Associate Director, HR Business Partners

Department: Office of Human Resources
Salary/Grade: EXS/13

Job Summary

The Associate Director, HR Business Partners (HRBPs), will serve as the lead HRBP for a large and complex in Northwestern University school. The Associate Director will work closely with the school's senior leadership team and play a key role in collaborating with the Office of Human Resources (OHR) centers of excellence to drive HR strategy that is aligned with the school's broader mission and goals.

In this hands-on leadership position, the Associate Director will support a portfolio of the school's departments and will be responsible for managing a team of 2-3 Sr. HRBPs who also support the school's various departments. The Associate Director will work closely with clients and direct reports on escalated and complex employee relations matters, including but not limited to, performance management, employee complaints, termination requests, reviewing organizational restructures, position eliminations, etc.

The Associate Director will collaborate with the school's leadership on HR initiatives. They will be responsible for ensuring that HRBPs are regularly collaborating and coordinating with talent acquisition and compensation in support of their clients' HR strategies.

The Associate Director will report to the Director, HR Business Partners. They will serve as deputy to the director and will lead assigned special projects and objectives that will impact HRBP work, OHR, and Northwestern employees and managers.

This is a hybrid position that is primarily based on our Chicago Campus with expectation to work form the Evanston Campus periodically (approximately 3 days per month)

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Strategic HR Partnership

• Partner with the school's senior leadership to develop and execute HR strategies designed to support the business goals and initiatives.
• Regularly review, analyze and share relevant HR data to senior leaders; identify trends and make recommendations for the school; determine how HRBPs can leverage data for the departments they support
• Collaborate with talent acquisition, compensation, talent development, DEIB, and other HR centers of excellence to drive retention and succession planning strategy to build a strong and diverse workforce.
• Support efforts to identify skill gaps, workforce needs, and professional development opportunities within the school.
• Partner with talent development and school leadership to support leadership development programs, coaching initiatives, and employee engagement.
• Act as a trusted advisor during periods of organizational change, helping school leadership manage transitions and maintain employee morale.
• Partner with school leadership to drive initiatives that foster a positive work culture and improve employee engagement across the school.
• Analyze employee feedback and provide recommendations to senior leadership on improving workplace satisfaction and efficiency.

Employee & Labor Relations

• As the subject matter expert for employee relations, will serve as the primary point of contact for client departments and direct reports as the escalation point to address and resolve complex employee relations challenges in a timely and effective manner, including, but not limited to, workplace investigations, performance management, complicated leave matters, restructures, etc.
• Will serve as initial reviewer and approver for school termination and position elimination justifications, in consultation with the Director, HR Business Partners, for escalated matters
• Work closely with the school Dean's office and Faculty Affairs in cases where Faculty members are involved
• Identify and communicate trends, high profile, or particularly sensitive employee matters to school leadership and Director, HR Business Partners
• Maintain compliance with university policies and legal regulations while handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Maintain understanding of applicable collective bargaining agreements and provide labor relations advice and guidance as appropriate

Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise, mentor, and support a team of 2-3 HR Business Partners to effectively deliver HR services across the school.
• Provide professional development, coaching, and guidance to HRBP team members to enhance performance and ensure high levels of employee engagement.
• Serve as deputy to the Director, HR Business Partners, and lead assigned special projects and objectives that will impact HRBP work, the Office of Human Resources and the Northwestern community
• May represent the HRBPs or OHR on committees or collaborative working groups across the Northwestern organization.
• Consistently evaluate the school's HRBP client alignment and monitor HRBP workloads to ensure each department is receiving the right combination of strategic and employee relations support.

*Will perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years in a HR leadership position or a senior level HRBP role supporting a complex organization, preferably in an academic or research institution
• Proven experience independently managing complex employee and labor relations issues, including, but not limited to, leading workplace investigations, leave management, performance management, progressive discipline, etc
• Proven experience working with leaders to develop and implement HR strategies that support business goals and initiatives
• Functional understanding of the various HR centers of excellence
• Demonstrated understanding of federal and state employment laws

Skills and Abilities:

• Functionally deep knowledge of HR best practices, labor laws, and compliance requirements
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships with all levels of staff and leadership
• Ability to analyze complex situations and provide thoughtful, solution-oriented recommendations
• Strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence others, particularly in a fast-paced and dynamic academic setting

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field
• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR or PHR)
  
  

Target hiring range for this position will be between $140,000 - $150,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.