Client:             The University of Vermont

Website:          uvm.edu

Title:               Chief Human Resources Officer

Reports to:      President

Location:        Burlington, Vermont

About The University of Vermont

Since 1791, the University of Vermont has worked to move humankind forward. Today, UVM is a Public Ivy and top 100 research university of a perfect size, large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources, and opportunities, yet small enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship across all levels of study, from bachelor’s to M.D. programs. Here, students’ educational experience and activities are enriched by our location — from the energy and innovation of Burlington to the forests, farms, and independent spirit of Vermont. UVM provides students endless ways to explore the world, challenge ideas, and dig in on the most pressing issues of our time.

Position Overview

The University of Vermont (UVM) is seeking a candidate for the position of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to serve as part of the senior leadership team reporting to the President and leading a dedicated staff.  This is an outstanding opportunity for an individual with strong leadership skills, experience, enthusiasm, and vision.

The CHRO will have responsibility for planning, developing and implementing university-wide initiatives and strategies that support employee engagement and customer service excellence, and UVM’s aspiration to retain and recruit exceptional employees. They will be an enterprise-wide partner who collaborates with other senior leaders in implementing change management initiatives across the institution. The CHRO is responsible for developing the Human Resource Services (HRS) strategic plan, assuring alignment with the university’s strategic vision (Amplifying our Impact), and developing HR policies and procedures. The CHRO has overall accountability for HR performance across the university and ensuring compliance with federal, state and university labor standards and policies.

The CHRO is the responsible official for matters related to Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) requirements and will work collaboratively with the Vice Provost for Diversity Equity and Inclusion to aid all units in achieving their Inclusive Excellence goals. Working closely with the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the General Counsel and other senior presidential staff regarding an array of HR matters will also be essential to success as the CHRO.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Serves as chief advisor to the President in all matters related to human resource strategy.
• Build credibility with colleagues, faculty, and staff and by demonstrating an understanding of The University of Vermont’s strategy and challenges, aligning short and long-term people goals with the organization’s strategy, and leading/driving initiatives to assist the organization in achieving success.
• Function as counsel and trusted adviser of colleagues, faculty, and staff.
• Lead smooth organizational transitions using best practice change management methodologies.
• Develop and execute resourcing and long-range talent strategies that ensure units and departments have the right people in the right place at the right time.
• Interpret data insightfully and generate original insights for strategic talent priorities; use those insights to develop strategies that will elevate UVM as an employer of choice.
• Translate strategy into people through coaching; implementation of learning and development programs to optimize the contributions of employees across the university to the success of teaching and research goals and to ensuring the affordability of a UVM education for students.
• Ensures HRS strategies and services provide all supervisors with the tools and support to drive individual and team performance improvement at all levels.
• Develop and drive the employee engagement strategy to help make UVM the very best place to be.
• Create a strategy that ensures employees work in a safe, secure, and hygienic environment.
• Develop creative benefit offerings that add value to team members and their families.
• Become a storyteller with employees regarding compensation, benefits, and HR policies and procedures to ensure they understand the value proposition of working at UVM.
• Leads and develop a team of highly qualified and passionate staff who are dedicated to serving the campus community.
• Leads the evolution of the human resource strategy at UVM to be cutting-edge and forward-thinking.
• Directs the contract bargaining and management activities associated with the university’s six bargaining units toward the goal of balancing the needs of employees and the institution and develops comparable outcomes for non-represented staff and faculty.
• Inspires and shepherds initiatives related to workforce strategic planning, recruitment and retention strategies, organizational development and training initiatives, classification and compensation, benefits and retirement, performance management, employee relations, and the management of HR systems, reporting, and metrics.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Master’s degree in HR or related field required; Doctoral or JD degree preferred.  Professional HR certifications (for example HSRM-SCP, SPRH) are strongly preferred.
• Mediation training and conflict resolution training preferred.
• Requires 10 years of demonstrated leadership experience in human resources, including expertise in key areas such as compensation, classification, benefits, workforce development, succession planning, collective bargaining and contract administration, and change management.
• Experience in higher education is highly desirable, along with knowledge and experience related to federal and state laws and regulations as related to HR and higher education (Title IX, ADA, Affirmative Action).
• Must have demonstrated experience supervising and leading a team.
• Must have demonstrated experience consulting and advising senior-level executives in broad areas of human resources and must demonstrate a commitment to an inclusive and collaborative leadership style and strong skills in all forms of communication.
• Demonstrated strategic planning, change management, and evaluation expertise is essential.
• Demonstrated experience dealing with highly sensitive and confidential situations and a history of successful collaboration with multiple diverse constituencies is critical to success as well.

Gallagher, Flynn, & Company, LLP has been retained to conduct this search.  Interested candidates may apply by sending a resume and cover letter to Michelle Rawls, Director of Talent Acquisition at talentsolutions@gfc.com. While we appreciate all interest in this exciting opportunity, only candidates most closely aligned with our search will be contacted.

Disclaimer: What is listed above is representative of the position’s responsibilities but is not meant to be an exhaustive list. Responsibilities may change during employment at the company’s discretion. Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP, and our client do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.

The University of Vermont holds that diversity and academic excellence are inseparable. A distinguished university, particularly one that is a public land grant, must be accessible and inclusive to all who can positively contribute to and excel at the institution, regardless of individuals’ backgrounds and circumstances, including race, color, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, socio-economic status, cultural and geographic background, veteran’s status, religious belief, age, disability, and other characteristics.