Chief People Officer - Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO)
Retail
Toronto, OntarioTHE COMPANY
Established in 1927 as a provincial government agency, the LCBO is the largest retailer and wholesaler of beverage alcohol in the world. With a stellar local, national and international reputation as a best-in-class, customer-first, socially responsible retailer and wholesaler, the LCBO prides itself in its commitment to supporting the local beverage alcohol industry and in offering more than 32,000 products annually from more than 70 countries to consumers and licensed establishments. The LCBO is a cornerstone of Ontario's economy and community as all net income ($2.43 billion in FY2024) helps fund key local and provincial public programs and services including health care, education and infrastructure.
To ensure it continues to grow sales responsibly, maximize profitability, and improve operational efficiency, the organization is undergoing a foundational business transformation impacting people, process and technology as outlined in the key strategic directions of its new strategic plan available in May 2025 (current strategic plan):
- u Transform and scale our wholesale business.
- u Craft the retail customer experience.
- u Evolve our culture and organization.
- u Modernize the foundations.
Strategic and responsive, the LCBO continues to evolve its operations to address the challenges and opportunities present in the business environment while supporting government objectives and customer needs.
All 10,000 employees are guided by the LCBO’s values that serve as the foundation of its culture, govern how business is done, and inform interactions with customers, partners and each other. The workforce is 89% unionized (OPSEU).
THE OPPORTUNITY
With the pending retirement of the incumbent, the LCBO seeks a new CPO to continue to build a purpose-driven, safe, healthy, inclusive, and accountable culture where every employee feels valued and a sense of belonging, while evolving the organization to be agile, competitive, and customer-obsessed?.
The CPO is the strategic HR business partner to the President & CEO, and partners with peers to drive the transformation agenda and support the achievement of goals and objectives, ensuring the organization has the right HR strategy, talent, culture, capabilities, service offerings, programs and policies, and organizational structures.
A key member of the senior leadership team, the CPO oversees the Human Resource Division comprised of all related functions including HR strategy and innovation, labour and employee relations, business partnership, people operations, total rewards, talent acquisition, talent management & DEI, workplace wellness and safety, and accessibility.
The CPO reports to the President & CEO, and leads a team of 115 HR professionals, through 2 Vice Presidents and an HR leadership team of 12 directors (some direct, some indirect reporting) with dotted line to 2 additional Leads. The position is based at the LCBO corporate office in Toronto and is primarily an in-person role.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following experience, knowledge, skills and attributes:
- u An experienced, senior HR leader of an organization of comparable scale; brings strategic HR business partner capability with extensive labour relations experience.
- u Senior leadership experience in the public sector with knowledge of government policies and applicable legislation; additional experience in a related business (retail, wholesale, supply chain) is an asset.
- u CHRE, CHRL or CHRP designation is preferred.
- u Experience successfully leading major transformations.
- u An enterprise leader collaborating up, down and across the organization.
- u Experience presenting to, supporting and/or advising Boards and Committees.
- u A positive and calm leadership style that empowers, develops and motivates.
- u Excellent communication skills at all levels (board, executives, team, leaders, union, frontline).
- u Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills; ability to coach without formal authority.
- u Strong business acumen; is accountable, results-driven, data-driven and knows the details.
- u Values diversity, inclusion, safety and wellness; strong code of ethics; respectful.
- u Leads as a role model of LCBO competencies.
The LCBO fosters a culture of inclusion and belonging, so everyone feels valued, respected, and heard. The LCBO is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Should you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the hiring process, please communicate your needs to the LHH Knightsbridge project team.
Chief People Officer - Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO)
Retail
Toronto, OntarioTHE COMPANY
Established in 1927 as a provincial government agency, the LCBO is the largest retailer and wholesaler of beverage alcohol in the world. With a stellar local, national and international reputation as a best-in-class, customer-first, socially responsible retailer and wholesaler, the LCBO prides itself in its commitment to supporting the local beverage alcohol industry and in offering more than 32,000 products annually from more than 70 countries to consumers and licensed establishments. The LCBO is a cornerstone of Ontario's economy and community as all net income ($2.43 billion in FY2024) helps fund key local and provincial public programs and services including health care, education and infrastructure.
To ensure it continues to grow sales responsibly, maximize profitability, and improve operational efficiency, the organization is undergoing a foundational business transformation impacting people, process and technology as outlined in the key strategic directions of its new strategic plan available in May 2025 (current strategic plan):
- u Transform and scale our wholesale business.
- u Craft the retail customer experience.
- u Evolve our culture and organization.
- u Modernize the foundations.
Strategic and responsive, the LCBO continues to evolve its operations to address the challenges and opportunities present in the business environment while supporting government objectives and customer needs.
All 10,000 employees are guided by the LCBO’s values that serve as the foundation of its culture, govern how business is done, and inform interactions with customers, partners and each other. The workforce is 89% unionized (OPSEU).
THE OPPORTUNITY
With the pending retirement of the incumbent, the LCBO seeks a new CPO to continue to build a purpose-driven, safe, healthy, inclusive, and accountable culture where every employee feels valued and a sense of belonging, while evolving the organization to be agile, competitive, and customer-obsessed?.
The CPO is the strategic HR business partner to the President & CEO, and partners with peers to drive the transformation agenda and support the achievement of goals and objectives, ensuring the organization has the right HR strategy, talent, culture, capabilities, service offerings, programs and policies, and organizational structures.
A key member of the senior leadership team, the CPO oversees the Human Resource Division comprised of all related functions including HR strategy and innovation, labour and employee relations, business partnership, people operations, total rewards, talent acquisition, talent management & DEI, workplace wellness and safety, and accessibility.
The CPO reports to the President & CEO, and leads a team of 115 HR professionals, through 2 Vice Presidents and an HR leadership team of 12 directors (some direct, some indirect reporting) with dotted line to 2 additional Leads. The position is based at the LCBO corporate office in Toronto and is primarily an in-person role.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following experience, knowledge, skills and attributes:
- u An experienced, senior HR leader of an organization of comparable scale; brings strategic HR business partner capability with extensive labour relations experience.
- u Senior leadership experience in the public sector with knowledge of government policies and applicable legislation; additional experience in a related business (retail, wholesale, supply chain) is an asset.
- u CHRE, CHRL or CHRP designation is preferred.
- u Experience successfully leading major transformations.
- u An enterprise leader collaborating up, down and across the organization.
- u Experience presenting to, supporting and/or advising Boards and Committees.
- u A positive and calm leadership style that empowers, develops and motivates.
- u Excellent communication skills at all levels (board, executives, team, leaders, union, frontline).
- u Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills; ability to coach without formal authority.
- u Strong business acumen; is accountable, results-driven, data-driven and knows the details.
- u Values diversity, inclusion, safety and wellness; strong code of ethics; respectful.
- u Leads as a role model of LCBO competencies.
The LCBO fosters a culture of inclusion and belonging, so everyone feels valued, respected, and heard. The LCBO is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Should you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the hiring process, please communicate your needs to the LHH Knightsbridge project team.