Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources NC State University

Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
NC State University
Raleigh, NC
Summer 2021

NC State University

NC State University is one of the nation’s leading public land grant universities and research institutions, and home to more than 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and over 9,600 faculty and staff.

NC State strives to be an “Employer of Choice” within a competitive region, and ranks highly as a great place to work according to a recent Forbes survey which placed NC State as one of the top employers in the state and region. NC State’s strong workplace culture depends on engaged employees, a vibrant campus experience, and collaborations across all aspects of the university.

The Opportunity

NC State University seeks an experienced and strategic Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to lead a vibrant, collaborative, and engaging university human resources division, in support of the university’s 12 colleges – including the Wilson College of Textiles, College of Design, College of Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and College of Veterinary Medicine – and over 30 additional university institutes, centers and operating units.

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources is NC State’s CHRO and will serve as one of the strategic leaders in the implementation of NC State’s new strategic plan, Wolfpack 2030: Powering the Extraordinary (released May 2021), which focuses on the areas of excellence, community, inclusion, freedom, integrity, collaboration and sustainability; and includes a strategic goal championing a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and well-being.

The CHRO will serve as a Cabinet member, advising the Chancellor, Provost, General Counsel and other university senior executives on employee matters. The CHRO will report to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, a 1600+ employee unit responsible for university finance, administration and operations.

The CHRO will lead the 80 person University Human Resources (UHR) division, and, additionally, partner with college and unit HR professionals across the university to support more than 2,400 faculty (including tenure, tenure-track and professional faculty), over 7,200 staff, and all temporary employees and student employees. The CHRO will lead the University Human Resources division in supporting numerous and diverse staffing needs and employee matters across the university including partnering with the colleges and academic units to hire world-class faculty as part of the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program; partnering with research teams to hire grant-supported researchers and lab technicians primarily in the competitive STEM disciplines; and partnering with university entities to staff operations as diverse as university police, a 911 center, veterinary hospital with a 24/7 emergency facility, residential dining and housing services for students, extension programs across all 100 counties within North Carolina, and research stations and field labs throughout the state.

University Human Resources

NC State University Human Resources provides services to employees subject to the NC Human Resources Act (”SHRA” employees) as well as faculty, administrators and professionals exempt from the NC Human Resources Act (“EHRA” employees), temporary employees, and student employees. NC State is a nonunionized environment and part of the University of North Carolina System.

University Human Resources is organized into three (3) main functional areas, in support of numerous and diverse employee matters across the institution:

• HR Operations;
• HR Strategy; and
• HR Information Management (HRIM) and Workforce Analytics.

HR Operations Functional Areas

• Talent Acquisition and Employment: Talent Acquisition, Background Checks, University Temporary
• Services for NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill, and International Employment.
• Benefits, Wellness and Work/Life: Benefits, Wellness/Work Life, Leave Administration, Workers Compensation, and Employee Recognition Events.
• Classification and Compensation: Position management and compensation programs for EHRA positions (Exempt from the Human Resources Act), and SHRA positions (Subject to the State Human Resources Act)
• Executive Search Services (ESS): NC State’s internal executive recruitment service, committed to identifying and recruiting outstanding talent exclusively to NC State. ESS conducts retained searches for Senior Administrative and Academic Officers and other executive level positions including academic department heads and center leaders.

HR Strategy Functional Areas

• Employee Relations: Employee Relations, Employee Engagement, Unemployment Insurance, and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.
• Learning and Organizational Development: Professional Development and Training, Online Learning, and Organizational Consulting.
• Onboarding and Offboarding Center: On-campus Onboarding Center to support campus partners with effective onboarding of new hires and the offboarding process.
• HR Marketing and Communications: In partnership with University Communications, provide strategic communications targeting faculty and staff; responsible for UHR marketing and branding.
• HR Continuous Improvement: In promotion of an agile culture of continuous improvement to meet the evolving HR needs of NC State’s community, innovation and process re-engineering to deliver effective and efficient strategic and consultative HR services.

