Director of Human Resources

As Director of Human Resources for UT Southern, the position provides advice, guidance, and direction to staff and faculty on HR issues related to compensation, employee relations, professional development, recruitment, and other HR-related matters. In addition to guiding decision-making on issues related to faculty and staff workforces, the Director is responsible for ensuring that employment practices are lawful, and that the application of human resources initiatives remain in alignment with University of Tennessee System policy. The successful candidate will work closely with the UT Southern Chancellor and senior leaders on all HR matters.

Human Resources Officer (HRO)

• Responsible for knowing and applying HR policies and procedures throughout the campus.
• Serves as the main contact for HR functions for UT Southern.
• Develops compensation packages for new hires and directs and guides compensation for new hires in collaboration with System HR guidelines.
• Serves as the lead employee relations contact at UT Southern.
• Provides advice, guidance, and direction on employee performance issues.
• Provides advice and counsel to members of the UT Southern leadership team on recruitment, hiring, and onboarding.
• Plans, organizes, and reports on pertinent data and key metrics (e.g., staffing, attrition, etc.).
• Manages the annual performance review process for UT Southern and provides guidelines to supervisors/employees.
• Serves as the lead to edit and revise UT Southern HR procedures.
• Maintains strong working relationships with UT System HR, Audit and Compliance, and the Office of General Counsel.
• Works closely with System functional partners including, but not limited to, Compensation, Talent Management, Employee Relations, and Executive and Organization Development.
• Provides guidance, knowledge transfer, and recommends development and/or coaching opportunities.
• Continues professional development to stay current on HR best practices through relevant HR organizations (CUPA-HR, SHRM, etc.)
• Serves as UTS Human Resources representative at UT System HRO meetings, work groups, and other UT meetings.

Leadership and Consultation

• Consults with the Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Chancellor, and System Chief Human Resource Officer to provide expertise and resolution for complex, sensitive HR matters for faculty and staff.
• Works in close collaboration with campus constituents to ensure understanding of human resource needs and opportunities.
• Designs and implements applicable HR tactics and programs to address evolving employee needs and ensure maximum impact.
• Provides policy and procedure interpretation and application guidance to senior leaders to drive consistent practices.
• Proactively advises senior leaders regarding potential HR concerns and recommends process and procedural changes.
• Champions employee engagement efforts and proactively advises senior leaders regarding potential concerns; recommends opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Ensures appropriate communications and information flow, particularly to changes and updates in HR practices, policies, and procedures.
• Completes special projects and assists with System HR initiatives as requested.

Functional Human Resource Duties

• Process human resource information and payroll transactions in DASH (Oracle) system including personnel, salary, and leave changes.
• Provides full cycle recruiting for staff and faculty positions including posting, sourcing, consulting, and developing diverse applicant pools.
• Performs general HR duties as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
• Minimum of 7 years of demonstrated leadership experience in human resources, including expertise in key areas such as employee relations, professional development, compensation, performance management, employee engagement, succession planning and change management; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience consulting and advising senior-level leaders in broad areas of human resources.
• Demonstrated commitment to an inclusive and collaborative leadership style that is strong in teamwork.
• Demonstrated experience dealing with highly sensitive and confidential HR issues and scenarios.
• Demonstrated history of successful collaboration with multiple constituencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in HR or a related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
• SPHR, SHRM-SCP, etc. certification
• Experience in higher education is highly desirable
• Experience in a multi-campus university system or multi-location organization is preferred
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results through partnership and influence

For full consideration, candidates should attach a cover letter addressing their interest in and qualifications for the role, resume, and list of professional references.

Salary Range: $85,000-$95,000