Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Recommendations
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Karl Johnston

Yellowknife,NT
Karl Johnston

Summary

I'm Karl, otherwise known as the 💎 Gem Collector.

With over 30 years of experience growing up in the captivating Canadian Sub-arctic, I've become a nationally recognized expert in recruitment throughout the Canadian North.

Now, let me take you on a journey of my career transformation: In 2015, life threw me a curveball in the form of a disabling injury. I made the bold decision to transition from being an Adventure Editor and a Photographer/Filmmaker to pursuing a career in recruitment. While I couldn't continue being a visual storyteller, I realized I had a unique opportunity to be the one hiring those talented individuals instead.

Since then, I've been on a mission to make waves in the industry. I joined CBC North and quickly became an influencer in Northern Talent Management.


I've also had the incredible opportunity to build, lead, and consult on national talent recruitment programs.

My commitment to enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities led me to become a proud vocal advocate on the Accessibility & Disability Advisory Council in 2022. In this role, I work tirelessly to advance and advocate for accessibility enhancements throughout the corporation.


So, if you're seeking a passionate, results-driven management consultant with an unyielding commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, look no further.

Together, let's create a vibrant and diverse workforce that reflects the richness of our society.

Overview

6
years of professional experience

Work History

CBC/Radio-Canada

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
11.2018 - 11.2023

Job overview

  • Responsible for Strategic Talent Acquisition activities for CBC North and Talent Programs nationally in 10k employee matrix environment with multiple collective agreements.
  • Expert knowledge of Collective Agreement Interpretation.
  • Acted as brand ambassador to educate candidates on culture, career growth, benefits, and advantages of working for company.
  • Led consultation of building talent strategies for each of 8 stations in Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, and Nunavik
  • Managed administrative and legal integrity of 360 cycles, sourcing, search, strategy, headhunting, niche talent acquisition, recruitment coordination, recruitment/talent/sourcing pipeline funneling, and candidate/client
  • Conducted telephone and in-person interviews to assess candidate experience and qualifications.
  • Created and delivered HR training sessions to staff, managers, executives.
  • Partnered with departmental managers to ascertain hiring needs and subsequently provide candidate recommendations.
  • Act as talent consultant for most complex and complicated files within corporation.
  • Led all aspects of adapting recruitment process to be more inclusive of Northern hiring, change management, and implementation modifications into national process
  • Extremely experienced in strategic sourcing, expert-level digital and social sourcing, LinkedIn Boolean search, data search, and cold contact.
  • Led change to include Indigenous language accommodations to CBC's official job board
  • Implemented strategy for multiplatform talent campaigns across social media for CBC North across three territories
  • Managed delegation and conceptualization of TV ads, Radio Ads, and Digital campaigns across CBC North and in cooperation with multiple partners (communications, programming, TV/radio/digital teams).
  • Participated in senior leadership meetings with Executive clients to define territorial business strategy of CBC North: Resurgence of Indigenous Languages, 2021-2025; matching to talent strategy
  • Improved hiring speed, and quality of hire from 2-3 years TTF to 33 days in national matrix unionized environment.
  • Highest candidate/client experience satisfaction scores in national team (2021).
  • Resourced in workplace investigation, grievance mediation, and defense in collaboration with HR/Industrial Relations management.
  • Participated in senior leadership meetings with EVP/Executive/Directorate clients
  • Suggested strategy of North Strategy: Resurgence of Indigenous Languages, 2021-2025.
  • Facilitated hiring of staff at direction of TA management; provided mentorship, growth/performance dev, and conflict resolution.
  • Developed internal partnerships and external partnerships to manage and cultivate promotion of diverse talent pipelines with government, Indigenous, and regional governments.
  • Worked on departments across English Services Corporation, resourced as Talent Consultant on hard-to-fill roles within Radio-Canada.
  • Facilitated advanced project and team management during talent program development, improvement, and implementation.

CBC/Radio-Canada

Senior Talent Acquisition Assigned to Indigenous Pathways Program
04.2023 - 08.2023

Job overview

Aspiring First Nations, Inuit or Métis journalists are eligible for a nine-month program. This paid, full-time program supports seven Indigenous candidates, allowing them to hone their skills as storytellers in CBC newsrooms. Each successful candidate will be based in a host location: Calgary, Yellowknife, Saskatoon, Thunder Bay, Montreal, Halifax, and Vancouver.

