Department: Division Resources
Salary/Grade: EXS/10

Job Summary:

Under the oversight of the Executive Director, Business & Finance, the Director of Human Resources (HR) & Administration provides operational HR support to the Division and provides leadership and oversight in all aspects of human resources and administration.  The successful candidate must be able to perform the wide range of HR duties from employee relations, organization development/effectiveness, change management, leadership coaching & alignment to communication planning/implementation.  The director will collaborate with individuals at all levels to align HR with Student Affairs' strategic plan.
The director will function as a business partner to assure Division managers take thoughtful approaches to the management of human resources, including faculty, staff and students, and that Student Affairs' mission, vision and guiding principles are executed through the deployment of best practice human resource programs, associated systems and processes.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Identifies and leads diversity recruitment initiatives and implements plans to achieve and build a diverse Student Affairs staff. Manages all aspects of the Division's recruiting processes (e.g., posting through onboarding).  Collaborates with hiring managers to conceive, create, post openings, and create staffing/search hiring plans.. Manages searches, supporting hiring managers with candidate selection and reference checking, compensation/ salary analysis for salary setting, offer letters including any special terms, and new employee onboarding.
• Works in cooperation with members of the Student Affairs Leadership Team (SALT) to analyze and prioritize the critical challenges faced by the Division, and deploys sound, appropriate organization development and HR interventions accordingly. Consults with SALT, employees and cross-functional committees to solve complex organizational challenges. Leverages organization development skills to drive leadership alignment, organizational excellence and performance. Proactively obtains and utilizes metrics to measure success, identifies trends, analyzes systemic issues, and develops holistic solutions. Interprets and presents metrics to inform decisions (on performance, attrition, hiring, vacancy, employee engagement, etc.).
• Serves as a resource to managers in Student Affairs on employee relations issues, including but not limited to position reviews, performance management, correcting performance/discipline, leaves of absence, accommodation, etc. in partnership with NUHR as necessary. Assures compliance with other university reporting requirements such as mandated reporter, sexual misconduct training, and Conflict of Interest.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director of Business and Finance, effectively manages the budget, salary, and merit processes. Ensures the Division is accurately tracking and reporting budget to actuals in Student Affairs salary and people-related categories. Participates in budget planning representing HR / Payroll / Position / Compensation aspects of budget planning and management. Manages commitments and/or budgets related to employee hiring and/or retention, and tracks special budgetary arrangements, coordinating with other directors as needed; includes but is not limited to new hire packages, summer salary, special salary arrangements, etc. Conducts complex salary and position budgeting analysis; Collaborates with managers on initiatives and budgets in HR-related areas, such as recruitment and professional development.
• Oversees staff professional development, leadership development, and training. Promotes training to assure incoming and continuing staff have access to and are availing themselves of appropriate learning resources. Identifies and facilitates access to campus resources intended to support staff performance and development. Creates programs/materials to guide training efforts and initiatives. Collaborates with Student Affairs Assessment to evaluate program outcomes and produce annual reports.
• Liaises with NUHR and other offices as needed; represents Student Affairs on various standing and ad hoc committees and workgroups.
• Communicates regularly about programs, initiatives, policy changes, and general information. Ensures consistency and accuracy of information delivered to all employees. Proposes, designs, implements, and trains for systems improvements.
• Provides direction and training to managers who hire, process appointments, compensation, or issue non-compensation payments such as honoraria or contracted services payments, through the Payroll system or the purchasing system as applicable.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Human Resources or other related field.
• 7+ years of HR Generalist experience and/or combination of HR generalist and other HR functional experience.
• Minimum five years' experience in a complex organization with demonstrated ability to apply HR Principles, particularly in recruiting/staffing, employee relations, training, development and management practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in human resources, higher education, business administration, organization development, or related field.
• Experience in higher education administration or closely related field.
• Strong computer skills, including advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office suite. Demonstrated experience querying data, creating reports, and designing spreadsheet analyses.
• Demonstrated experience conducting program evaluation and/or assessing learning and using data to improve programs, services, or activities.
• Demonstrated experience creating training and staff development activities.
• Demonstrated experience managing compensation and merit processes.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge/experience of diversity recruitment, onboarding, and retention practices.
• Knowledge/experience with organizational development, organizational effectiveness, and change management skills.
• Displays emotional intelligence in interactions with others.
• Well-developed analytical and reasoning skills.
• Excellent communication (listening and speaking) and presentation skills are essential. 
• Demonstrated facilitation and negotiation skills.
• Ability to identify and resolve complex problems and generate alternative solutions.
• Outstanding attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative manner with faculty and staff, among diverse University constituents. 
• Strong initiative and ability to prioritize.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.