Career Center

Job Description:

• Reporting to the Senior Director of Administration, the Director of Human Resources leads UCPEâ™s HR function and supports the leadership and staff through a broad spectrum of HR services, including performance management, employee relations, policy interpretation, workforce planning and staffing, and staff development.
• Ensures UCPE leaders have the resources needed to support their staff and create long-term employee satisfaction and engagement.
• Provides leadership in recruiting and retaining a diverse staff and fostering a workplace that centers diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Serves on the Unitâ™s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
• Ensures compliance with University Human Resources policies and standards and all relevant employment laws. Advises and counsels Unit leadership on federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Keeps abreast of changes affecting human resources and assumes an active leadership and advocacy role within the field.
• Develops human resources operational policies, procedures, and workflows and oversees their implementation.
• Represents the Unitâ™s human resource needs to central University HR and other University administrative units.
• Participates in University-wide human resource initiatives, committees, and task forces.
• Maintains professional networks and collaborative relationships with other human resource directors.
• Hires, trains, evaluates, and oversees the Unitâ™s HR staffâ™s work and provides leadership for the HR team.
• Leads staffing efforts through workforce planning and talent acquisition phases, ensuring a successful hire and an excellent candidate experience.
• Oversees staff recruitment processes and guides clerical, exempt, and non-exempt searches.
• Works to cultivate and support a diverse, inclusive workforce and creates equal employment opportunities for underrepresented groups. Ensures that all recruitment adheres to the Universityâ™s EEO/affirmative action policies and best practices.
• In partnership with the Office of the Provost and The Graham School for Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies, manages recruitment, appointment, and promotion processes for instructional staff.
• Partners with administrative leaders on facilitating the employee performance management process from goal setting to compensation and merit review.
• Guides managers and leaders on performance management and workforce success by coaching, counseling, and offering career development solutions.
• Responsible for all staff classification and compensation activities, including development, review, and maintenance of staff job descriptions and classification of positions.
• Works collaboratively with Unit staff to provide professional development and training programs.
• Coordinates and monitors professional development programs and works to ensure their success.
• Assists Unit managers and staff in understanding basic employment law and University policies and procedures.
• Represents the Unit in all labor and employee relations matters, including grievances, complaints, and legal issues. Works with the appropriate University office (Legal Counsel, Employee and Labor Relations) and external offices (union representatives) to coordinate effective handling of dispute resolutions.
• Leads and supports supervisors through disciplinary procedures, including coaching and other corrective action activities, and assists managers and staff in resolving personnel issues while ensuring compliance with guidelines and laws.
• Monitors trends and implements solutions that prevent employee relations concerns. 
• Guides staff hiring processes, including developing job descriptions, interviewing and reference checking, handling employment offers, and conducting orientation. Creates templates and drafts offer letters. Maintains appropriate human resources data and records, solving a range of problems using best practices.
• Manages operations for the HR team and supervises one or more full-time staff members.
• Provides expertise and oversight for HR functions, including recruitment, employee and labor relations, policy interpretation, compensation, payroll, orientation, staffing changes, performance management, and organizational development and training.
• Manages the leave administration process for Unit staff.
• Supports Unit-wide diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Has a deep understanding of the Unit's employee/labor relations efforts, including handling grievances, disciplinary warnings, and employee complaints.
• Stays abreast of federal, state and local employment laws and regulations and may advise unit management and professional staff in matters relating.
• Ensures and may help develop short- and long-term human resources plans and operational policies for a unit. Develops and administers the HR budget for the unit and manages expenses.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Masterâ™s degree in related field.

 

Experience:

• Five years of human resources leadership experience.
• Broad experience in multiple HR functions.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of principles, methods, and tools of diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience in managing staff professional development programs.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively training and teaching others.
• Successful management and supervisory experience.
• Experience in an academic setting.
• Working in HR at the University of Chicago and a solid understanding of its administrative landscape.
• Experience with academic hiring.
• Serving as a strategic HR partner with organizational leadership.
• Experience with planning and assessment.

 

Certifications:

• PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrates proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and Outlook.
• Demonstrates experience working with human resources information systems (HRIS) and applicant tracking systems.
• Experience with Workday HRIS.
• Experience using meeting software and applications such as Zoom, Skype, etc.
• Working knowledge of relevant federal, state, and municipal employment laws and regulations (including those related to EEO/AA; FLSA; FMLA; ADA; and OSHA).

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrates critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with individuals from diverse backgrounds and at various levels of the organization.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build cooperative, effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders both on- and off-campus.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail and accuracy. Demonstrates effective facilitation, negotiation, and mediation skills.
• Commitment to customer-focused service and a record of effective leadership in developing and implementing new programs.
• Handle sensitive information, exercise discretion, and maintain confidentiality.
• Exercise diplomacy and interact with constituents with integrity, tact, and professionalism.
• Counsel and advise various constituents in HR matters and effectively manage through others, influence, and collaboration.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via the Applicant Inquiry Form.

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