Director - People & Culture (Human Resources)

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open—access college. Southwest has four campuses/centers from which it offers over 100 programs and over 20 technical certificate programs.

We foster student success, transform lives, and increase the educational level of a growing community in Shelby County. Southwest is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

We invite you to become a part of the Southwest Team!

Title: Director - People & Culture (Human Resources)

Employee Classification: Other Professionals

Institution: Southwest Tennessee Community College

Department: People & Culture

Campus Location: SWTCC - Union Avenue Campus

Job Summary

The Director of People and Culture is an administrative leadership position that reports directly to the Vice President of People and Culture. This position provides operational leadership and management for all core human resources functions at Southwest Tennessee Community College, ensuring that HR practices are compliant, efficient, and service-focused in support of the College’s mission, values, and strategic planning.

The Director leads the daily operations of the People & Culture division, overseeing talent acquisition, benefits administration, classification and compensation, performance management systems, employee relations, leave administration, compliance, and records management. This position ensures the accuracy and integrity of HR processes, data, and systems, maintaining alignment with TBR policies and applicable state and federal regulations.

Serving as the operational anchor of the People & Culture division, the Director ensures consistency, accuracy, and service excellence across all HR processes. The role translates strategic initiatives into operational practice, advancing a culture of equity, accountability, and continuous improvement. The Director collaborates closely with the Vice President, senior leadership, and campus stakeholders to evaluate service delivery models, optimize HR workflows, and strengthen employee engagement and institutional effectiveness.

Job Duties

• Provide operational leadership and oversight for the daily functions of the People & Culture division, ensuring consistent, compliant, and high-quality service delivery across all areas of human resources operations.
• Lead daily human resources operations, including talent acquisition, benefits administration, classification and compensation, performance management systems, employee relations, leave administration, compliance, and records management.
• Talent Acquisition & Onboarding: Oversee full-cycle recruitment and selection processes to attract and retain top talent; collaborate with Learning and Organizational Development to ensure effective onboarding, professional development, and succession planning initiatives.
• Classification, Compensation, and Faculty HR: Manage position control, classification reviews, and salary analyses; recommend equitable and competitive compensation structures; oversee job description management and faculty-related functions, including contracts, tenure review, salary placement, and credential verification.
• Benefits, Leave, and Compliance: Administer leave programs and benefits plans; ensure legal and policy compliance; conduct internal audits and risk assessments to maintain regulatory adherence under federal, state, and TBR guidelines.
• Employee Relations and Performance Management: Address complex employee concerns and complaints with fairness, discretion, and timeliness; provide guidance on corrective actions, conflict resolution, and performance management processes that align with institutional values and policies.
• HR Information Systems (HRIS) and Data Integrity: Maintain the accuracy and security of HR data; oversee Banner and related systems; leverage analytics to inform strategic decisions, measure service effectiveness, and support strategic planning metrics.
• Leadership and Team Development: Supervise, coach, and develop members of the People & Culture team; foster a collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented culture that emphasizes customer service and continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
  
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible human re