Senior Human Resources Business Partner

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Working Title:

Senior Human Resources Business Partner

Institution:

Minnesota State University, Moorhead

Classification Title:

Human Resources Specialist 2

Bargaining Unit / Union:

217: Commissioner's Plan - Confidential

City:

Moorhead

FLSA:

Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Classified - Unlimited

Salary Range:

$28.26 - $41.43

Position Purpose

The Senior HR Business Partner plays a strategic and mission‑critical role in advancing Minnesota State Moorhead’s commitment to Academic Relevance, Student Experience, Regional Engagement, and Investment in Place. Serving as a trusted advisor to university leaders, this position provides senior‑level human resources expertise in classification, compensation, employee and labor relations, staffing, recruitment, and ADA employment compliance.

Working in a dynamic higher‑education setting, the Senior HR Business Partner partners across campus to align workforce practices with the university’s academic mission and evolving institutional priorities. This role supports academic relevance by ensuring positions are thoughtfully designed, properly classified, and competitively compensated to attract and retain exceptional talent. Through inclusive recruitment and equitable employment practices, the position directly enhances the student experience by supporting a stable, engaged, and well‑supported workforce.

The role also advances regional engagement by ensuring compliance with public sector labor agreements, employment laws, and systemwide policies, while fostering strong relationships with campus colleagues, union partners, and system‑level stakeholders. As part of Moorhead’s long‑term investment in place, the Senior HR Business Partner helps build organizational capacity, supports succession and workforce planning, and contributes to a healthy workplace culture that serves both current employees and future generations.

Responsibilities

Classification and Compensation: 

This position provides strategic leadership in classification and compensation, working closely with the Director of HR to align workforce strategies with institutional goals. The position advises managers on complex classification issues, including job design, supervisory designations, bargaining unit assignments, and confidential status. The incumbent leads classification audits and studies at the university level, evaluates new and existing positions, and represents MSUM in campus and system-level evaluation committees. The Senior HRBP will be expected to hold appropriate delegated authority for compensation and classification at the campus level.  

In partnership with the Director of HR, the Senior HRBP develops and implements compensation strategies that ensure internal equity and market competitiveness. This includes salary placement recommendations, market-based pay analysis, and support for collective bargaining through salary equity reviews and cost projections. The role also advises on merit, progression, and out-of-class pay increases, and manages tenure and promotion salary reviews, honorarium payments, and additional compensation processes. 

The Senior HRBP maintains a university-wide compensation database, ensuring consistent salary step placements, and leads key HR initiatives such as fiscal year roll processes and contract implementations. Acting as a liaison with the MinnState System Office, the role resolves classification and compensation issues and contributes to system-wide improvements in job evaluation practices, supporting data-driven decision-making at the highest levels.

Employee & Labor Relations:  

​​Provides employee and labor relations counsel and expertise for employees, supervisors, and Administration to ensure understanding of and compliance with employment laws and regulations, University and Minnesota State system policies, and bargaining agreements and plans. Coaches and trains supervisors on their responsibilities related to talent management & performance management such as drafting letters of expectation or performance improvement plans. Conducts employment investigations into allegations of misconduct to ensure timely and fair resolution of complaints and compliance with state and federal statutes, collective bargaining agreements, and Minnesota State Board of Trustees policies and procedures. Makes recommendations to Administration for appropriate action in all incidents that lead to disciplinary action, termination, or performance management and coaching. Research and prepare documentation on grievances as a