Director, People and Culture - Toronto

Who We Are · At KEV, we help school districts eliminate the school finance blind spot. Our platform gives district finance teams real-time visibility and traceability into every dollar collected at the school level; whether it's cash, check, or digital. · From field trips to fun ...

Job description

Who We Are

At KEV, we help school districts eliminate the school finance blind spot.

Our platform gives district finance teams real-time visibility and traceability into every dollar collected at the school level; whether it's cash, check, or digital.

From field trips to fundraisers, we help them manage every dollar with confidence. More than 27,000 schools across North America trust KEV to manage over $8 billion annually.

By unifying payments, accounting, and reporting, KEV simplifies life for bookkeepers, builds trust with parents, and gives finance leaders the oversight their current systems cannot.

It's how we help schools stay compliant, reduce risk, and focus on what matters most, student success.

Backed by Five Arrows, the PE arm of Rothschild & Co., KEV is investing more than ever to support K–12 in a world of tighter budgets, rising scrutiny, and fast-changing tech.

We're headquartered in Toronto, with offices across North America.

If you're excited by the idea of building tech that protects schools, empowers finance teams, and improves education through better systems, KEV is the place for you.

About The Role

The Director of People and Culture builds the talent systems, cultural foundations, and leadership capabilities that strengthen engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness across KEV.

The Director is responsible for leading performance management, while also overseeing employee relations and legal employment matters.

This role directly manages a team of two HR Business Partners and a Senior Manager, Learning & Development, ensuring strong coaching, operational alignment, and high-impact delivery across the business.

This role will play a pivotal role in integrating performance management, leadership development, culture-building, and employee relations into one cohesive strategy that supports a high-performing, values-driven organization.

How You'll Contribute

Strategic Business Partnership & Organizational Effectiveness

Serve as a strategic advisor to executive and functional leaders on org design, team effectiveness, and talent strategy.
Translate company strategy and revenue goals into workforce planning, capability planning, and org structure recommendations.
Establish clear team goal-setting practices aligned to company KPIs.
Partner with Finance and leadership on headcount planning, capacity modeling, and talent investment decisions.
Use people data (engagement, attrition, performance, comp, diversity metrics) to inform business decisions.
Diagnose organizational friction and proactively design interventions to improve clarity, accountability, and performance.

Performance Management & Accountability

Own and evolve the company's performance management framework to ensure clarity, fairness, and impact.
Ensure team goals cascade from company objectives and are measurable.
Drive consistent, high-quality performance reviews, calibration processes, and promotion standards.
Coach leaders on high-performance expectations, feedback culture, and accountability.
Ensure underperformance is addressed quickly and effectively with clear documentation and support.
Embed values and leadership behaviors into performance criteria.

Talent Management, Succession & Promotions

Lead enterprise-wide talent reviews and succession planning processes.
Ensure clear promotion criteria and leveling standards are applied consistently.
Identify high-potential talent and partner with leaders on development pathways.
Build strong internal mobility practices to strengthen retention and growth.
Provide insights on retention risk and talent gaps to senior leadership.

Compensation & Rewards Governance

Partner with Finance and executive leadership on compensation strategy and annual compensation cycles.
Ensure market competitiveness aligned with technology industry benchmarks.
Oversee merit planning, promotion adjustments, and pay equity analysis.
Ensure consistent compensation decision-making across teams.
Educate leaders on total rewards philosophy and compensation guardrails.

Employee Relations & Risk Management

Oversee complex employee relations matters with fairness, consistency, and legal compliance.
Partner with Legal on investigations, documentation, risk mitigation, and policy interpretation.
Strengthen manager capability in handling performance issues, conduct concerns, and workplace conflict.
Ensure company practices minimize risk while protecting culture and values.
Maintain governance standards appropriate for a scaling technology organization.

