Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Culture Officer

Chicago State University

Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Culture Officer

Chicago State University (CSU), the oldest public university in the Chicago metropolitan area, seeks an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as the associate vice president of human resources and chief culture officer (AVP). The AVP will lead strategic collaborations that drive HR effectiveness in support of the University’s mission and vision.

The associate vice president of human resources and chief culture officer will be responsible for reimagining Chicago State University personnel functions, culture, structure, and policies. They will drive key human resources (HR) best practices and initiatives and provide strategic direction and expertise for the full scope of the HR function. Reporting to the chief financial officer & vice president of financial operations, Craig Duetsch, the associate vice president of human resources and chief culture officer will develop and execute the HR strategy for the organization and partner with the senior leadership team to execute on the vision.

This position handles all human resource leadership, employee relations, talent acquisition, engagement, culture, compensation, organizational design and change, performance management, training and development. The incumbent will also oversee the HR team and be responsible for leading, assessing, mentoring and supporting team members to ensure daily HR operations are handled timely and appropriately.

As the principal steward for the University’s human capital, the associate vice president provides strategic leadership and service to position Chicago State University as an employer of choice and to establish and promote a HR vision and strategy that attracts, develops and supports the talent to advance the University’s mission. The new associate vice president will possess broad HR knowledge and expertise in strategic, collaborative and consultative services, a commitment to best practices in compliance issues and significant technical expertise in key areas of human resources.

The successful candidate will have the patience and energy for the complex and multi-year approach necessary to transform human resources at CSU. The AVP will have a commitment to professional development and collaboration, will establish mutually supportive relationships with all administrative units of the University, and will embrace the leadership role to advance CSU's human capital and organizational effectiveness. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to integrity, excellence and transparence in leading the human resources division.

A bachelor's degree and a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in human resources are required qualifications. Candidates with a graduate degree in human resource management and experience in human resources in a complex system within higher education or public sector are preferred. 

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile available at www.wittkieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting Chicago State University in this search. Application materials should be submitted through WittKieffer’s candidate portal. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by Monday, April 19, 2021.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Jeff Compher, Claudia Teschky and Rachel Bieniek

ChicagoStateAVPHR@wittkieffer.com

Chicago State University supports the principles of equal opportunity and diversity in employment and education. The University seeks to insure that no person will encounter discrimination in employment or education on the basis of age, color, disability, sex, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran’s status. This policy is applicable to both the employment practices and administration of programs and activities within the University. It is the policy of the University that no person shall be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of or in any way be subject to discrimination in any program or activity at the University.

Chicago State University applies this commitment to all employment and educational practices, including but not limited to, recruitment of staff and students, admissions, hiring and training procedures, advancement and retention policies and curriculum/course materials. More specifically, Chicago State University is committed to diversification of all its internal divisions by race and gender. This commitment stems not only from legal and moral considerations but also from a conviction that an institution of higher learning is enriched by the presence of diversity and that narrow cultural biases serve to limit rather than enhance the teaching, research and service functions which are the hallmarks of Chicago State Universities mission.

Compliance with this Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy is the responsibility of all administrators and others whose duties are related to any personnel decisions regarding employees and students. Further, it is Chicago State University’s obligation to fully participate in the implementation of all applicable federal, state and local laws dealing with nondiscrimination.