Director of People and Culture - River Forest, United States - Dominican University

Description

JOB TITLE:
Director of People and Culture


DEPARTMENT:
Office of People and Culture


REPORTS TO:
Vice President of People and Culture


JOB STATUS:
Full Time (37.5 hours/week)


IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY

PRIMARY PURPOSE/ POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director works with senior leadership as a strategic partner to meet changing business and talent needs and to promote employee engagement.

The Director collaborates with the HR leadership team and the university community to design and sustain a high-performance work culture.

The Director has routine and ongoing contact and collaboration with a wide variety of university senior officers in performing assigned duties.

The Director understands the University's mission and strategic direction, and provides information, analysis and consultations on a wide range of employee relations matters.

The Director stays abreast of talent needs and trends, leveraging HR to help analyze and identify faculty and staff issues.

The Director communicates organizational culture, policies and procedures, tools, and resources to colleagues and internal clients.

Communication methods include presentations to large and small groups; writing reports, policies, procedures, and training materials; and consultations with senior leaders, managers, supervisors and employees.

This role involves managing comprehensive employee relations strategies, developing and implementing engagement programs, and ensuring HR policies are both progressive and inclusive.

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL DOMINICAN EMPLOYEES:

To support the University's mission of preparing students to pursue truth, delivering compassionate service, and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.

JOB COMPONENTS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with the Vice President of People and Culture to spearhead HR strategies that not only promote diversity, equity, and inclusion but also integrate innovative technological solutions to enhance HR functions and employee experiences.
• Handle all facets of employee relations, including performance management, investigations including reports, discipline, separations, reclassifications, equity increases, and resolutions to employment disputes.
• Develop and manage employee engagement strategies utilizing digital tools and platforms to measure satisfaction and capture feedback, thereby facilitating a more responsive and interactive HR presence.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of training programs, exploring innovative delivery methods such as online learning platforms and interactive workshops to enhance learning outcomes in areas like leadership development, diversity, and inclusion.
• Analyze data from various sources to make informed decisions about HR policies and practices, using technology to support data analysis, reporting, and action planning.
• Regularly review and update organizational policies, ensuring they are not only inclusive and equitable but also reflective of the latest best practices in HR technology and innovation.
• Foster a culture of transparency, open communication, and continuous improvement, encouraging the adoption of new technologies and approaches to work.
• Engage with senior leadership to cultivate a positive and progressive organizational culture, aligning HR initiatives with strategic objectives and leveraging technology to support these goals.
• Maintains the highest level of integrity, confidentiality, and a commitment to creating an environment in which employees can thrive.
• Analyze and evaluate data on retention and related issues, conduct exit interviews, and provide recommendations and counseling to management.
• Continually reviews policies, practices, and procedures with senior leadership to reduce systemic inequities on campus
• Perform other duties as requested, delegated, or assigned by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
All qualifications are required unless otherwise indicated.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Counseling, Education, or a related field.
• 4-7 years of progressive experience in human resources, with a significant emphasis on employee relations, diversity, equity, inclusion, and the integration of technology into HR practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage complex HR projects, incorporating innovative ideas and technological solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging diverse audiences and promoting an inclusive and innovative culture.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with a proven track record of leveraging technology to solve organizational challenges.
• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a history of developing and implementing progressive HR policies and initiatives.
• Experience guiding supervisors and management in employee relations issues.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain positive and productive working relationships with individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience in higher education, including employee relations experience involving academic faculty.
• Experienced mediator with well-developed conflict resolution skills who has the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information in a professional manner.
• Ability to diffuse stressful situations in a positive manner.
• Ability to lead with both a decisive and consultative style, foster open communications, and proactively build positive relationships with faculty, staff, students, and diverse constituencies.
• Ability to build strong working relationships, instilling trust and confidence in colleagues at all levels.
• Self-motivated and able to meet critical deadlines; flexible at setting and revising priorities while managing multiple projects.
• Master's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Counseling, Education, or a related field, preferred.

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY
Dominican University is a Catholic, comprehensive teaching university located in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago. Dominican University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission as a baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degree-granting institution.

It is highly regarded for its academic rigor and thoughtful accompaniment of students, its intentional affordability and values-based, relationship-centered learning environment.

Dominican currently enrolls over 3,300 students, which includes 2,280 undergraduates and 1,027 graduate students.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of our undergraduate students identify as Latinx, 5% are Black or African American, and 3% are Asian.

Under-represented minority students, make up 77% of the DU undergraduate enrollment and 38% of the graduate enrollment. Over 90 percent of undergraduates receive some type of financial aid.

Nearly half of all undergraduates are first-generation college students; over half are federal Pell Grant recipients, illustrating their families' level of income; and 58% are eligible for low-income MAP grants from the State of Illinois.

Recognized since 2011 as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), a federal designation of the U.S.

Department of Education, Dominican is committed to expanding and enhancing educational opportunities for Latinx students and all students from historically underrepresented groups.

To Apply

Apply online at Applicants will be asked to submit a cover letter and resume with a list of 3 references.

A background screening is required.

EEO Statement

Dominican University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is dedicated to the goal of building an equity-centered faculty and staff committed to teaching, working, and learning in a multicultural environment.

Dominican University believes that justice, equity, and inclusion are critical to our growth and development and seek to recruit, develop, and retain from a diverse pool of applicants who bring varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds.

If you need accommodations due to a disability, you may contact us at for assistance.