HR Manager, Smart Start Canada

Who Is Smart Start & How Are They Changing the World

Smart Start Canada is a leading provider of ignition interlock devices and alcohol-monitoring solutions, serving the B2C offender market across the country. The company is the sole provider in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec and actively competes in Ontario and Yukon.

Smart Start Canada is part of the global Smart Start brand, which operates in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Smart Start is a portfolio company of Apollo Impact Mission, the impact investing platform of Apollo Global Management, which focuses on private equity opportunities that generate positive social and environmental impact while delivering strong financial returns.

Headquartered in Sherwood Park, AB, with an additional office in Montreal, Smart Start Canada operates a nationwide network of approximately 200 shops, including corporate-owned locations.  The 60+ team members are largely based near the headquarters, with others spread across Canada. Employees at HQ include call center sales and service, operational leadership, compliance, and others. Those employees spread across the country (from BC to QC) are primarily involved in installing the devices and managing and expanding the footprint of the installation shop network.

How Will I Make An Impact?

We are partnering with Smart Start Canada to identify a strategic and hands-on Human Resources Manager to lead all HR functions across the Canadian business. 

In this role, you’ll operate as a trusted, proactive, solo practitioner - someone who thrives in an autonomous environment and is ready to take ownership of the full employee lifecycle. You’ll support leadership with workforce planning and ensure HR practices are both business-aligned and legally compliant.

You’ll report directly to the Head of Canada and be a key member of the global Smart Start HR team, collaborating with colleagues internationally to maintain consistency with broader HR strategies and standards. As Smart Start Canada continues to grow, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the national HR function, with the opportunity to build and lead your own team in step with business expansion.

You’ll champion a culture of integrity, engagement, and development, while managing core areas such as:

• Talent acquisition and onboarding
• Compensation and policy development
• Performance management and employee relations

This is an exciting opportunity for a well-rounded HR generalist who’s ready to step into a national leadership role and make a meaningful impact in a growing, global organization!

How Do I Know If This Is For Me?

You are motivated to take ownership of the following key responsibilities:

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for roles across Canada, including sourcing, screening, and offers
• Oversee onboarding and orientation programs to ensure smooth and consistent employee integration

Employee Lifecycle & Relations

• Serve as the main point of contact for employee relations, performance issues, and workplace conflict resolution
• Lead offboarding processes including exit interviews, documentation, and knowledge transfer

Compensation & Benefits

• Administer employee compensation programs, salary benchmarking, and benefits enrollment
• Liaise with third-party benefits providers and internal finance for payroll coordination

Performance Management

• Drive the annual performance review process and advise on goal setting and feedback practices
• Provide tools and coaching to managers to support continuous performance improvement

Policy, Compliance & HR Infrastructure

• Develop, maintain, and enforce HR policies and procedures to meet federal and provincial legislation
• Maintain accurate HR documentation and ensure adherence to legal and compliance standards

‍Engagement & Development

• Foster a culture of engagement through feedback programs, pulse surveys, and recognition initiatives
• Identify learning and development opportunities for staff and managers

‍Leadership Support

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on   people-related decisions and workforce planning
• Participate in organizational change efforts and special projects as required

Our Ideal Candidate Looks Like:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; CPHR or equivalent designation preferred
• 10–15 years of progressive HR generalist experience, ideally in a multi-province, distributed workforce environment
• Experience working as a solo HR function or in a lean HR environment is a strong asset

Skills

• Experience managing ADP as the primary HRIS platform is required.
• In-depth knowledge of Canadian employment law and HR best practices
• Exceptional interpersonal, conflict resolution, and influencing skills
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and manage sensitive issues with discretion
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS platforms

Additional Requirements

• This role is primarily on-site at the Sherwood Park office (120 2899 Broadmoor Blvd.)
• Fluency in English is required; French is an asset

‍We understand, accept, and value the differences between people of different backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, ages, beliefs, and abilities. We are happy to make any accommodations you may need throughout the interview process.  We aim to create an inclusive environment and encourage diverse individuals to apply.

The Process:

• Recruiting conversation with Carly
• Introductory Interview with Smart Start’s VP Canada
• Interview with Smart Start’s Chief Strategy Officer
• Half-day of on-site interviews with cross-functional leaders from the Canadian team, followed by an informal lunch to get to know the team
• References, standard background check, and offer

And of course your Artemis Canada Executive Recruitment Lead, Carly,  will work closely with you throughout every step of the process.

We’d love to hear from you - even if you don’t meet 100% of the requirements! Send a note to Carly@artemiscanada.com if you  or someone you know is interested!