Director of Human Resources — Human Resources Manager

Working/Functional Title

Director of Human Resources

Position Summary

The Director of Human Resources serves as the human resources leader for the College of Music and provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and consultation across all human resources functions within the College. This position partners with college leadership, faculty, staff, and university stakeholders to foster a collaborative, inclusive, service-oriented, and high-performing organizational culture that supports the mission of the College of Music.

The Director provides leadership and guidance in staffing and recruitment, employee and labor relations, compensation and payroll administration, organizational development, performance management, onboarding and offboarding, workforce planning, training and professional development, compliance with university policies, employment regulations, collective bargaining agreements and other duties as assigned. The position serves as the College’s primary human resources subject matter expert and maintains collaborative relationships with support staff performing HR-related functions across the College.

This role requires sound judgment, attention to detail, strong interpersonal and communication skills, a high degree of confidentiality, and the ability to navigate complex personnel matters   in a dynamic academic environment that includes faculty, academic staff, support staff, student employees, graduate assistants, temporary employees, and visiting artists and scholars.

Key Responsibilities

Human Resources Leadership, Personnel Administration, and Employee Relations

• Reports to the Dean of the College of Music. Maintains dual reporting relationship with shared HR and Finance support staff and collaborates with administrative units across the university.
• Plans, directs, and manages human resources operations and personnel activities for the College of Music, including exercising responsibility for the management authorization of personnel transactions for faculty, academic staff, support staff, temporary employees, graduate assistants, student employees, and on-call personnel.
• Oversees recruitment, hiring, onboarding, offboarding, employee relations, labor relations, performance management, payroll-related actions, compliance processes, and personnel documentation.
• Coordinates with Dean, College Advisory Committee, and College Finance Director on aspects of annual tenure system and fixed term faculty reviews.
• Advises leadership and supervisors on workplace concerns, corrective action, collective bargaining agreements, and organizational climate initiatives while ensuring compliance with university policies and employment regulations.
• Coordinate, review and approve transactions related to biweekly payroll for students, temp/on-call and IATSE employees.

Strategic Planning, Policy Development, and Operational Leadership

• Determines best practices and develops policies, procedures, and operational practices consistent with university standards, organizational values, and College goals.
• Partners with college leadership to support organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, succession planning, employee engagement, and change management initiatives.
• Leads HR-related process improvement initiatives and collaborates with university administrative units to enhance operational effectiveness, customer service, and organizational alignment.

Data Analysis, Compliance Knowledge, and Professional Expertise

• Maintains advanced knowledge of human resources administration, employment law, labor relations practices, ethics standards, and emerging trends in higher education HR.
• Develops reports, queries, and data analyses to support operational planning, accreditation and decision-making.
• Utilizes HR metrics, benchmarks, evidence-based research, and compliance standards to inform personnel practices, compensation processes, and strategic initiatives.
• Maintain confidential personnel records and HR-related documentation in accordance with university requirements.
• Oversee the College Performance Excellence Program and support performance evaluation processes.

Organizational Culture, Training, and Employee Development Initiatives

• Executes training initiatives, onboarding programs, professional development opportunities, and organizational learning activities designed to enhance employee satisfaction, workplace communication, and organizational culture.
• Supports Culture, Climate, and Community initiatives and assists supervisors and employees with professional growth planning and transition support.
• Lead College all-staff meetings and annual staff retreat.