The key to attracting talent: Why cultural fit and flexibility should be important elements of your recruitment strategy
The Workplace
The Workplace
That’s right, I initially started as Senior Recruiter and then, not long after, I was given the title of Recruitment Lead. And in May of 2022, I became Recruitment Manager for the Mining and Energy team, which currently consists of four recruiters and myself. In terms of my day-to-day activities, I manage three accounts and am responsible for finding and recruiting candidates for their vacancies. And, of course, I supervise my team of recruiters and report on their performance.
No, not at all. Before coming to Brunel, I had been working in recruitment for over ten years with another company, and I moved up the ranks there as well.
Well, I was at a point where I wanted the opportunity to grow my career and I wasn’t seeing this opportunity with my previous employer. Joining Brunel felt like the right move for me as the business seemed to be busy and growing. In retrospect, it was the best decision I could’ve made, because what I was told about the people and the company culture was absolutely true.
Location: Montréal
Branche: Food Production
Expertise: Communications & Distribution
Experience: 1 years
Responsibilities Prepare original files to be scanned Track and update status, location, and disposition of records Archives financial and project records Scan files to be archived Index and cross-references files Retrieve and copy physical files, documents Reorganize individual files or boxes of files on shelves as required Perform related duties as required
Location: Saint-Laurent
Branche: Medical devices
Expertise: HR & Recruiting
Experience: 2 years
Responsibilities Manage full-cycle recruitment for technical roles across multiple departments Partner with hiring managers to understand hiring needs and deliver tailored sourcing strategies Screen, interview, and present qualified candidates in a timely manner Maintain a strong candidate experience throughout the recruitment process Collaborate with HR and recruitment teams to support process improvement and employer branding initiatives
Location: Greater Toronto Area
Branche: Medical devices
Expertise: Marketing & Sales
Experience: 5 years
Define short, medium and long-term strategies in the region, considering products, local market, investment, etc. The goal being to achieve business objectives, increased profit and market share, and to direct team activities to achieve set strategies. Identify actual and future business opportunities and support the regional leadership. Lead regional P&L management, including region's finance plan, forecasting and reporting financial reviews/presentations to leadership. Develop and calculate a budget to meet organizational goals. Forecast future needs including human and material resources and capital expenditures. Determine and establish organizational structure and supervisory relationships to regional leadership. Develop and execute operational decisions with a strategic perspective. Maintain consistent contact with major suppliers, key customers, industry associations and government representatives to achieve the objectives of the division Actively seek, identify, analyze, and present new business opportunities and improvement ideas to senior management Provide general direction to Country and functional areas, groups and/or operations. Keep the organizational vision and values at the forefront of decision making and action. Demonstrate effective change leadership. Build strategic internal and external partnerships to further departmental and organizational objectives. Interact with senior/executive level management, outside regulatory agencies, government officials, customers, vendors, partners and/or suppliers. Coordinate across functional areas, business units, and/or geographies in order to achieve company or area goals. Develops and/or identify new work processes that will have broad applicability throughout the company. Contribute ideas for improving work processes and achieving organizational goals. Investigate and solve problems that impact work processes or personnel in multiple units or departments. Active distributor management. Ensure execution to a high degree of performance in achieving business objectives and maximize performance using appropriate goals and KPIs Plan and drive work towards achieving Company's vision, objectives as well as Division mission and strategies. Establish territory sales plans/quotas together with local and regional teams. Recruit, coach, and develop organizational talent. Fosters a diverse workplace that enables all participants to contribute to their full potential in pursuit of organizational objectives. Provides direction, coaching and guidance to personnel; evaluates performance of and assists in career development planning for subordinates. Partnering with other regions on product launches with a focus on segmentation, pricing and contracting strategies. Lead the Market Model implementation across the region. Support with the analysis and execution of main takeaways Provide as needed information regarding market, competition, political/ social/economic conditions. Oversee, manage and utilize product management systems to analyse and manage regional business Participation in local region and other region-specific cross division meeting.
