Description

HR Partner

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Hybrid)

Who is COVE?

COVE is a global technology partner advancing high-impact solutions from seabed to space. COVE transforms innovation into market-ready technologies through testing, commercialization support, market expertise and access to critical infrastructure. Leveraging its networks and mission-driven platform, COVE connects investors, innovators, industry, and the research community to drive cutting-edge capabilities for commercial and defence applications. 

Based in Canada and operating internationally, COVE supports the full lifecycle of maritime and multi-domain technologies – from research and development to manufacturing, integration, and export – linking Canadian innovation to global markets. COVE has built a globally recognized innovation platform, with an ecosystem of more than 700 organizations spanning startups, multinational firms, researchers, Indigenous partners, and public sector collaborators. 

Through its programs, facilities, and partnerships, COVE enables real-world testing and validation, strengthens supply chains, and accelerates technology adoption in complex operating environments. With strong connections across the North Atlantic, the United States, and the Arctic, and as part of international networks including NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), COVE plays a key role in advancing technologies that support economic growth, environmental sustainability, and global security. 

As COVE experiences rapid expansion, it is actively seeking to expand its team to further bolster its transformational influence as a global technology partner in advancing high-impact solutions. COVE recognizes that its journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of its team – a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join COVE as it embarks on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the VP of Corporate Services & Facilities, the HR Partner is responsible for working with leadership to achieve competitive advantage through strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce through talent acquisition, employee training and development, and performance management.  

The HR Partner will be responsible for creating an engaging and productive work atmosphere for employees and will oversee all aspects of human resource practices and processes. People are our most important asset, and the HR Partner will be primarily responsible for ensuring we have a happy and productive workplace where everyone works to realize our established mission and objectives, promoting corporate values and shaping a positive culture. 

What You'll Do

-Act as the primary point of HR contact to all managers and employees in the areas of employee relations, change management, performance management, employee engagement, and best practices. 

-Develop, implement and monitor HR strategies and initiatives aligned with the overall business strategy.

-Partner with management on workforce planning, organizational design, and talent strategies. 

-Support hiring managers in executing the full-cycle talent acquisition process including recruitment, interviewing, developing employment contracts for hiring of qualified job applicants and their subsequent on-boarding.   

-Support employee relations matters, including conflict resolution, investigations, performance management, and terminations. 

-Bridge management and employee relations by developing and maintaining human resource policies and procedures, health & safety, addressing requests, grievances or other issues. 

-Manage off-boarding – voluntary and involuntary terminations of employment. 

-Foster strong cross-functional relationships with Payroll, Finance and IT, Legal and other stakeholders to drive the effective delivery of HR programs and services.

-Support current and future business needs through the development, engagement, motivation and preservation of human capital. 

-Oversee and manage a performance management system that drives high performance.

-Administer benefits, reconcile payroll reports, and advise and recommend on compensation, benefits and rewards programs. 

-Assess training and professional development needs to apply and monitor training programs.

-Analyze HR trends and metrics to support decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives. 

-Report to management and provide decision support through HR metrics including employee performance, compensation standards relative to market benchmarks, and other metrics. 

-Implement attendance management, performance management and disability management plans as required. 

-Manage employee records and ensuring legal compliance with all regulations including health and safety and worker’s compensation. 

-Ensure compliance with COVE’s policies and procedures, including human resources, safety, and operational standards.

-Take on additional responsibilities as required to support the success and growth of COVE’s programs and strategic initiatives.

Working at COVE

At our core, we are a team driven by our passion for empowering marine tech innovators, serving as unwavering advocates for every visionary who walks through our doors. Integrity, creativity, and diversity are not just values to us - they are the bedrock of our identity. We thrive within an integrated team environment, where collective efforts culminate in tangible results. Embracing diversity in our workforce is paramount for fostering genuine collaboration and fulfilling the impactful responsibilities we hold within our community. We cultivate a workplace culture that celebrates individual differences, ensuring that each person's unique talents and strengths are fully recognized, appreciated, and utilized. Operating within a hybrid and flexible work environment allows us to optimize the collective potential of our highly collaborative team, enabling us to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Benefits

-Opportunity to learn and make an impact by working for a dynamic, growing company on meaningful projects that find solutions to real-life problems.

-Comprehensive paid time off including vacation, personal sick time, and additional days for family illness or medical appointments.

-Hybrid work model with flexibility to work remotely 1 day/week.

-Competitive salary.

-Team wide bonding activities and casual work environment.

-Tech focused office location, convenient via transit and bike paths. 

-Employee wellbeing including full medical & dental benefits and a health spending account.

-Group RRSP matching program & Income Insurance Plans.

-Maternity & parental leave top-up allowance.

-Learning and growth opportunities.

-Employee referral program.

Requirements

What You Bring

-Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, or a related field.  

-Minimum 5-7 years' relevant experience in a similar role. 

-Excellent communication skills, including active listening, and presentation skills.   

-Ability to work under pressure.  

-Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.

-Ability to exercise confidentiality, sound judgement, and discretion.

-Strong organizational skills and a high degree of self-motivation and business acumen.

-People oriented and results driven.

-Demonstrated effective organizational problem solving, planning and analytical skills.

-Knowledge of HR systems and databases.

-Competence to build and effectively manage interpersonal relationships at all levels of the company. 

Additional Assets

-CPHR designation (or candidate)

Talent Pool

As part of our ongoing recruitment efforts, we continually identify candidates who demonstrate the skills, experience, and potential to contribute to our organization. By submitting your application, you will be considered for current and future opportunities that match your qualifications and interests.

Should your profile align with our current or future needs, a member of our recruitment team may reach out to you to discuss potential opportunities and to further assess your fit for specific roles within our organization.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At COVE, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your past experience does not align with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are committed to ensuring accommodations are made available to persons with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes and will provide reasonable accommodation upon request.

We offer an excellent working environment where life balance is valued. Our people and their commitment to quality work is what drives our success. You can find out more information about COVE at www.coveocean.com. Salary for this position will be commensurate with experience, note that relocation costs are not supported.

To be considered for this position, please click the 'APPLY' button. The deadline for submission is June 11, 2026 at 5pm (Atlantic). We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.