Program Manager - Recruitment & Onboarding

The Program Manager – Recruitment and Onboarding is part of the Vanderbilt University Public Safety Department at Vanderbilt University and is a manager responsible for designing, implementing, and managing strategic recruitment and onboarding programs that attract top talent and ensure a seamless transition for new hires. This role collaborates across departments to enhance candidate experience, streamline hiring processes, and foster employee engagement from day one. 

Reporting directly to the Director, HR Administration, this role will coordinate and attend hiring events locally and out-of-state to recruit top talent for non-sworn and sworn positions. 

This position is fully in office and does not provide a hybrid schedule.  This position requires you to be on campus Monday–Friday.

About the Work Unit:

Vanderbilt University Public Safety (VUPS) is led by the Office of the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor/Chief of Police in the Division of Administration. VUPS is a dedicated team of over 400 professionals united by a shared commitment to fostering a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all in the Vanderbilt community, as well as the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Organized into several specialized units, our department includes commissioned officers, security professionals, and skilled administrative staff—all working collaboratively to uphold the highest standards of community-based policing.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Serve as the lead of the VUPS Recruitment team for sworn and non-sworn roles. 
• Develop and implement recruitment strategies aligned with VUPS organizational goals.
• Partner with hiring managers to define job requirements and candidate profiles.
• Create job postings and work with the university’s talent acquisition team on recruitment marketing efforts. 
• Coordinate the interviewing process, including the required pre-employment assessments for sworn and non-sworn positions, and ensure compliance with hiring policies.
• Coordinate the VUPS onboarding program, working closely with the Training and VUPS-IT teams to support new hire integration.
• Coordinate cross-functional onboarding activities, including IT setup, training schedules, and orientation sessions with the Training and VUPS-IT teams.
• Ensure 
• Monitor onboarding effectiveness through feedback and performance metrics.
• Continuously improve onboarding processes to enhance employee experience and retention.
• Provide training and support to hiring managers on recruitment and onboarding best practices.
• Assist with the accreditation process for the VUPS-HR Department. 

• Initiate HR transactions in Oracle as needed.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure recruitment and onboarding practices comply with legal and organizational standards.
• Maintain accurate records and generate reports on hiring and onboarding activities.
• Stay current with employment laws, trends, and best practices.

Education and Certifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field is required. 

• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record. 

  • Vanderbilt University engages a third party to provide up-to-date notifications regarding negative changes to motor vehicle records.

Experience and Skills:

• 5 or more years of experience in recruitment, onboarding, or HR program management.
• Strong project management and organizational skills are required.

• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills. 

• Proficiency in HRIS and applicant tracking systems is highly preferred.

• Strong knowledge of MS Word,