The University HR Manager provides operational oversight and strategic management for core human resource functions within the institution. This role serves as a key consultant to university leadership, academic deans, and department heads, ensuring that HR initiatives align with the university's mission, values, and academic goals. The ideal candidate will effectively navigate the unique complexities of a higher education environment, managing employee relations, compliance, and talent administration across diverse staff, faculty, and student populations.

Key Responsibilities

• Policy & Consultation: Provide daily guidance and policy interpretation to university constituents regarding HR best practices, institutional regulations.

• Employee & Labor Relations: Bridge the gap between administration, faculty, and staff by addressing grievances, facilitating conflict resolution, and managing disciplinary pipelines. Oversee compliance with collective bargaining agreements if unionized groups are present.

• Talent Acquisition & Onboarding: Supervise the design and execution of recruitment pipelines tailored for academic, administrative, and student employment sectors. Ensure hiring practices promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

• Compliance & Risk Management: Guarantee total compliance and equal employment opportunity (EEO) guidelines specific to educational bodies.

• Performance & Academic Systems: Manage annual performance appraisal structures for staff and support academic review tracking mechanisms

• Process & Systems Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline processes using the university’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) like PeopleSoft or Banner.

• Data Strategy: Use data-driven metrics to report on workforce trends, retention rates, and institutional turnover patterns to support leadership decisions

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a closely related field.

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or management capacity. Prior experience working within a college, university, or public sector setting is heavily preferred.

• Technical Literacy: Proficiency with large institutional HRIS / ERP systems (e.g., Oracle PeopleSoft, Workday, or Banner). Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree: Master's degree (MBA or MA in HR / Higher Ed Administration).

• Certifications: Professional HR credentials such as SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP or PHR/SPHR.

Core Competencies

• Thorough knowledge of employment laws and federal compliance issues unique to educational systems.

• Exceptional conflict resolution, communication, and diplomatic skills to interact across various levels of academia.

• Proven ability to handle highly confidential, sensitive, and legal student/faculty matters with absolute discretion.