Gary Muuren
Langley,Canada
Summary
A seasoned HR executive, adept in strategic planning and leadership training, I significantly enhanced employee engagement by 25% at Nch'ḵay̓ Development Corporation. Spearheaded financial controls and partnership development, demonstrating a strong ability to drive executive decision-making and foster employee retention across diverse industries.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Vice President Human Resources and Operations
Nch'ḵay̓ Development Corporation
North Vancouver, Canada
01.2022 - 11.2024
- Company Overview: Nch’kaỷ Development Corporation is owned by the Squamish Nation, with eight commercial operations with a 2023 – 2024 revenue of $75 million
- Website: www.nchkay.com
- Led the 2023-2024 strategic plan alignment delivering amendments to the five-year plan supported by key departmental tactical plans and deliverables
- As member of the Executive Team, provided support and council in developing the Executive Teams KPIs, cascading tactical and operational plans to all team members embedded in their Performance Management
- Developed and Implemented Nch'ḵay̓’s Corporate Quality Management System
- Authored executive and corporate Human Resources governance processes and policies
- Support the board similarly with the Governance and Compensation Committee (HR)
- Introduced Team Member Engagement process embedding NDC’s culture, brand values, driven by identified behavioural indicators
- Led engagements, including the board, the Squamish Nation and Council, stakeholders, local government, suppliers, contractors, community and other
- Established the HR Department (shared services), including Staffing, Learning and Development
- Compensation and Benefits, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion programs Environmental Health and Safety
- Developed the Team Member Handbook, with supporting governance and HR policies and processes
- Developed a multi-year and annual HR operations and workforce plan to meet emerging people and business needs, focussed on organisational design, Team Member development, leadership development, succession, retention, health and safety, work-life quality and risk and risk mitigation
- Implemented Leadership, management and supervisory development, honing current skills and developing future potential leaders
- Human Capital Management System Implementation
- Developed and implemented the Executive KPI and Team Member Performance Management Processes
- Led HR risk management, business continuity process, and exit information gathering (trend analysis and action planning)
- Oversaw all operations with a budgetary responsibility of - $75 million, - increased revenue by 15% in 2023 financial year
- Developed the five-year Operations plans meeting emerging functional and business needs and projections to ensure sustainability
- Provided operational leadership executing effective business plans, systems, processes, and practices
- Oversaw capital projects (infrastructure) amounting to $5 million
- Ensured regulatory compliance and relationship development with the DFO, MOT, Coast Guard, Ministry of Forestry, WorkSafe BC, the Indian Act, Employment Standards and others
- Developed and Implemented Operations Quality Management System, ensuring standardised processes and continual improvements
- Nch’kaỷ Development Corporation is owned by the Squamish Nation, with eight commercial operations with a 2023 – 2024 revenue of $75 million
- Website: www.nchkay.com
- Board Member of the Squamish Community Forrest, Board Member and Treasurer, Cheakamus Community Forrest
Director, Human Resources
JJM Construction Ltd.
Delta, Canada
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Company Overview: Heavy Civil and Marine Construction (150 employees)
- Website: www.jjmconstruction.com
- As an Executive Officer, provided oversight and development in the JJM’s overall business leadership
- Develop, implement, and oversee all people-related functions, including recruitment, onboarding, training, corrective action, employee/labour relations, performance development, safety, and other
- Participated in, and led JJM’s strategic plan development, aligning organizational, operational and HR priorities
- Embedded JJM’s values and mission in interaction and practice to ensure Team Members, clients, the public and other stakeholders are served in a safe and values-driven work environment
- Oversaw JJM’s safety system and participated in the development and implementation of JJM’s quality management program
- Worked closely with the owners, legal, risk and other functions on delivering HR, corporate and operations strategies
- Ensured effective operations of multiple sites, programs, and services, including two Kitimat joint venture projects valued at $370 million, maintaining positive relationships with all stakeholders, unions, and partners
- Responsible for budget stewardship for staffing, wages, safety, marketing, communications, and Team Member development
- Heavy Civil and Marine Construction (150 employees)
- Website: www.jjmconstruction.com
Vice President Organizational Development and Human Resources
Paper Excellence
Richmond, Canada
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Company Overview: Paper Excellence is a multinational group producing 2.5 million tons of pulp annually, 2,750 employees, three unions
- Website: www.paperexcellence.com
- Reported to the CEO, responsible for leading and directing strategic alignment, design, and delivery of all aspects of HR
- Offered strategic and operational HR matrix leadership to across Canada and France
- Integrated and aligned seven newly acquired pulp mills and drove alignment amongst the and the corporate office, standardizing operational and HR directives
- Led the monthly business review with the owners and executive team in Shanghai
- Facilitated the development of strategic and tactical plans resulting in enhancements in employee engagement, health and safety, leadership-succession planning, and cost-reduction initiatives
- Created growth platforms, accelerated development programs, technical training, and leadership development
- Consolidated monthly business reviews, annual performance management, KPI achievement, succession plans, and strategic plans into annual development/training plans and budgets
- Established an Executive Health and Safety forum in collaboration with WorkSafe BC
- Collaborated with UNIFOR to develop the company labour relations strategy and eliminated 280 grievances
- Paper Excellence is a multinational group producing 2.5 million tons of pulp annually, 2,750 employees, three unions
- Website: www.paperexcellence.com
Vice President Organizational Development and Human Resources
Baptist Housing
Delta, Canada
02.2010 - 01.2017
- Company Overview: British Columbia Health Care Provider with twenty-one facilities, 3,000 Residents with 1,300 employees, four unions and four Staff Associations
