Assistant Vice President and Director of Human Resources

Location: Hickory, North Carolina
The assistant vice president and director of human resources provides effective leadership and management of all human resources functions and services to optimize productivity, employee satisfaction, and to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations as well as institutional policies and values. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop and implement new plans, policies and programs that will ensure best practice and provide innovative and strategic opportunities to grow HR into a program of distinction within the entire LR campus community.

Description of Duties and Tasks

• Provides leadership and guidance for the university and its employees regarding human resource matters by managing a comprehensive human resource office.
• Serves as an advocate for employees by listening and becoming aware of employee needs and concerns, sharing this information with university leadership, researching best practices, and offering options for leaders to consider in addressing employee needs and concerns.
• Provides ongoing promotion and communication to employees and prospective employees about the benefits associated with university employment.
• Ensures that applicants, employees, vendors, and university administrators receive excellent customer service in all interactions with the Office of Human Resources.
• Develops personnel policies, practices, and procedures for approval by the university administration by listening to employee concerns, reviewing best practices, and identifying opportunities to improve employee satisfaction.
• Contributes to employee engagement by advising and supervising the implementation and administration of employee benefits programs, providing excellent customer service, automating processing systems, communicating information about programs and services to employees and to all levels of management throughout the university, working with benefit plan consultants and vendors, interpreting policies and state and federal laws in a consistent manner, and working with advisory committees to review and implement new and alternative benefits initiatives.
• Ensures the accuracy of personnel information for all university employees using HR data systems.
• Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree required with a minimum of five years’ experience or equivalent working experience in human resources-related management.
• Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree in a related field; HR-related certifications; previous experience in higher education; an appreciation of the history and mission of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
• Experience in higher education setting a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Evidence of a collaborative leadership style.
• Demonstrated success in working with diverse populations.

Department: Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Wage Class: Salaried, exempt
Reports to: Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion