Description

Position Profile

Chief Human Resources Officer & Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources

Position Summary

The University of North Carolina Asheville invites applications and nominations for the position of associate vice chancellor for Human Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).This critical role is responsible for providing strategic, transformational leadership and administration in the development and implementation of all matters relating to human resources and human capital management.

Reporting to the vice chancellor/chief operating officer, the CHRO will be the institutional leader for the areas of human resources and equal opportunity compliance.This role will be responsible for the strategic direction and effectiveness of the University’s workforce programs and services for faculty and staff.

The University seeks candidates and nominees who bring expertise and leadership to engage employees and to foster a welcoming campus climate. The associate vice chancellor is expected to enhance the organization’s multicultural understanding and practice, create talent acquisition strategies to build strong pipelines for current and future hiring needs, and provide a variety of programs and services that support, develop, leverage, and recognize employee strengths.

The Associate Vice Chancellor will provide leadership in the areas of:

• Human Resources – strengthen alignment between the institution’s values and human resource practices, overseeing all HR functions, including Benefits, Compensation, EEO/AA, HR Information Systems, HR Policy, Employee Relations, Employee Orientation and Development, and Talent Acquisition, and Retention. Lead and execute HR strategic initiatives that are broad based with university-wide impact and implement HR strategic initiatives that promote organizational capacity, competency and salary matters. Foster a campus culture of support, engagement, and recognition. The associate vice chancellor will align HR services and technologies more closely with the strategic needs and goals of UNC Asheville.
• Equal Opportunity and Compliance – monitor, develop, and implement the University’s recruitment, hiring, and Equal Employment Opportunity policies and procedures, ensuring the University’s compliance with related state and federal laws, and university policies, regulations, and rules. Promote activities and training that arise from the University’s commitment to foster equitable treatment to employees and students and its obligation to comply with employment laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title IX, Title VII, and other related state and federal laws and regulations.

The associate vice chancellor will develop, implement, coordinate, and evaluate Human Resources strategies, policies, programs, and procedures and oversee HR functions and the HR team in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the University.

Required MinimumQualifications

• Master’s degree.May also consider a Bachelor’s degree and significant equivalent experience. 
• Minimum of seven years of leadership experience in higher education or comparable environment.
• Deep knowledge of Human Resource functions, including applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Ethical and clear communication, open interpersonal and team building skills.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in complex environments.
• Career history that shows progressively increasing responsibility in Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Compliance related fields.
• A visionary, strategic, and inclusive leader committed to the highest standards of integrity, problem solving and communication.
• Proven leadership abilities to establish department/division goals, and motivate and influence others to achieve. Strong supervisory skills to maintain an effective staff.
• Expert and current working knowledge of applicable laws pertaining to Title VII, Title IX, ADA and related state and federal laws.
• Commitment to university-wide leadership.
• Advanced written, verbal, and presentation skills to influence and facilitate sustainable and collegial cultural change and shared governance.

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Management, I/O Psychology, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• The successful candidate will be dynamic, energetic, creative, and engaging.
• The AVC will demonstrate a commitment to the highest ethical standards and demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, use responsible and ethical independent judgment, employ problem-solving and conflict resolution strategies, and work collaboratively with different constituencies in a diverse and dynamic university community.
• The ability to respond in a professional manner and perform effectively in high pressure situations.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills and demonstrated ability to promote collaboration among departments.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Strong supervisory and team building skills.
• A curious mindset and approach.
• Knowledge of current key issues in higher education including workforce strategy and optimization.
• The successful candidate will possess expert skills in negotiation, and conflict resolution to advise and handle confidential, difficult, and/or sensitive situations. The ability to implement and interpret broad personnel policies, applicable laws and regulations will be needed. The candidate should be collaborative and service- focused and be able to communicate effectively with diverse constituents.

As UNC Asheville’s Chief Human Resources Officer the Associate Vice Chancellor serves as a strategic partner to the Vice Chancellor/Chief Operating Officer, and provides guidance and support to the senior leadership team and other campus leadership constituents.