  • Led team of 3: Senior Recruiter, Talent Coordinator, Senior Sourcer on national talent program to facilitate targeted active recruitment marketing of aforementioned talent program
  • Met with national client leadership across several locations to conduct weekly reports on metrics, findings, and reports, and briefings
  • Handled translation and recommendation of local job postings into Indigenous language through translator partners.
  • Created and delivered HR training sessions to staff, managers and executives.
  • Provided SLT (Senior Leadership Team) and program lead recommendations to enhance marketing to participants, communication of program with communications team, best practices for recruitment consulting
  • Worked with Station Managers, Project Managers, and Program Lead to identify future workforce planning strategies to ensure participants have permanent jobs at end of program
  • Worked with leadership of program to conduct information sessions, and career advising and wrote external communications to promote career path lining into fulltime jobs.
  • Developed communication and marketing plan and leveraged talent acquisition tools, resources, and campaigns to source and attract top talent.
  • Optimized sourcing networks and used proactive methods to direct source candidates.
  • Analyzed recruiting metrics to share reports and recommendations with stakeholders.

CBC/Radio-Canada

Member, Disability Advisory Council
03.2022 - 08.2023

Job overview

  • Worked with national panel to consult and advise diversity & inclusion initiatives to increase workforce experience, representation and engagement of employees.
  • Finished document: https://strategies.cbcrc.ca/accessibility
  • Served as advocate and ambassador for organization by fully engaging, identifying, and securing resources and partnerships to advance mission
  • Developed and implemented strategies to drive organizational growth and development
  • Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate short- and long-term success
  • Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning
  • Researched potential local, regional, and national funders and assisted in relationship building

CBC/Radio-Canada

Member, Accessibility Advisory Council
03.2022 - 06.2022

Job overview

  • Acted as representative on behalf of Talent Acquisition division
  • Goal is to establish CBC accessibility vision and objectives and become accessibility champions in their areas of work
  • Publishing of CBC/Radio-Canada's first national Accessibility Plan by June 1st, 2023. https://strategies.cbcrc.ca/accessibility

CBC/Radio-Canada

Senior Talent Acquisition, ILA Program
05.2021 - 05.2022

Job overview

Read more about this program on the news article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/cbc-indigenous-archiving-project-1.5155932

  • Hired 20+ Indigenous language fluent (Inuktitut, James Bay Cree, Gwich'in) archivers to transcribe and translate radio broadcasts collected during the 1960s of CBC North's broadcasting
  • Led all Talent project management, managed Sourcing, Attraction, and 360 recruitment process
  • Led recruitment strategy presentation of Talent Strategy to deliver on project within a fast-paced timeline
  • Consulted on remote work policies with the hiring manager group and project lead.
  • Developed communication and marketing plan and leveraged talent acquisition tools, resources, and campaigns to source and attract top talent.
  • Optimized sourcing networks and used proactive methods to direct source candidates.
  • Created and drove talent acquisition and job placement strategies to attract diverse candidates.
  • Analyzed recruiting metrics to share reports and recommendations with stakeholders.

CBC/Radio-Canada

Senior Talent Acquisition Assigned to CAPE Talent Program
01.2020 - 01.2021

Job overview

Annual National program to promote CBC/Radio-Canada opportunities specific for people with disabilities to enter careers in the broadcast industry

  • Consulted on building a remote work program for future hires, to accommodate during COVID-19 and enabled the business to pursue the hiring program while complying with regulations around the pandemic
  • Led a national team of 5 Senior/Talent Sourcing Specialists to manage a hiring campaign, sourcing, and attraction campaign, and 360 recruitment process
  • Led all Talent discussions with the Senior Leadership team in conjunction with the Project Lead
  • Led, in conjunction with Project Lead, Expert panels to promote CBC as an employer for people with disabilities via Discoverabilities & Ontario Chamber of Commerce
  • Led all Talent consulting for the Engagement and Inclusion department and clients in several stations across the Provinces
  • Invited to join the Senior Management Steering Committee for future consulting on accessibility, inclusivity, and recruitment process management.
  • Optimized sourcing networks and used proactive methods to direct source candidates.
  • Developed communication and marketing plan and leveraged talent acquisition tools, resources, and campaigns to source and attract top talent.
  • Drove communication between directors, producers, talent agents, and actors to maintain efficient hiring practices and execution.
  • Implemented improvements to reduce company outsourcing costs.

Government of Northwest Territories

Business Performance Analyst
03.2018 - 06.2018

Job overview

  • Designed an action reason code template for performance optimization in between organization client departments and HR Branch
  • Metrics analysis and pivot table data entry.

Government of Northwest Territories

Human Resources Officer (Graduate Internship)
06.2017 - 03.2018

Job overview

  • Assisting in developing and implementing recruitment plans, including implementing LinkedIn Recruiter for HR Operations unit
  • Advising managers on recruitment options in order to preserve legal and administrative integrity of process
  • Chairing and facilitating selection committee activities, including screening and interviews
  • Ensuring compliance with policies, legislation, and best practices
  • Delivering advice and training to Recruitment Selection Committees
  • Preparing necessary documents for appointments, secondments, and transfers
  • Built labor relations chronology reports
  • Providing guidance on labor relations matters
  • Communicating labor relations advice to departments
  • Guiding supervisors in developing effective performance planning and review practices
  • Guiding managers in writing job descriptions
  • Supporting review and development of job descriptions.

