Director, Human Resources

Location: Hickory, North Carolina

Position Summary

The 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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• 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.
• Administers compensation, benefits, and performance management systems.
• 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.
• Serves as a deputy Title IX coordinator, working with the primary Title IX coordinator as needed to promote a supportive environment for all students and employees as it relates to Title IX compliance.
• Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
• Performs difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, terminating employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to administrative and personal communications and records.
• Represents organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
• Performs other additional duties as required.

Position requirements in the role description outlined above indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities deemed necessary to perform the job competently. Position descriptions are an overview of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list for the position. Employees may be required to perform other job-related assignments as requested and acquire new skills and responsibilities. Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves the right to modify, add, remove, or waive the responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, with a minimum of five years’ experience or equivalent experience in human resources-related management.
• Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree in a related field; HR-related certifications (e.g., SHRM); previous experience in higher education; experience in Title IX compliance; an appreciation of the history and mission of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Evidence of a collaborative leadership style.
• Demonstrated success in working with diverse populations.
• Strong ability to work independently. 
• Highly developed diplomatic and interpersonal skills.
• Possess current knowledge of HR law and court decisions related to colleges and universities in NC.
• Be proficient with regard to the technology required by the position, including HR information systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, databases, etc.
• Be able to perform the physical requirements of the position which include, but are not limited to, sitting for prolonged periods of time, using standard office equipment, moving about campus, and driving to the various locations of the University.
• Be able to perform the mental requirements of the position, which include, but are not limited to: the ability to read and interpret complex data, work under deadlines, and perform highly detailed work on multiple concurrent tasks despite constant interruptions.
• Ability to accept criticism and to deal calmly and effectively with consistently high stress university situations.

Compensation

Lenoir-Rhyne University offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Salary transparency is a priority; detailed information will be provided to candidates during the interview process.

Application Process

While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit: 

1. Resume
2. Cover letter
3. Three professional references 

The university’s mission, vision, and values statements may be reviewed using About LR.  

Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good. 

About Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir- Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy    

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the LR community, including, but not limited to, those who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program, activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment, and for allegations of retaliation.

LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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