Location: Newfoundland
Branche: Life Sciences
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 4 years
Set and implement operational goals for mill and storage facilities. Ensure product quality and optimal productivity. Manage grain procurement, logistics, and inventory. Lead and develop staff, including training and performance management. Oversee budget, financial performance, and capital projects. Ensure compliance with HACCP, OHS, and regulatory requirements. Foster labor relations and participate in union negotiations. Supervise contractor activities and approve financial transactions.
Location: Charlottetown
Branche: Life Sciences
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 3 years
Responsibilities Assist in the planning, execution, and monitoring of capital and infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with project goals, timelines, and budgets. Lead process and equipment validation ensuring regulatory compliance and consistent high-quality products. Monitor production data and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to highlight trends and opportunities for improvements. Ensure that all manufacturing processes and equipment meet the required standards and specifications through rigorous testing and validation. Follow IQ, OQ, PQ methodologies when applicable. Develop and manage qualification documentation for new equipment, processes, and systems, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Track the status of qualification activities and provide regular updates to stakeholders on progress and issues. Conduct assessments of packaging materials and processes to ensure they meet quality, safety, and compliance standards. Provide recommendations for packaging improvements and partner with suppliers and internal teams to implement changes. Identify and implement strategies and methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) for continuous improvements, efficiency gains, and waste reduction including tracing performance of implemented changes.
Location: Lachine
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 3 years
Create and verify Repair & Overhaul (R&O) documentation including: Repair Schemes Parts Cleaning and Inspection (PCI) Special Inspection Procedures (SIP) Engine Management Programs (EMP) Interpret technical drawings and component specifications to create clear documentation. Apply engineering knowledge to define appropriate inspection and repair methods for gas turbine components. Collaborate with internal teams to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with established repair standards. Deliver documentation based on shifting priorities throughout the year; adapt to evolving engineering needs. Utilize multiple platforms to manage and author documents, including MS Word, Adobe Acrobat, and SharePoint. Ensure deliverables meet quality expectations and align with documented repair engineering processes.
Location: Vancouver
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Marketing & Sales
Experience: 3 years
Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the region, industry, and customer needs and requirements Identify new regions for business development opportunities, performing market analysis for these regions to ensure the direction is aligned with the business and products and solutions being developed Manage sales prospects through to closure and monitor against approved budgets to ensure financial results are on, or ideally above, target and implement plans to counteract deviations Ability to organize, track and report on sales pipeline and progress updates Present and demonstrate the product range and associated benefits for customers Negotiate sales contracts and associated training and implementation milestones Identify, foster and leverage relationships with internal stakeholders, customers and industry contacts supporting the attainment of the goals for the business Work collaboratively with the Product Management team to provide insights into client and industry product requirements as well as potential developments which will set our client apart from its competitors Represent our client in industry events and tradeshows and collaborate with the Product Management & Marketing team, and Sales & Account Management teams to prepare for such events Other duties and responsibilities as required from time to time
Location: Vancouver
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 5 years
Be a courageous safety leader, leading by example and fostering a proactive safety and sustainability culture based on the common values of health, safety, environment, and communities shared by the asset owners As a member of a multi-disciplinary project team, collaborate and influence Project activities to provide the best commercial value for the Project Lead preparation of the Contracting Strategy, policies and procedures documents Enable Project success by identifying and evaluating contracting strategies, and facilitating the selection of the commercial strategy that best supports the Project objectives Work with internal groups, particularly Legal, Risk and Insurance, and the Manager, Project Services to develop, integrate and deliver best-practice Project contracting practices, procedures, and templates. Lead the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, including: Plan, prepare, and manage the RFP documents and process Analyze and evaluate commercial proposals Lead the technical evaluation process and consolidating inputs Support and provide input