Senior Director, Human Resources

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is seeking experienced, motivated, and dedicated leaders and educators to participate in the design and delivery of an innovative four-year medical school curriculum that engages medical students in active and novel learning.

Job Description:

About Us

Founded in 2021, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is a nonprofit, four-year MD program enhancing traditional medical education with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles. The School’s culture embraces self-care to empower students to care for their own well-being as well as their patients’. The School’s state-of-the-art medical education facility is under construction in Bentonville, Arkansas on the Crystal Bridges campus, home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. The School has been granted preliminary accreditation status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

About The Position

The Senior Director of Human Resources is a key member of the leadership team at the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM). This person is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of human resources strategies that align with the medical school’s goals and values. This position leads a team of HR professionals and collaborates with senior leadership of the medical school, and leadership of Art & Wellness Enterprise to drive a high-performance culture, talent management, organizational development, and employee engagement across the organization. The Senior Director serves as a strategic partner, advising on HR-related matters and ensuring that HR practices support the organization's growth, retention, and overall success.

Major Responsibilities/Essential Functions Specific to The Position:

Strategic Leadership & HR Strategy Development

• Develop and execute HR strategies that align with the medical school’s objectives and priorities.
• Partner with senior leadership to define medical school’s goals and ensure HR strategies are in alignment to drive business outcomes.
• Lead HR transformation initiatives to foster an agile, performance-driven, and inclusive culture.
• Provide strategic counsel and recommendations to executive leadership, and faculty leadership on critical HR issues.

Talent Management & Development

• Oversee succession planning, leadership development, and employee training initiatives to nurture high-potential employees and build leadership pipelines.
• Oversee, implement performance management frameworks and talent reviews that support employee growth and organizational success.
• Lead, design, and develop compensation plans for staff and faculty.
• Oversee and address organizational development.
• Drive employee engagement and retention initiatives, focusing on creating a positive and productive work environment.

Employee Relations & Organizational Culture

• Partner with AWE People Services for Employee Relations & Labor policy and activity. Serve as a trusted advisor on employee relations issues, ensuring compliance with labor laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and respectful organizational culture that promotes high levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Serve as key liaison with legal counsel on human resource related matters.
• Develop and launch employee and labor relations unit within AWSOM.

Operational Excellence & HR Systems

• Oversee the development and implementation of HR programs, processes, and systems to improve operational efficiency.
• Analyze HR metrics and data to make informed decisions and continuously improve HR programs.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of HR professionals, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and performance expectations.
• Build a high-performance HR team that is responsive to the needs of the business and fosters a collaborative, solution-oriented approach.
• Foster strong relationships with Faculty Affairs & Development.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required
• MBA or advanced HR certification (e.g., SPHR, SHRM-SCP) preferred.

Required Work Experience and Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Human Resources, with at least 5 years in a senior director or executive-level HR position.
• Medical School / Academic Medicine/ Healthcare related expertise preferred: Leverage knowledge of academic HR practices to address