Associate Vice President for Human Resources - Empire State University

Location: All Locations, United States Category: Management / Confidential Posted On: Tue Sep 16 2025 Job Description:

Empire State University seeks an Associate Vice President (AVP) of Human Resources to join the university at a time of dynamic growth. SUNY Empire is the first and only online public university in New York. The institution has grown 12.5% in student headcount in the past three years and is on track to grow another 8% this year. In short, SUNY Empire is on a remarkable trajectory toward becoming one of the nation's preeminent online universities.

The AVP will play a critical role in leading employee and labor relations. The AVP will provide thought leadership and inclusive organizational practices in support of the university's commitment to its diverse students, faculty, and staff. The individual will be charged with transformation and continuous improvement in several key areas of HR, including employee and labor relations, technology, and learning.

Change management and cultural redirection skills are critical to this position. We seek an individual who promotes an open and respectful environment. The AVP will need to identify constructive solutions through a high degree of integrity and create clear accountability for themself and others through strong communication, honesty, and a team-oriented philosophy.

The successful candidate will be someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and uses data to inform decision-making. They will have expertise in employee and labor relations, and experience with systems and data strategies, data security, and project and program management. Consistent with SUNY Empire's commitment to DEI, the successful candidate's portfolio of achievement will also include expertise in advancing equity-focused human resources processes, policies, and initiatives, as well as the ability to communicate the interconnectedness of our institutional values and organizational excellence.

This position reports to the Vice President/CHRO, leads a team of professional staff within the larger HR department, and works collaboratively with peers and other HR staff regardless of reporting structure. The institution currently employs about 1400 employees.

The Associate Vice President is responsible for:

• Employee and labor relations.
• Collaborating with the VP to build and empower a service-oriented human resources unit that meets the institution's evolving needs and ensures consistency in the application of all policies and processes.
• Fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment in alignment with all employment contracts, laws, policies, and the university's strategic plan.
• Ensuring human resources is a center of excellence in all matters relating to employee engagement.
• Providing pragmatic, legally sound, best practice counsel as a strategic partner, coach, and advisor to leaders across the university.
• Interpreting and providing expert guidance on labor contracts and practices, discipline, and grievances in compliance with collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws.
• Overseeing implementation of automated HR solutions and establishing a continuous improvement methodology for all HR related processes.
• Developing a data and analytics strategy, in collaboration with the VP/CHRO.
• Representing the university at SUNY-wide human resource meetings.
• Managing organizational changes to increase employee satisfaction and productivity.

The Associate Vice President will oversee and provide senior-level leadership for:

• Employee and labor relations.
• Learning and development initiatives that are relevant, timely, and engage the university community.
• Title IX and all human resources-related compliance related to federal, state, and local laws, as well as State University of New York (SUNY) and SUNY Empire policies.
• Human Resources Information Systems and data analysis.

Job Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive HR and/or HR leadership experience with 4 of those years in employee and labor relations.
• Demonstrated experience with HRIS platforms (e.g. PeopleSoft, Banner, Workday, or similar).
• Demonstrated knowledge of human resources management principles, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state employment laws, policies, and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or terminal degree from an accredited institution.
• Higher-education or public-sector human resources experience in a senior leadership or management role.
• Human Resources certification (e.g., Senior Professional in Human Resources® or Society for Human Resource Management-Senior Certified Professional).

Special Information:

• SUNY Empire is headquartered in Saratoga Springs, NY, and has locations in Manhattan and Rochester.
• Occasional travel may be required to fulfill department and university-wide commitments.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
• SUNY Empire provides employees with robust remote and flexible work options to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff in a dispersed work environment.

Additional Information:

Rank/Salary: Management/Confidential / $160,000.

We are pleased to offer our employees an excellent benefit package which includes NYS health insurance, free dental and vision, competitive retirement options, and generous vacation, sick and holiday accruals; and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. We also offer professional-development activities for professionals and support staff.

SUNY Empire is an AA/EEO/ADA employer. The University actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability, members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the University. SUNY Empire is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants, or other members of the university community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

SUNY Empire provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, veterans, or wounded warriors where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (518) 587-2100 ext. 2240.

In accordance with the Title II Crime Awareness and Security Act, a copy of our crime statistics is available upon request by calling (518) 587-2100, ext. 2800. It can also be viewed online at our Safety and Security website.