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources is a key thought leader with a strategic mindset who serves as a trusted advisor and partner to lead human resources initiatives that support the overall mission and strategic direction of the university. As the Chief Human Resources Officer, the associate vice chancellor is focused on continuous service improvement and operational excellence. 

Responsibilities include:

Human Resources Strategy and Operations (60%)

The Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) leads the Office of Human Resources and provides strategic and day-to-day oversight for all core human resource functions. The AVC contributes to the overall mission, vision, and strategic priorities of the institution related to talent acquisition and retention.

• Plans, leads, develops, coordinates, and implements policies, processes, training, and initiatives, to support the organization’s human resource compliance and strategy needs.
• Oversees the administration of human resource programs including, but not limited to recruitment and retention; compensation and job classification; benefits and leave; employee relations; dispute resolution and investigations; performance and talent management; employee recognition; HR information systems; and training and development.
• Develops and executes best practices for hiring and talent management, including building strong pipelines for current and future hiring needs and professional development programs for employees that supports succession planning.
• Monitors and ensures the university’s compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and recommends best practices; reviews and modifies policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources and employment law; applies this knowledge to communicate changes in policy, practice, and resources to senior leadership and campus wide.
• Develops and manages departmental budget.
• Collaborates with UNC System Human Resources leadership and participates as an active member of the UNC HR Council.
• Facilitates professional development and training activities for HR staff.

Equal Opportunity / Equity & Inclusion (40%)

The AVC promotes equal opportunities and engagement opportunities for faculty and staff. 

• Promote best practices and strategies to build and sustain a diverse, inclusive, and equitable campus community.
• Promote activities and training that arise from the University’s commitment to foster equitable treatment to employees and students and its obligation to comply with employment laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title IX, Title VII, and other related state and federal laws and regulations
• As the Affirmative Action Officer,
• Proactively review policies and practices to assure that decisions with respect to every dimension of employment are made without regard to age, race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected groups and classes under Federal and State laws and executive orders.

• Provide leadership for the Office of Institutional Equity and collaborate with campus constituents to vision, plan, and implement university-level approaches to addressing equal opportunity and non-discrimination issues.

The AVC will also be responsible for other duties as assigned.

The position will lead and supervise the following employees:

• Director of Human Resources
• Associate Director of Employment and Benefits
• HR Specialist - Benefits
• HR Specialist – Recruiting and Onboarding
• Student Employment / Temp Employment Coordinator
• o Associate Director of Classification and Compensation
• HR Specialist – Class and Compensation
• HR Systems Specialist
• HR Generalist
• Director of Employee Relations (vacant)
• Director of Institutional Equity
• o Director of the Center for Diversity Education

How to apply:

For priority consideration, please provide (1) a letter of interest, and (2) resume, by April 14, 2023, to uncaexecutivesearch@northcarolina.edu. This position will be open until it is filled. Please direct nominations and questions or concerns regarding the search and/or application process to Anne Schwarz, Director, Executive Search and Leadership Programs at acschwarz@northcarolina.edu.Please note a criminal background and reference checks will be conducted on the candidate finalist prior to the offer of employment.

UNC Asheville is committed to equality and diversity of experiences for our students, applicants, and employees. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply, and UNC Asheville is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate against applicants and employees on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, genetic information, and any other legally protected status with respect to all terms, conditions, and privileges of university-sponsored activities, employment, and the use of university facilities.

Requirements

• Master’s degree. May also consider a Bachelor’s degree and significant equivalent experience.
• Minimum of seven years of leadership experience in higher education or comparable environment.
• Deep knowledge of Human Resource functions, including applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Ethical and clear communication, open interpersonal and team building skills.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in complex environments.
• Career history that shows progressively increasing responsibility in Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Compliance related fields.
• A visionary, strategic, and inclusive leader committed to the highest standards of integrity, problem solving and communication.
• Proven leadership abilities to establish department/division goals, and motivate and influence others to achieve. Strong supervisory skills to maintain an effective staff.
• Current working knowledge of applicable laws pertaining to Title VII, Title IX, ADA and related state and federal laws.
• Commitment to university-wide leadership.
• Advanced written, verbal, and presentation skills to influence and facilitate sustainable and collegial cultural change and shared governance.