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Human Resources Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Human Resources Manager, or HR Manager, serves as a liaison between upper management and other employees of a company. They oversee human resources staff, manage the recruitment process, and address employee concerns.

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What does a Human Resources Manager do?

Human Resources Managers work to keep the human resources department running smoothly. They deal with the logistics of employee management, which involves working closely with the senior management team to determine budgets, appropriate salaries, benefits, and more. They develop hiring and training strategies for the rest of the HR team to follow. Human Resources Managers also consult on federal, provincial, and territorial labour laws, and ensure the company abides by them at all times.

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Human Resources Manager duties and responsibilities

Since this is a broad role, Human Resources Managers have several duties and responsibilities they should excel at, including:

  • Handling staffing affairs including hiring and salary negotiation
  • Developing training materials for new hires
  • Coming up with effective compensation strategies for employees
  • Ensuring legal compliance with labour practices
  • Investigating escalated employee concerns and finding solutions

Human Resources Manager skills and qualifications

To succeed in their role, a Human Resources Manager needs several prerequisite skills and qualifications, including:

  • Written and verbal communication skills
  • Knowledge of human resource information software (HRIS) like BambooHR, SAP, or Namely
  • Knowledge of general human resources strategies
  • Data analysis skills
  • Presentation and stakeholder communication skills
  • Ability to create a culture of diversity and inclusivity
  • Active listening and problem-solving skills for employee relations
  • Basic numeracy skills for long-term planning and budgeting

Human Resources Manager experience requirements

Look for candidates with a minimum of three to five years of experience in a managerial HR position. You may choose to hire someone who held a managerial position in a different field, like communications, training and development, or employment law. Candidates with experience in the same or a closely related industry are preferable. For example, a Human Resources Manager who previously worked for the rail industry likely has transferrable skills for a role in public transport.

Human Resources Manager education and training requirements

A Human Resources Manager typically requires a bachelor’s degree or higher certification. However, at this level of seniority, a candidate’s relevant experience is more important than their academic background. Look for candidates with a degree in human resources, business administration, communications, or a related field. Candidates who have earned their Chartered Professional Human Resources (CPHR) designation, or CRHA in Quebec, should have an advantage.

Human Resources Manager salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Human Resources Manager is $75,845 per year. However, the salary for any given Human Resources Manager position can vary based on the candidate’s experience, the location of the job, and the hiring practices of the company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this job description isn’t quite what you’re looking for, be sure to check out other related positions including:

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Human Resources Manager job description FAQs

What's the difference between a Human Resources Manager and an HR Director?

One quality that supersedes most others in importance for a Human Resources Manager is leadership ability. With the Human Resources Manager at the helm of the company’s people resources, the best candidate must be able to lead with confidence. They must also be able to inspire and motivate employees, solve disagreements, and promote the company’s culture and values. An HR Manager also needs to maintain positive relationships with both upper management and other employees, as they effectively function as a liaison between the two.

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Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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