- Website: www.baptisthousing.org
- Reported to the President & CEO
- Provided executive oversight and supported the board with governance obligations
- Responsible for HR, OH & S, Privacy and Compliance and represented the board as Whistle Blower Officer
- Led and created synergy with three regional HR teams
- Participated in all board meetings and was a member of the Compensation and HR committees
- Participated in strategic plan development and developed HR five-year plan subsequently
- Provided operational leadership, supporting regional teams within an operating budget of $100M
- Supported the development of a new Residential Care replacement facility in Victoria, led the change management initiatives to optimal efficiency and integrating two unions
- Developed, implemented, and oversaw all people-related functions, including recruitment, onboarding, orientation, training, corrective action, employee and labour relations, performance development, safety, and other
- Insourced Assisted Living Care and Independent Living support, realizing annual savings of $150,000, reduced overtime by 35%, reengineered 10-hour operation, and expanded operations 24/7
- Completed HR due diligence and integration plans in response to a successful $142 million RFP
- Synergized operations by assimilating systems, processes, policies, culture, and values, integrating 450 new (acquisition) Team Members
- Introduced Health and Safety COR compliance in all operations
- Increased Team Member engagement and reduced turnover through frontline engagement strategies and Team Member-driven action
- Increased internal leadership pool
- Introduced employee and leadership development programs
- Developed and implemented Supervisory-Leadership and Leader-in-Training Programs
- Improve cultural alignment and employee engagement by 20%, supported by a performance management process to drive culture/values, business objectives and corporate change
- Implementing ‘Archway of Excellence’ Team Member culture branding and recognition
- British Columbia Health Care Provider with twenty-one facilities, 3,000 Residents with 1,300 employees, four unions and four Staff Associations
- Website: www.baptisthousing.org
Director Human Resources
Kal Tire
Vernon, Canada
06.2005 - 02.2010
- Company Overview: A billion-dollar Canadian company with 300+ retail locations, 13 production sites, and five warehouses, with 3500 employees across Canada, an international
- Website: www.kaltire.com
- Reported to the President and the Senior Vice President-Retail division, established Kal Tire’s first Human Resources department, growing the HR team to sixteen employees
- Developed and oversaw training, development, and education, compensation and benefits, recruitment and selection, and employee relations, on-boarding, orientation, and other
- Standardized the Retail Sales Process and developed training curriculum; and introduced video-based training content (LMS)
- Improved engagement from 65% to 90% while also achieving a 40% reduction in turnover
- Assimilated four hundred new employees resulting from east coast corporate merger/acquisitions
- Collaborated with accounting in a $1.2 million payroll insourcing project and data migration from ADP to PeopleSoft
- Created capacity and reduced overtime by 30% in several retail locations through alternative work schedules
- Created a succession pool by introducing competency-based wage progression, supporting Kal Tire’s culture of promoting from within
- Met current and future leadership and staffing needs by creating targeted recruitment strategies, including Mexican recruitment, meeting immediate and future operational requirements
- Led the developed a three-tier benefits program aligning with team member needs
- A billion-dollar Canadian company with 300+ retail locations, 13 production sites, and five warehouses, with 3500 employees across Canada, an international
- Website: www.kaltire.com
Human Resources Generalist
Kal Tire
Vernon, Canada
06.2004 - 03.2005
- Developing and implementing training, development, education, and other appropriate interventions
- Developed and implemented HR policies and procedures
- Provided HR guidance, coaching and support to operational managers regarding employee relations, labour relations and development: ensured HR policy development, roll-out and compliance
- Supported managers in sourcing, attracting, recruiting, and retaining team members
- Empowered and supported decentralized management by introducing a consolidated HR Operational Quality Management process containing procedures, employment conditions, and regulatory and Employment Standards compliance
- Maintained the Employee Handbook
- Coordinated the compensation systems, developed salary recommendations, conducted wage surveys, and provided market benchmarks
- Introduced pre-hire onboarding and developed the Kal Tire On-Boarding and Orientation process
Education
Master of Business Administration -
Royal Roads University
Victoria, BC06-2016
Honors Degree - HR Development
University of Johannesburg
South Africa11.2000
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Industry Psychology
University of Johannesburg
South Africa11.1998
Skills
- Leadership training
- Strategic planning and execution
- Financial controls implementation
- Executive decision-making
- Partnership development
- Employee retention
Other
- Board Member, Squamish Community Forest Board, Squamish, BC
- Board Member, Cheakamus Community Forest Board, Whistler, BC
Professional Development
- CPHR, Chartered Professional in HR, British Columbia, and Yukon, current
- SHRM, Society of HR Management, Senior Certified Professional, Alexandria, VG, current
- Brikman Assessment, Delta, BC, 2020
- Indigenous Canada, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada, 2020
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS-2020), 2020
- Registered Organizational Development Professional, Int’l Society for Org. Development & Change, 2000
- Registered McQuaig Behavioral Measurement Instrument User, McQuaig Institute – Toronto, 2006
Timeline
Executive Vice President Human Resources and Operations
Nch'ḵay̓ Development Corporation
01.2022 - 11.2024
Director, Human Resources
JJM Construction Ltd.
01.2018 - 01.2022
Vice President Organizational Development and Human Resources
Paper Excellence
01.2017 - 01.2018
Vice President Organizational Development and Human Resources
Baptist Housing
02.2010 - 01.2017
Director Human Resources
Kal Tire
06.2005 - 02.2010
Human Resources Generalist
Kal Tire
06.2004 - 03.2005
Master of Business Administration -
Royal Roads University
Honors Degree - HR Development
University of Johannesburg
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Industry Psychology
University of Johannesburg
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