Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
McMaster logo

Human Resources Services

HR Strategic Plan

Human Resources Services is committed to delivering people and culture solutions that advance McMaster’s vision, mission and strategic priorities. By providing impactful programs, expert HR counsel, and trusted partnerships, HR team members strive to optimize workforce strategy, inclusivity and operational efficiency, while advancing HR excellence.

Our refreshed HR Vision, Mission, Strategic Pillars and identified priorities are outlined below. These have been designed based on the feedback gathered from various community engagement and validation sessions, pulse surveys, trend analyses and individual discussions which took place between fall 2022 and spring 2023.

Information Box Group

Our HR Vision

To advance a healthy, safe, and inclusive culture that inspires a diverse and talented McMaster community to contribute to a Brighter World.

mcmaster campus scene

Our HR Mission

We cultivate a community in which every employee’s experience is that of acceptance, inclusion, belonging, and meaningful connection with the University’s mission and institutional priorities. We do this through our following four Strategic Pillars. 

HR Strategic Plan and Strategic Pillars

Championing University People and Culture

We champion sustainable people and culture strategies, in support of an inclusive, psychologically healthy & safe work culture and employee experience.

  • Align HR (People and Culture) initiatives with university strategy, arising internal priorities and critical external trends
  • Champion an inclusive, psychologically healthy and safe work culture of belonging in alignment with leading global practice
  • Ensure people and culture sustainability through fiscal responsibility

 

Collaborating with our University and Community Partners

We ensure ongoing communication and consultation through inclusive and collaborative partnerships, forums, and community engagements to help inform HR initiatives and enhancements.

  • Maintain focus on understanding the diverse and arising HR needs across our community
  • Promote alignment and awareness of HR policies, programs, processes, and initiatives
  • Build HR presence and reputation through trusted community partnerships

Advancing Service Delivery and Operational Excellence

We are committed to continuously reviewing and progressing our policies, programs, processes, and professional HR services as we strive for operational excellence and seamless delivery. 

  • Explore and leverage technology to advance HR services and efficiency
  • Use evidence-based data approaches to inform HR planning and design
  • Enable innovation and continuous improvement
  • Communicate the HR Operating model, define service levels and update as required

Promoting Learning, Development and a Growth Mindset

We promote a community of continuous learning and belonging where our employees contribute their strengths and expertise, can be their authentic selves, have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, and be celebrated for their accomplishments. 

  • Provide innovative and inclusive employee development opportunities for each phase of their career journey
  • Advance leadership capability and capacity
  • Promote a culture of belonging and recognition
  • Continue to grow HR team and expertise and engagement

Information Box Group

Wanda McKenna headshot

Wanda McKenna, AVP and CHRO

We are excited to launch this new framework for 2023-2027, which we feel will strongly contribute to McMaster’s rankings as a top global university, and our continued recognition as a Top Employer in the Hamilton-Niagara Region and as one of Canada’s Top Diversity Employers.  We remain committed to championing a work environment which promotes inclusive excellence and operational efficiency in all we do and support across our community, while advancing the successful achievement of our student, teaching, learning and research priorities.

Ongoing review of our strategic deliverables will occur through HR Governance, and any related progress updates and enhancements will continue to be shared through various community engagement activities, our HR website and our HR Annual Report.