Senior HR Business Partner Academic

Organizational Summary:

Central HR consists of multiple areas of expertise including Talent Acquisition, Benefits, Classification & Compensation; Employee and Labor Relations; Continuous Process Improvement, HRIS, HR Business Partners and Talent and Learning Management. USF Human Resources is embarking on a multi-year transformation focused on a Human Resources strategy that elevates our people so that the University and culture support a competitive workforce advantage in line with our strategic plan.

Primary Purpose:

The Academic Sr. HR Business Partner plans, assigns, and supervises work within the academic unit. The Academic Sr. HR Business Partner plays a key role in implementing the Central Human Resources (CHR) strategic plan and programs in support of short-term and long-term goals with the overall goal of retaining and developing talent. This position may be responsible for the leadership and supervision of the respective HRBP Is and HRBP IIs.

Primary Job Duties:

• Develops a thorough knowledge and understanding of the assigned academic units to understand their culture, needs, skills, and development opportunities.
• Works both independently and collaboratively to provide a broad range of services and data- driven, impactful solutions that strengthen organizational, leadership and staff capabilities for the academic units.
• Partners with leadership to develop talent strategies to support the culture, needs and continuous development of employees.
• Handles complex employee relations issues in partnership with Employee Relations and refers more high-risk issues to higher-level staff as needed; supports employee relations, ethics, or compliance investigations.
• Supports the direction of the Executive HRBP by leading and supervising a team of HRBP Is and HRBP IIs; managing the workflow for the team.
• Monitors overall HR strategies, systems, tactics, and procedures across the academic HR pod; Provides recommendations and solutions, as necessary.
• Assesses training and development needs for the team and coordinates training, as needed. Manages performance management processes for all assigned employees; strategizes with leadership and makes recommendations.
• Partners across CHR to resolve issues and respond appropriately to leadership and employees.
• Provides consultative and strategic support for performance management, compensation and classification, recruitment and staffing, training and development, and other applicable areas.
• Participates in special projects to promote, support, strengthen and expand strategic roles and partnerships.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree and 6 or more years of related experience, or
• Master's degree in related field and 4 years of HR experience.
• 4 years of HR related experience or a combination of education and experience may substitute for the bachelor's degree."

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of HR systems and databases.
• Ability to foster teamwork.
• Ability to drive strategic direction.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships.
  Leadership skills.

Working Conditions:

• Environment – Typical indoor environment
• Physical Requirements – climbing, standing, sitting, and typing; Ability to lift up to 20lbs as needed.
• Travel – Ability to travel to other USF campuses and/or other locations as requested.

Acknowledgement:

While the primary job duties and responsibilities have been included, this job description is not designed nor meant to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities or responsibilities. This does not preclude the assignment of additional or developmental duties, special projects, or the scope of the position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may temporarily or permanently change at any time with or without notice.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at .

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws :

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.