Education

The University of Lethbridge
Lethbridge, AB

Management from Human Resources Management And Labor Relations
08.2016

University Overview

The University of Lethbridge
Lethbridge, AB

Management from Marketing
09.2015

University Overview

Aurora College
Fort Smith, NT

Business Administration
01.2010

University Overview

Skills

    • Extensive working knowledge of the Employment Standards Act, Labor Code, and Human Rights Legislation
    • Interpreting Collective Bargaining Agreements and working in a unionized environment
    • Remote Conferencing and Communication
    • Training and Mentoring new staff and onboarding, training plans
    • Strategic Planning
    • Oracle People Soft HRIS
      • Taleo HRIS
      • Workday
      • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
      • Google Suite (Docs, Drive, Sheets, Slides)
      • Adobe Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere, Media Encoder, Illustrator)
      • Generative AI, Chatgpt, Wordpress CMS, Web Dev

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual
French
Elementary
Chinese (Cantonese)
Elementary

Recommendations

Recommendations

Maria Kyres, M.A.DEI Talent Acquisition Specialist at CBC/Radio-Canada
It was a pleasure to work alongside Karl. We worked together to source Indigenous talent for the Indigenous languages project with the CBC as well as the Indigenous Pathways to Journalism program. Working on these two projects together proved to be successful as Karl was very organized and maintained clear and efficient communication throughout the entire process. Karl is also very adept at sourcing techniques, particularly for various roles in the North of Canada, thus he would bring a wealth of knowledge and resources to any talent acquisition team looking to effectively source diverse talent.


Sofian Fernandes TA Operations Specialist, CBC/Radio Canada
I had the pleasure of working closely with Karl during their tenure as a Talent Acquisition Specialist.

Karl is a true professional in the field of talent acquisition, demonstrating an exceptional ability to identify, attract, and successfully onboard top-tier talent. Their keen understanding of the industry, coupled with a proactive and strategic approach, greatly contributed to the success of our recruitment efforts.

What sets Karl apart is their excellent communication skills and interpersonal finesse. They effectively collaborate with hiring managers and candidates alike, fostering positive relationships throughout the entire recruitment process. He possesses a remarkable ability to tailor recruitment strategies to meet the unique needs of each department, ensuring that the right candidates are not only sourced but also seamlessly integrated into our organizational culture.

Karl consistently exhibited a high level of professionalism, integrity, and a strong work ethic. Their attention to detail, coupled with a results-driven mindset, significantly impacted our team's ability to build a talented and diverse workforce.

I would also like to highlight Karl's unwavering commitment to disability issues, which sets him apart as a compassionate and socially conscious professional. He has been a driving force within our organization, actively advocating for inclusivity had the pleasure of working closely with Karl during their tenure as a Talent Acquisition Specialist.


Katie Ahn Junior Specialist, Talent Acquisition at CBC/Radio-Canada
I've had the pleasure of working closely with Karl and I can confidently say that there's no one I'd rather partner with for recruitment in Canada's North! Karl has a wealth of knowledge and genuine passion for diverse & inclusive recruitment. He is constantly innovating, thinking of ways to improve processes, and advocating for candidates. His valuable experience and insights will undoubtedly add value anywhere he goes.I've had the pleasure of working closely with Karl and I can confidently say that there's no one I'd rather partner with for recruitment in Canada's North!


Rachel Desjourdy Accessibility Lead for Canada's national public broadcaster
Karl combines his professional expertise with his lived experience to bring an excellent set of analytical skills to his work. He was a key advisor in the development of our National Accessibility Plan 2023-25, whose input helped to shape the objectives, especially related to the employee experience.

Timeline

Senior Talent Acquisition Assigned to Indigenous Pathways Program
CBC/Radio-Canada
04.2023 - 08.2023
Member, Disability Advisory Council
CBC/Radio-Canada
03.2022 - 08.2023
Member, Accessibility Advisory Council
CBC/Radio-Canada
03.2022 - 06.2022
Senior Talent Acquisition, ILA Program
CBC/Radio-Canada
05.2021 - 05.2022
Senior Talent Acquisition Assigned to CAPE Talent Program
CBC/Radio-Canada
01.2020 - 01.2021
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
CBC/Radio-Canada
11.2018 - 11.2023
Business Performance Analyst
Government of Northwest Territories
03.2018 - 06.2018
Human Resources Officer (Graduate Internship)
Government of Northwest Territories
06.2017 - 03.2018
The University of Lethbridge
Management from Human Resources Management And Labor Relations
The University of Lethbridge
Management from Marketing
Aurora College
Business Administration
Karl Johnston