute outbound and inbound talent engagement strategies to identify and secure top-tier professionals.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to comprehend staffing requirements and design effective sourcing tactics.
• Develop and sustain a robust talent pipeline for present and forthcoming hiring needs.
• Refine recruitment workflows to improve candidate experience and reduce time-to-hire.
• Execute fundamental HR processes such as onboarding, performance tracking, and ensuring compliance.
• Maintain accurate employee records via the HRIS system (Workable).
• Support general HR duties including documentation, employee engagement initiatives, and internal communications.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Entrepreneurial mindset with initiative and adaptability to address complex challenges.
• A proactive recruiter skilled in sourcing and winning competitive talent.
• Process-oriented individual comfortable implementing scalable recruitment systems.
• Collaborative team player willing to undertake varied responsibilities beyond the core role.
• Strong interpersonal skills focused on nurturing team relationships and facilitating success.
• Organized and responsive, balancing recruitment urgency with a positive candidate experience.
• Confident communicator able to engage with senior leaders effectively.

Who Should Not Apply

• Lack of interest in active talent sourcing via outbound methods.
• Unwillingness to engage hands-on with a dynamic, results-driven approach.
• Preference for strictly defined 9-to-5 routines without variation.
• Discomfort with flexible, evolving processes and strategic alongside operational responsibilities.
• Desire to avoid direct leadership interaction or team engagement.
• Reluctance to take ownership or manage ambiguity independently.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two to five years' experience in HR, people operations, or talent acquisition, ideally in SaaS, startups, or early-stage companies.
• Background in building or evolving HR functions from the ground up.
• Knowledge of Canadian and U.S. employment laws and employee lifecycle management best practices.
• Capability to oversee a broad and diverse range of HR duties.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for leadership advising and employee interactions.
• HR certifications such as CHRP or relevant continual education are advantageous.