Director of Human Resources for Student Affairs

Job Description

Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, Virginia Tech is a top 25 public research university. Under the leadership of a dynamic President, the University is growing in Blacksburg as well as expanding its presence across the commonwealth, most notably the Health Science and Technology campus in Roanoke and our presence in the Greater Washington D.C., area.

As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and a leading research institution, Virginia Tech manages a research portfolio of approximately $500 million. The university fulfills its role as a land-grant institution by fostering a collaborative environment that integrates technology into all disciplines, so that the Virginia Tech community can serve as a force for positive change around the commonwealth, the country, and the world.

Student Affairs at Virginia Tech employs approximately 1000 faculty and staff and 2500 undergraduate and graduate students. We are made up of nearly 25 departments including, but not limited to: housing, residential well-being, dining services, student conduct, health and counseling centers, student engagement and campus life, dean of students, assessment and professional development, communications, information technology, and more. The division is made up of employees from all classifications and a variety of expertise and educational backgrounds.

We seek candidates who adopt and practice the Principles of Community, which are fundamental to the institution's ongoing efforts to increase access, and to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members. Virginia Tech is seeking an accomplished and visionary human resources professional to serve as director of human resources for Student Affairs. This position will report jointly to the assistant vice president for HR consulting and strategic services within the Division of Human Resources and the assistant vice president for administration within Student Affairs. Working as part of both the larger HR organization and the division administration, the HR director will align and execute unit-based HR strategy with the university’s mission and strategy.

The incumbent will be responsible for advancing the strategic priorities of workforce development in Student Affairs. Specific responsibilities include oversight of Student Affairs recruiting, hiring and onboarding activities, training programs, performance management, compensation strategies, employee relations, workforce planning and staffing assessment, recruiting, retention planning, and succession planning. This individual will serve as the key strategy collaborator with the vice president while serving as a member of both the division leadership team and the Division of Human Resources leadership team.

To carry out these responsibilities, the incumbent must be proactive, a strategic thinker, able to understand the critical importance of planning and program delivery, able to successfully balance competing values, and able to align recommendations and actions with the strategies of the university. Success in this position will rely heavily on awareness of the culture and environment of Student Affairs, the university, and the Division of Human Resources. This will be enabled by developing strong relationships across campus and fostering respectful communications and collaborations within a community of faculty, staff, and students.

Given the joint reporting relationship, the incumbent must manage potentially conflicting interests, possess strong organizational skills, plan and schedule individual work and team work, set priorities, and independently manage multiple projects and deadlines. The HR Director for Student Affairs leads a central student affairs team of eight HR professionals. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record in building strong relationships with a diverse group of individuals within a collaborative and collegial environment.

Required Qualifications

• Related bachelor’s degree with significant related experience in a professional human resources role
• Recent progressive and consultative HR experience in a complex organization, including experience providing forward-facing strategic recommendations, working with senior leadership, and influencing and managing people and projects through direct and indirect supervisory roles
• Increasing levels of responsibility to include a broad HR Generalist background with experience in multiple disciplines such as employee relations, talent acquisition, talent management, talent development, performance management, compensation, and more
• Experience working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment with quickly shifting priorities
• Strong interpersonal communications skills
• Ability to maintain discretion and the highest ethical and professional standards while managing confidential information
• Management level experience delivering HR services
• Demonstrated supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in human resources, management, or related field
• Related HR certification such as SHRM-SCP or SPHR
• Significant and increasing levels of HR responsibility within higher education