Scheduled Hours

40

Position Summary

Plans, develops and deploys complex strategic HR service leading as a trusted strategic advisor to executive leaders across the university, partnering to drive people initiatives that advance institutional strategy, operational continuity, and sustainable growth. Provides executive-level HR leadership, guiding a team of HR Business Partners in delivering integrated, high-impact HR services to academic and administrative units.

Works collaboratively with the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), HR Centers of Excellence (CoEs), and university leadership to shape HR strategies, policies, and programs that promote organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, and institutional excellence.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Partnership

• Partners with executive and senior leadersâ”including deans, vice presidents, and senior administratorsâ”to develop and execute people strategies that enable the universityâ™s mission, academic priorities, and operational objectives.
• Serves as a key advisor and thought partner to institutional leadership on complex HR and organizational issues, providing strategic counsel and actionable recommendations.
• Builds trusted relationships across academic and administrative leadership to influence decision-making and drive institutional initiatives forward.
• Functions as the first point of escalation for significant organizational or workforce challenges across schools and departments, ensuring effective resolution and alignment with university values and policies.

Team Leadership and Development

• Leads, mentors, and develops a team of Human Resources Business Partners, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality, consultative HR services. 
• Drives the professional development, upskilling, and continuous improvement of the HR Business Partner team to strengthen strategic capability, business acumen, and partnership effectiveness. 
• Promotes a culture of collaboration, inclusion, accountability, and service excellence within the HR Business Partner team.

Program Oversight and Delivery

• Oversees the design, coordination, and implementation of HR services and initiatives across schools and departments, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and consistency in approach.
• Ensures that HR services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each academic and administrative unit while maintaining adherence to central HR policies and frameworks.
• Translates school and department priorities into actionable HR strategies, programs, and initiatives that enhance workforce capability, organizational design, and engagement.

Collaboration and Institutional Integration

• Partners closely with the CHRO and HR Leadership Team to develop, deploy, and evolve HR strategies, programs, policies, and services across the institution.
• Collaborates with HR Centers of Excellence (e.g., Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Learning & Development, Employee Relations, etc.) to ensure HR solutions are aligned with institutional goals and meet the diverse needs of academic and administrative clients.
• Provides feedback to CoE and central HR teams on the effectiveness, relevance, and impact of programs, policies, and services to inform continuous improvement.

Data-Driven Insights and Strategic Analysis

• Leverages HR data and analytics to assess workforce trends, inform leadership decisions, and anticipate future needs within schools and departments.
• Analyzes HR metrics such as turnover, engagement, workforce composition, and performance outcomes to support strategic planning and risk management.
• Monitors customer satisfaction and service level metrics to evaluate effectiveness and identify areas for process and service enhancement.

Change Leadership and Continuous Improvement

• Leads the HR Business Partner function in supporting major institutional change initiatives, including reorganizations, culture transformation, and leadership transitions.
• Stays informed on emerging higher education, workforce, and HR trends to proactively guide institutional strategy and readiness.
• Promotes best practices and innovative HR approaches that enhance organizational agility and institutional resilience.

Provides other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment.

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at desk or table.

• Repetitive wrist, hand, or finger movement.

• The work is normally performed in the offices located across the universityâ™s campuses. There will be activities that require trips to many University offices and offsite locations.

Equipment

• Office equipment.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree

Certifications /Professional Licenses :

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Human Resources In Progressively More Senior Roles (10 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting senior academic or administrative leaders through complex organizational and workforce changes.
• Experience leading HR teams and partnering with executive-level leadership in a complex, decentralized organization with a higher-education or a mission-driven sector.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) - Society for Human Resource Management

Work Experience:

University Setting Or Large, Complex Organization With A Matrix Structure (6 Years)

Skills:

Adaptability, Budgeting, Business Oriented, Confidential Data Handling, Consulting, Customer Service, Data Analysis, Design Thinking, HR Legal Compliance, Human Resources Compliance, Human Resources Key Performance Indicators (HR KPIs), Human Resources Policies, Impact Analysis, Interact with All Levels of Management, Interpersonal Management, Leadership, Multiple Project Management, Oral Communications, Organizational Planning, Priority Management, Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Talent Acquisition, Teamwork, Written Communication

Grade

G00

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the Universityâ™s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Washington University is dedicated to building a community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment â“ fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.

Return to Search Results