HR Information Management (HRIM) and Workforce Analytics Functional Areas

• HR Information Systems: Support and continuous improvement of all aspects of HR information systems, in close collaboration with the Office of Information Technology.
• Time and Leave Administration: Management of Peoplesoft (NC State’s time and reporting system), HR Systems Enhancements and Testing and Training, in close collaboration with the University Payroll and Office of Information Technology on all aspects of time and leave administration.
• HR Analytics and Reporting: Manage workforce metrics and analytics, including strategic data-driven assessments and reporting.

The Position

As the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for NC State University, the Associate Vice Chancellor is responsible for providing innovative leadership to advance an integrated, customer service-oriented and solutions focused approach to human resource management that is compliant with NC State, UNC System, state, and federal regulations. The Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources reports to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and serves as a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet.

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources responsibilities include:

• Strategy and Planning: Develop strategies and provide operational and strategic oversight to effectively deliver human resources services that are in alignment with the university’s strategic goals and HR industry best practices. Provide guidance to the Chancellor and Cabinet on strategic HR matters;
• Consultation and Subject Matter Expertise: Provide advisement regarding human resources to the Chancellor, Cabinet and other university senior leadership. Advise on complex, sensitive, high-level, and/or high risk issues;
• HR Compliance: Exercise effective compliance and integrity oversight and monitoring while fostering an atmosphere of ethics in decision making and embracing university values for HR-related areas, including but not limited to FMLA, FCRA, IRC, FLSA, the State Human Resources Act, as well as UNC System and NC State policies, regulations, rules and guidelines;
• HR Leadership Oversight and HR/Division Team Performance: Provide senior leadership oversight, coaching and performance management of personnel within the division, including vision and performance coaching to directors and administrative support staff in order to drive HR results, outcomes and metrics;
• Leveraging Technology and HR Systems: Leverage the use of HR technologies and automated workflow processes to ensure HR university effectiveness. Streamline (via use of an online HR system platform) basic HR workflow transactions to facilitate ease of use and understanding by our various campus stakeholders;
• Employee Engagement and Cultural Change: Act as a cultural architect in leading university-wide initiatives that promote a highly productive work environment focused on increasing employee engagement, employee satisfaction and work life needs of NC State’s faculty and staff. Promote the Office of Finance and Administration (OFA) Principles of Work: Employee Engagement, Customer Service and Responsible Stewardship;
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Collaborate with the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity on strategic and process related initiatives designed to attract and retain a diverse and talented workforce, including the compilation of the university’s AA/EEO plans;
• HR Communications & Marketing: Provide timely and accurate communications regarding human resources policies, processes, programs, and compliance within the division and with university constituents. Develop and implement a comprehensive HR marketing and communications strategy, and HR branding campaign to promote NC State as an ‘Employer of Choice’;
• Outreach and Liaison Roles: Serve as a liaison and maintain direct proactive dialogue for NC State on human resources issues to UNC System Office, the Office of State Human Resources, NC State’s Office of General Counsel, Office of the Provost, Internal Audit, University Payroll and other key campus stakeholders and external consistencies. As needed, interact with the Division of Employment Security, the Department of Labor, and the OFCCP. Work collaboratively with administrators and academic leaders such as Deans, Directors and Department Heads to achieve University HR goals and objectives;
• Shared Governance: Serve on relevant university and system committees and councils. Serve as a senior leadership advisor for the Staff Senate that includes providing guidance to the Staff Senate Executive Committee;
• Fiscal Stewardship: Ensure effective financial and budgetary management for the division; and
• Project Management: Other duties as assigned by the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, as well as special projects assigned by the Chancellor and/or Provost.

Minimum Experience and Qualifications

Requires a relevant post-Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of five (5) years or greater of related professional human resources leadership experience. In the absence of a post-baccalaureate degree, a relevant undergraduate degree and a minimum of seven (7) years or greater of related professional human resources leadership experience may be substituted. All degrees must be from appropriately accredited institutions.

Preferred Qualifications

Graduate level degree from an appropriately accredited institution in a relevant field preferred with a minimum of ten (10) years of progressive human resources senior leadership experience in one or more of the Human Resources functional areas (or equivalent education and experience). Human Resources leadership experience in higher education is highly desirable. SPHR or other human resources professional certification desirable.