to the selection process, based on overall best value. Negotiate commercial and legal terms on behalf of Ensure all records are managed and retained Coordinate agreements post-award in close collaboration with Project Management, Project Controls, and contract scope owners, including evaluating pre-mobilization deliverables, reconciling invoices, negotiating / resolving disputes, negotiating changes, implementing change management procedures, and closing contracts Ensure all Contractor and Consultant personnel align with all relevant requirements, policies, industry best practices, and project-specific requirements Build and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders and external service providers Promote commitment to sustainability, the environment, and health and safety, through leading by example, and demonstrating honesty, sincerity, and openness to feedback Review existing contracting processes and lead improvements aimed at enhancing efficiencies, as necessary, working collaboratively with team members and external service providers, driving continuous improvements Foster a culture of open communication, focus on building relationships across the organization, with the partners and external audiences, and invest in developing talent within the organization by providing recognition, challenge, and mentorship
Location: Markham
Branche: Pharmaceuticals
Expertise: Communications & Distribution
Experience: 1 years
Handle incoming calls and emails professionally, ensuring timely resolutions for customers and Sales Representatives. Provide specialized account and order management, including verification, processing, tracking, and issue resolution. Maintain and monitor shared inboxes, ensuring prompt action on orders and customer requests. Support new customers and those using our online ordering portal. Proactively follow up with customers and Sales Representatives to ensure satisfaction. Document, track, and resolve customer interactions, escalating where necessary. Monitor daily sales orders/transactions to ensure smooth processing. Identify opportunities for process improvements and share ideas with leadership. Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with internal teams. Ensure adherence to customer service standards, policies, and procedures.
Location: Montréal
Branche: Food Production
Expertise: HR & Recruiting
Experience: 3 years
Responsibilities Organize and lead the Health & Safety Committee Maintain employee records and ensure data accuracy in HR systems Assist in developing and implementing HR policies and procedures Support talent acquisition efforts by posting job openings, screening resumes, and conducting interviews Coordinate onboarding, integration, and document management for foreign workers Initiate and participate in social activities and employee recognition events Track and report monthly HR KPIs Support managers in handling disciplinary matters Participate in and prepare minutes for labor relations committee meetings Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations Assist with payroll processing and take responsibility during the Payroll Manager's absence Support the VP of Human Resources with various HR-related tasks
Location: California
Branche: Food Production
Expertise: Communications & Distribution
Experience: 1 years
Conduct on-site, hands-on training sessions for customers' staff at national supermarket and wholesale club chains, focusing on commercial cooking equipment. Actively collaborate with customers in food preparation procedures, ensuring their teams are fully proficient in using the equipment. Travel predominantly to customer sites in the USA (approximately 15 to 20 days per month), which may include weekends and holidays. Perform field inspections and calibrations on equipment to ensure proper functionality. Organize and deliver regional training sessions for non-users, sharing critical information on the equipment's use regularly for customers. Prepare trip reports to document training activities and customer feedback. Submit timely expense reports related to travel and training. Assist in gathering customer insights through ghost visits as needed. Support laboratory testing activities when required.
Location: Vancouver
Branche: Mining
Expertise: HSEQ
Experience: 5 years
Introduction We are currently hiring a Senior Civil Engineer for our mining client in Vancouver, BC. You will be responsible for designing and overseeing lead engineering contractors for civil design and multidisciplinary interface/coordination. Provide subject matter expertise in a relevant discipline guideline to support capital projects including concentrators, tailings storage facilities (TSF), heap leach pads, and associated infrastructure. This is a long-term contract opportunity. Responsibilities Be a courageous safety leader, leading by example and fostering a proactive safety and sustainability culture based on the common values on health, safety, environment, and communities shared by the asset owners Collaborate in engineering projects to ensure optimal performance of civil facilities such as pump stations and pipeline systems for TSF. Provide senior review of engineering deliverables for earthworks, roads, pipeline corridors, process support facilities, water ponds, stormwater drainage, etc. Interface with other discipline leads such as structural and geotechnical for the civil design of facilities. Supervise or serve as Project Manager or technical expert for large/complex site planning/construction, expansion or