People & Culture Associate

Upgraded Grants Consulting helps Canadian technology companies unlock non-dilutive funding through SR&ED tax credits, IRAP, and other government grant programs. We work with innovative SaaS and tech businesses to recover 30–50% of their eligible R&D costs, letting founders focus on building rather than fundraising. We're growing fast and expanding our team to match—and we need someone to help us build an incredible workplace along the way.

As our Junior People & Culture Associate, you'll be the connective tissue of our growing team. This is a generalist role that touches every part of the employee experience—from sourcing and hiring great people, to onboarding them well, to helping build the programs and culture that make them want to stay. You'll also support our clients by coordinating hiring grant applications and tracking talent-related funding opportunities. If you're organized, people-oriented, and excited to build HR foundations from the ground up in a fast-paced consulting environment, this is your role.

• Draft and post job descriptions across relevant platforms (LinkedIn, Indeed, niche boards).
• Screen resumes, coordinate interviews, and manage candidate communications.
• Maintain and improve our applicant tracking process and candidate pipeline.
• Support hiring managers with interview scheduling, scorecards, and offer preparation.
• Research and apply for hiring grants and wage subsidy programs on behalf of Upgraded and its clients.
• Own the onboarding process end-to-end: welcome kits, system access, first-week schedules, and check-ins.
• Create and maintain onboarding documentation, handbooks, and training materials.
• Coordinate 30/60/90-day check-ins and gather new hire feedback to improve the experience.
• Help plan team events, offsites, and culture-building initiatives.
• Support performance review cycles, goal-setting frameworks, and feedback processes.
• Maintain employee records, HR files, and people data with accuracy and confidentiality.
• Assist with benefits administration, policy documentation, and compliance basics (BC Employment Standards).
• Track team metrics such as headcount, turnover, time-to-hire, and engagement scores.
• Research best practices and bring fresh ideas to improve how we attract, develop, and retain talent.
• Research and track federal and provincial hiring grants, wage subsidies, and talent incentive programs.
• Prepare and submit grant applications related to hiring and workforce development.
• Coordinate with the consulting team to identify grant-eligible hiring activities for clients.
• Maintain a calendar of grant deadlines and reporting requirements.

• 1–2 years of experience in HR, recruiting, people operations, or a related field (internships and co-ops count).
• A post-secondary credential in Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities without dropping the ball.
• Excellent written and verbal communication—you'll be a key point of contact for candidates and team members.
• Comfort with HR tools and technology (ATS platforms, Google Workspace, Notion, or similar).
• A genuine interest in people, culture, and building great workplaces.
• Familiarity with Canadian employment standards is a plus; knowledge of government grant programs is a bonus.
• Self-starter energy—you don't wait to be told what to do.

• Performance-based bonus structure.
• Hybrid work model—split your time between our Vancouver office and home.
• Professional development budget and support for HR certifications (e.g., CPHR).
• Flexible work hours and a team that values results over face time.
• Direct exposure to the Canadian grants and funding ecosystem—a rare and valuable skill set.
• The opportunity to shape people practices from the ground up at a growing company.

Send your resume and a short note about why you're excited about this role to careers@getupgraded.ca. We review applications on a rolling basis and will be in touch if there's a fit. Upgraded is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.