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources must embrace the spirit of collaboration and be an effective team member with her/his colleagues and constituents.

Successful candidates will possess the following:

• Strategic and visionary HR leader with demonstrated experience in enhancing the HR culture and practices within an institution or organization. Experience implementing lean six-sigma and/or agile principles desirable;
• Significant content expertise in the legal and policy underpinnings of human resources;
• Evidence of innovative, creative, and flexible human resources practice development and implementation;
• Broad knowledge of state and federal regulations related to human resources as well as best practices across universities and the public sector;
• Commitment to enhancing and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at the university;
• Highest degree of integrity and ethics, including ability to maintain confidentiality;
• Ability to conceptualize broad operational and policy issues to assess University impact and the ability to evaluate operations and initiate new approaches and strategies;
• Understanding of academic and state government environments;
• Ability to work collegially and effectively with diverse constituents to formulate a shared vision for a human resources function that focuses on customer service and the needs of the campus community;
• Strong operational and leadership skills, including the ability to effectively communicate and establish good working relationships with a wide range of diverse constituencies at all levels;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Commitment to customer service and the ability to motivate and lead others;
• Excellent judgment in effectively assessing and resolving complex personnel situations;
• Thorough knowledge of financial management for long-term budget planning and management;
• Strong planning and organizational skills, including the ability to formulate a mission and strategic plan for the Human Resources Division that aligns with and supports the university’s mission and strategic plan;
• Understanding of human resources information systems and their application to an effective human resource management function across a complex institution; and
• Supervisory experience of a large organization.

How to Apply

Confidential review of applications will begin in July of 2021, and will continue until the position is filled. In addition to your application, please submit a CV, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials, including inquiries and nominations, may be directed to:

NC State University Executive Search Services

Frank Barragan, NC State Executive Search Services, at (919) 515-4365 or fbbarrag@ncsu.edu

Justin Lang, NC State Executive Search Services, at (919) 513-1963 or jdlang2@ncsu.edu

https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/144108

About NC State

At NC State, we create prosperity for North Carolina and the nation. We began as a land-grant institution grounded in agriculture and engineering. Today, we’re a pre-eminent research enterprise that excels across disciplines.

NC State is a powerhouse in science, technology, engineering and math. We lead in agriculture, education, textiles, business and natural resources management. We’re at the forefront of teaching and research in design, the humanities and the social sciences. And we’re home to one of the world’s best colleges of veterinary medicine.

Our more than 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students learn by doing. They pursue original research and start new companies. They forge connections with top employers and serve communities local and global. Through it all, they enjoy an outstanding return on investment.

Whether it’s Princeton Review ranking NC State among the nation’s best values for universities, Money magazine naming it the No. 1 best college for your money in North Carolina, or Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranking NC State No. 9 among the best values in public higher education, the university has many reasons to be proud.

Each year, NC State adds $6.5 billion to the statewide economy, equivalent to creating more than 90,000 new jobs. That represents significant return on investment for the citizens of North Carolina in the form of research advances, innovative technologies, successful companies, skilled graduates and new jobs waiting for them.

Our 9,600 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Together, they forge powerful partnerships with government, industry, nonprofits and academia to remake our world for the better.

About Raleigh and North Carolina

North Carolina’s rapid growth makes the state a diversity leader and top spot for young professionals and

families.

Raleigh reflects statewide growth as a city on the rise:

• 2 among the best big cities to live in (Money, 2018)
• 2 among the best places for business and careers (Forbes, 2018)
• One of America’s top 10 recession-resistant cities (Smartasset, 2020)
• Among the top 10 “Best Cities to Move to Right Now” (Curbed, 2020)
• 2 among family friendly cities (Homes.com, 2019)

With Durham and Chapel Hill, the capital city anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for hightech enterprise. The region’s top companies — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — rank among the country’s best employers. NC State also maintains strong agricultural partnerships with Bayer, BASF and Syngenta, companies that lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates. Celebrating its 133rd year in 2020, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality.

Every day our careerready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning, discovery and engagement available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. In addition, NC State University welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation. The University welcomes the opportunity to work with candidates to identify suitable employment opportunities for spouses or partners.