modifications. Provide Senior level quality assurance on project deliverables. Identify value engineering opportunities. Develop and/or review scopes of work, evaluate proposals, draft internal requests for funding, and support vendor interface. Identify opportunities for improvements and determine associated value for risk reduction measures. Interface with Project Management and Operations teams as the Engineering team representative leading up to and through project commercial operations to ensure timely and complete transfer of technical deliverables. Attend site visits to support site evaluation, suitability, and due diligence efforts. Operate independently to achieve company and project goals. Provide reporting to other groups and leadership. Manage and /or mentor engineers in key practice areas to level of capabilities. Assist in the development of work and process flow for corporate team. Ability to provide positive and constructive feedback. Requirements Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related Engineering discipline from an accredited curriculum and ten (10) years of experience in an applicable field of expertise. Professional Engineer (PE) registration. Knowledge in the principles and practices of Civil including earthworks design, road design, hydrology and stormwater drainage. Able to demonstrate technical competence through design and/or operations experience in the civil aspects on at least one of the following work areas: TSF facilities (pump stations), crushed leach facilities, and concentrators, Working knowledge of Engineering tools (AutoCAD/Civil 3D, Navisworks, ArcGIS). Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Microsoft Project experience is a plus. Strong interpersonal, prioritization, and time management skills. Ability to multi-task while managing multiple projects and multiple engineering team initiatives. Desire to work in a dynamic fast paced environment alongside individuals with multiple interests and backgrounds. free Working knowledge of Geotechnical Engineering principles and design as it pertains to earthworks and road design (slope stability, pavement design, materials of construction) Experience with metal mining operations, TSF facilities, water dams and/or crushed leach stockpile design and operations Experience with slurry transport analysis and design Experience with site civil construction methods and techniques. Experience with cost estimating for civil projects, project scheduling and project controls. Experience in surface water hydrology, hydraulics, and groundwater hydrology Superior interpersonal as well as written and oral communication skills with diverse teams of technical and non-technical staff Fluency in Spanish or Bahasa Indonesian languages Ability and willingness to travel domestic / international.
So, you know the “passion for people” hashtag that is used everywhere? Those words are not just fluff. What I’ve experienced is that senior leadership really takes time to listen to the needs of its employees and makes sure that people stay engaged, motivated and happy in their jobs – regardless of whether that’s just accomplished by providing ongoing workforce training or by helping with a personal issue. So, I do feel like everybody – from senior stakeholders to recruitment to the back-office operations – really stands by this slogan.
In general, the recruitment cycle changes frequently as economic fluctuations have a direct impact on the recruiting market. Sometimes clients run the show and sometimes it’s the candidates. With today’s talent pool shortage affecting many sectors, candidates can cherry-pick the roles that suit them best, which puts recruiters in a tough spot. Apart from that, I would say that the entire recruitment process has changed drastically due to Covid-19.
Obviously, video interviews and virtual recruitment processes have become the norm. But I’ve also seen an increased focus on cultural fit. A few years back, the questions I was asked were along the lines of: “How much are they paying me and what am I supposed to be doing?” and not necessarily about: “Will I be happy in this job?” or “Am I going to fit in?”. Nowadays, I have the conversation about company culture and workplace flexibility with candidates every day. So, for us as a recruitment agency, we must ensure that we know all about the company culture of the clients we are supporting. Also, we have to be able to advise specialists on whether they’ll fit in with a hiring company’s values and culture.
Absolutely! This is why it is crucial for organizations to implement flexible work models such as hybrid work, remote work and part time. And I feel like Brunel is one of the companies that has really embraced the remote work culture. I’m actually a remote worker myself, and my entire team is spread from Calgary to Newfoundland. Even so, I should say that not all workers have remote-capable positions. Especially in some of the industries Brunel works in, working from home is simply not possible due to the nature of engineering work.
First, you must demonstrate that you trust your staff. That is fundamental to any successful experience of working from home. Second, effective communication and collaboration are key to enhance productivity. Video calls with individual team members usually happen daily, but formal meetings between our mining and energy group, for instance, happen twice a week. And with new hires or junior recruiters, it is important to make sure they get the chance to sit in with you on a (video) call.