Human Resources Director

Job Description

The College of the Environment Dean's Office is currently searching for a talented Human Resources Director to join our team.

The Human Resources Director provides strategic human resources leadership, oversight, and consultation to leadership, faculty and staff of the College of the Environment in all matters related to human resources. The HR Director interprets and guides compliance with UW Faculty Code, Executive Orders, Administrative Policy Statements, UW staff and academic HR policies and College policies, as well as federal and state regulations and employment laws. The Human Resources Director will also bring a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to their consultation practice to help clients foster inclusive and equitable workplaces. This Director oversees successful human resources operations across the College and is the primary liaison for the College to UWHR and related offices. Lastly, this position oversees the development and operations of ENV HR Shared Services, a centralized resource support to ENV units.

This role is responsible for guiding and overseeing both staff and faculty HR operations and compliance throughout 14 units and the Dean's office. The Director is a representative of the Dean and of the College, and in that role makes decisions about and provides advice on complex faculty, staff, and organizational issues affecting the employment and livelihoods of 2,000+ employees. The Director uses professional judgment to formulate intelligent and creative solutions to challenging situations that meet workplace needs while adhering to University policies and procedures, and relevant rules, regulations, and employment laws. The HR Director must be highly effective at working with many different individuals with varied interests and goals and at different professional levels, including the Dean, Associate Deans, unit Chairs and Directors, Administrators, postdoctoral scholars, staff and faculty members, and central HR and administrative offices' staff.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Human Resources Management and Leadership: (30%)

• Provide consultation, mentorship, and leadership to College staff and faculty charged with human resources management across the employment life cycle and human resources spectrum, including: recruitment, hiring, performance, termination, compensation, retention, engagement, benefits, leave, accommodations, performance management, layoffs, dismissals, labor relations, diversity and inclusion, training and development, ethics, communication, records management, and risk management.

• Collaborate with Dean, Associate Dean, and others to develop and implement College-wide human resources policies and practices that support the College's strategic goals and objectives and improve organizational culture. Contribute to other College policies with human resources impacts.

• Interpret and ensure compliance with College and UW human resources policies and procedures, local, state and federal employment laws and industry best practices.

• Represent the Dean's Office and College of the Environment as primary HR point of contact to UW Campus HR Operations. Facilitate problem resolution between units and these offices, and interpret and share information from and to these offices.

• Review and approve College-wide human resources actions by delegation of the Dean. Hold Dean's Delegate, Additional Approver, HR Partner, Academic Partner, and UW Hires Hiring Manager roles in Workday.

• Oversee leave administration, providing guidance on leave use and parameters, and return to work plans.

• Partner with Director of Finance and unit Administrators to prepare for and implement annual faculty and professional staff merit salary increase process.

• Build out operations of HR Shared Services in the Dean's Office. Work closely with HR Shared Services Specialists, IT Director, and others to establish, stabilize, and improve processes and systems to enable successful shared services HR work on behalf of units.

Academic Human Resources Administration: (25%)

• Collaborate with Associate Dean to interpret and guide unit, Dean's Office, and College Council compliance with UW Faculty Code for faculty appointments, promotion and tenure, voting, professional conduct, reappointments, merit reviews and other salary changes, etc.

• Serve as primary point of contact for Academic Human Resources, Office of Academic Personnel, and unit staff on academic personnel matters. Provide consultation and mentorship to department staff and Chairs/Directors on academic personnel topics, including faculty performance issues. Liaise between parties to provide information and facilitate solutions to problems. Oversee academic personnel data audits and submissions for entire College.

• Oversee the promotion and tenure process (including extensions), sabbatical applications, and reappointments; provide advice and guidance to Chairs/Directors, staff and faculty members on these processes.

• Review and approve new faculty hire offer letters, administrative appointment offers, and retention offers (A/B and regular); negotiate for university resources as necessary with other offices; work closely with Dean's Office team and unit staff to coordinate all aspects of offers from conception through completion.

• Oversee submission and tracking of faculty hiring plans, job advertisement review and approval, visa applications, outside work requests, and endowed faculty appointment nomination process.

• Oversee postdoctoral scholar appointment process, including disseminating, advising, and enforcing requirements under the collective bargaining agreement.

Staff Human Resources Administration, including for the College's Office of the Dean: (25%)

• Utilize knowledge of UW's professional and classified staff classification and compensation practices and rules to inform the College's staff hiring practices, position reviews, reorganizations, and compensation changes. Help supervisors achieve organizational goals in alignment with employment laws, UW employment policies and collective bargaining agreements.

• Advise supervisors on employee retention and total rewards options based on research and consideration of pay equity, compression, market factors, and candidate record.

• Advise supervisors and employees on confidential and often stressful personnel concerns and conflicts. Support and guide supervisors through performance reviews and disciplinary actions, including letters of expectation, corrective actions, layoffs and dismissals. Help employees and supervisors understand their options as outlined in labor contracts and the professional staff program, and work to resolve conflicts.

• Consult with supervisors and unit HR staff on position development, recruitment, and negotiation strategies.

• Consult with unit leadership and UW Human Resources to ensure layoffs are necessary and appropriate. Review all layoff requests and manage layoff process to ensure timely notification.

Personnel Management: (20%)

• Supervise Human Resources team in the Dean's Office.

• Assign and prioritize work to optimize efficiency and responsiveness.

• Review work and provide direction and correction as necessary. Help employees solve problems with people, process, and technical issues.

• Coach and mentor to facilitate professional growth in university human resources management. Cross-train to ensure back-up coverage is in place and so employees have additional learning opportunities. Seek out professional development opportunities and support participation.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, business, or other related field.

• Five or more years of human resources management experience, including both staff and academic human resources in a university setting.

Additional Qualifications:

• Direct knowledge of and experience with major human resources functions and their administration at a university, e.g., workforce planning, recruitment and retention, compensation, employee and labor relations, employment law, and diversity and inclusion.

• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across the College and University.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with diverse individuals at many levels across a complex, multi-department organization. Able to interpret and communicate complicated and evolving policies and procedures to provide actionable advice.

• Ability to exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, demonstrate good judgment, build trust, and work collaboratively with others as both leader and team member.

• Proven self-motivation, resourcefulness, curiosity, tenacity, and problem solving ability. Willingness and desire to learn and to facilitate learning and growth of others.

• Ability to work independently, self-organize, meet deadlines, and multi-task with a high degree of reliability, accuracy and efficiency.

Desired Qualifications:

• Current SHRM or SPHR certification.

• Knowledge of and proficiency in University of Washington human resources policies and procedures for both faculty and staff employee populations.

• Knowledge of and proficiency in Workday for HCM transactions and HRIS data extraction and analysis.

• Experience leading and managing others through institutional changes and transitions.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$87,000.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$130,488.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at or  

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law. 

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