Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Leadership Profile Fall 2021
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University invites applications and nominations for the next Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.
The University Western Kentucky University (WKU) prepares students of all backgrounds to be productive, engaged, and socially responsible citizen-leaders of a global society. The University provides research, service and lifelong learning opportunities for its students, faculty, and other constituents. WKU is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a fast growing city with a metro population of more than 140,000 approximately 110 miles south of Louisville and 65 miles north of Nashville, and has regional campuses located in Glasgow, Owensboro, and Elizabethtown-Fort Knox.
The Position The Human Resources organization plays a critical role in the advancement of WKU and its work to maintain its position as a leading public institution. The Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer will provide strong and effective leadership in the implementation of quality-based integrated human resources programs for all administration, faculty, staff and student employees of the University. The Assistant Vice President and CHRO will be a proven leader who is enthusiastic, forward thinking, productive, and a sound decision-maker, while possessing strong technical and operational skills. The successful candidate must be a team player and able to collaborate at all levels across the institution. This position is responsible for implementing plans that help the University build excellence in leadership, efficiency, consistency and fairness, customer service, and organizational capacity. The successful candidate should be committed to improving the overall operation and effectiveness of Human Resources by regularly updating policies, procedures, and practices. The incumbent will be a strategic leader who will implement programs, processes, and policies with an eye toward creative problem solving and efficient customer service, making strategic and sound use of finite resources, and implementing business process improvement. The CHRO focuses on, and models, best practices in recruiting and retaining a diverse and highly competent workforce.
Responsibilities Collaboration: Build strong collaborative relationships internally with university administrative and executive leadership, deans, and representatives of shared governance. Consultation and strategy: Provide leaders at all levels of the organization with proactive, consultative and strategic advice related to policy, procedure, and best practice. Provide support for campus initiatives to recruit, retain and advance a diverse workforce.
Western Kentucky University
Leadership: Provide strategic leadership to all human resources functions, including recruitment and retention, training and development, performance management, compensation and benefits administration, employee data management, and employee and labor relations. Identify and operationalize process improvements designed to provide efficient and effective service. Coordinate with HR partners to ensure effective and consistent unit-based HR operations. Day-to-day management of the department: Provide oversight and development of the HR staff and the execution of a comprehensive, proactive and positive employee relations communication plan in all areas of human resources. Encourage and support an atmosphere conducive to high employee morale, aimed at developing and retaining a diverse and highly competent team. Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications The successful candidate should have a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in human resources, organizational development, business, higher education or related field and significant years of progressive HR management experience within a complex organization serving multiple constituencies. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the masters’ degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Other qualifications include: • Outstanding leadership qualities and technical skills together with significant management experience, and a strong commitment to service and accountability; • Proven experience as a program builder, a passion for delivering high quality service, deep interest in building strong relationships with faculty and staff, a collaborative and flexible decision-making style, a hands-on orientation that pays attention to detail, and the ability to strategically lead organizational change; • A foundational understanding of issues and opportunities related to equity and inclusion; and a demonstrated record of promoting diversity in the faculty and staff; • A track record of building a strong organizational team culture while creating an environment of customer service and support; • Strong technical knowledge of HR functions and technology such as those involved in recruitment and retention, employee data management, training and development, performance management, compensation and benefits.
Western Kentucky University
About Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered, applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906, WKU is the second largest undergraduate institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 15,567 students (29% first generation, 17% underrepresented minority) and just over 2,600 faculty and staff employees. Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community to embrace diversity by building equitable and inclusive learning, working, and living environments. At the heart of our mission, we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students, faculty, and staff to become effective scholars, contributors, and leaders in our diverse and evolving communities. WKU is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a fast growing city with a metro population of more than 140,000 approximately 110 miles south of Louisville and 65 miles north of Nashville, and has regional campuses located in Glasgow, Owensboro, and Elizabethtown-Fort Knox. Our population is ethnically diverse, with more than 85 languages spoken in and around Bowling Green, and people from 35 nationalities call our community home. Western Kentucky University seeks to attract talented faculty and staff who are inspired individually to contribute to WKU’s strategic plans and ongoing success. We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave, and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided. Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green at wku.edu/about.
Western Kentucky University
Nomination & Application Process The Search Committee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, full resume, and contact information of at least five references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University; contact information is below. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. It is preferred, however, that all applications and nominations be submitted prior to January 31, 2022. Porsha Williams, Vice President Erin Raines, Senior Principal Parker Executive Search Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875 Atlanta, GA 30328 770-804-1996 ext.: 117 pwilliams@parkersearch.com || eraines@parkersearch.com
Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment. Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices. Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/University ADA Services (EEO). To request an accommodation, report/express a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU’’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Mr. Joshua Hayes, EEO Director/Title IX Investigator/University ADA Coordinator, via email at joshua.hayes@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5121. The University is also required to investigate complaints of sex and gender-based harassment, also a form of discrimination, and has designated the Title IX Coordinator as the individual responsible for coordinating the investigation and response to such complaints. The Title IX Coordinator for the University is Ms. Andrea Anderson, who can be contacted via email at andrea.anderson@ wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5396. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU’’s https://www.wku.edu/ titleix/ website. Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php