Manager Enablement & Leadership Capability

Equip managers with practical tools for coaching, feedback, and team development.
Drive leadership expectations around accountability, engagement, and culture.
Ensure managers are held accountable for team health, retention, and performance outcomes.
Partner with Learning & Development to align programs to business capability needs.

Team Leadership & Operational Excellence

Lead and develop a team of HR Business Partners and People leaders.
Establish clear operating rhythms (talent reviews, quarterly performance check-ins, comp cycles, workforce planning).
Ensure high-quality, consistent delivery of people programs across functions.
Drive continuous improvement in systems, workflows, and reporting.
Stay current on modern, scalable people practices for mid-market SaaS companies.

Who You Are

8+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3+ years' managing teams
Post-secondary degree or diploma in Human Resources or Business Administration preferred
Experience with HR technology platforms (Rippling strongly preferred)
Deep expertise in performance and talent management
Proven success designing and scaling programs that strengthen culture, engagement, collaboration, and talent development
Strong facilitation and influence skills with executive leaders, supporting positive organizational culture and cross-functional alignment
Data-driven decision makers use insights to shape employee experience, retention strategies, and KEV's employer brand
Committed to building a value-driven culture where employees feel valued, motivated, supported, and excited to grow
Experienced in building leadership capability, including coaching, feedback, and career development pathways

What We Offer

Competitive compensation – We believe in rewarding great work with fair, competitive pay.
Meaningful benefits– Because your well-being matters; both at work and at home.

Retirement Savings Support – We help you plan for your future with company-matched programs, including RRSP matching in Canada and 401(k) contributions in the U.S.

Professional development – We invest in your growth with ongoing learning, stretch opportunities, and continuing education, including KEV Academy for onboarding and skill-building, plus KEV University, our online platform offering a wide range of courses.

Hybrid model – 3 days in the office to collaborate and connect, with flexibility the rest of the week.

Flexible PTO – Take the time you need to recharge with close to 4 weeks of vacation and a company-wide holiday closure.

Office perks – Enjoy a fully stocked snack bar and occasional catered lunches—because we know that great conversations (and ideas) often start around good food.

Salary Range - $150,000-175,000

In addition, this role is eligible for variable pay that is based on company and individual performance, with actual payout amounts calculated and paid on an annual basis.

Note:

We set standard base pay ranges for all roles based on function, level, and country location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies.

Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including, skills, depth of work experience and relevant licenses/credentials, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

Why You'll Love Working at KEV

Make a real difference every day – At KEV, your work supports children, parents, and schools across North America. We don't just build software, we create solutions that simplify lives and strengthen communities.

Our mission is rooted in impact, and every team member plays a vital role in shaping the future of K-12 education.

The KEV Way – At KEV, you'll never feel stuck in the status quo.

You'll be part of a team that's constantly questioning, improving, and innovating—always with one guiding focus:

How does this help our schools and the students they serve? It's a culture that challenges you to do your best work while reminding you why it matters.

Grow with us – We're scaling fast, and so are our people. At KEV, you'll have real opportunities to learn, develop, and shape your career. Whether advancing in your role or exploring a new path, you'll be supported every step of the way.
Work alongside excellence – You'll be part of a team with integrity who treat their colleagues with respect. who are accomplished but humble, collaborative but accountable.

It's a place where you can do your best work while feeling supported and inspired by the people around you.

Celebrate Community and Culture – At KEV, we connect, recognize, and celebrate our people.

Join Club KEV for team-building fun, hear directly from customers in our Voice of Customer Series, stay aligned with Monthly Townhalls, and be inspired by the KEVite Awards, where top contributors are recognized by their peers.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected.

It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required by an individual joining the KEV team in this or any other capacity.

KEV Group is pleased to accommodate individual needs in accordance with the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), within our recruitment process.

If you require accommodation at any time throughout the recruitment process, please speak with Human Resources or the hiring manager.

KEV Group is an equal opportunity employer who agrees not to discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, or age.

Visit our website for more information and details about working at KEV.