Assistant Director for Human Resources

The University of Texas at Austin; Campus (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the U.S. is seeking an Assistant Director for Human Resources. This role involves managing employee relations, supervising HR staff, and overseeing recruitment processes. The ideal candidate has a strong background in HR with a Bachelor's degree and relevant experience. This is an on-site position located in Illinois, offering competitive health benefits and a salary starting at $75,000, depending on qualifications.

Benefits

Competitive health benefits

Generous paid vacation

Tuition assistance

Robust free training access

Qualifications

• Five plus years of current, relevant experience in human resource functions.
• Experience with direct supervision of HR staff.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee relations and oversee recruitment processes.
• Supervise and mentor HR Coordinators.
• Provide consultation to hiring managers on compliance and consistency.

Skills

Employee relations

Recruiting

Performance management

Excellent communication

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in human resources or related field

Master's degree in human resources or related field (preferred)

Tools

Workday

Job description

Assistant Director for Human Resources

The Division of Student Affairs is the hub of student life and well‑being at The University of Texas at Austin. The team inspires all students—undergraduate, graduate, and professional—to live the Longhorn life through its uniquely‑designed programs, spaces, and resources. They serve every student through physical health, mental health, and well‑being services; recreational sports; two university unions; family orientation and the University’s official parent association. The Division supports 1,000+ student organizations, student governance organizations, student outreach, legal, and disability and access services. The team also provides student employment, leadership, first‑generation, and volunteer programs.

Purpose

The Assistant Director for Human Resources provides advanced HR support and leadership across multiple functional areas. This role is responsible for managing employee relations, supervising and mentoring HR Coordinators, overseeing recruitment processes, and administering student employment programs. The position ensures compliance with organizational policies and employment laws while promoting a positive and productive workplace culture.

Benefits

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses

Responsibilities

• Advise unit supervisors on performance management strategies; recommend appropriate actions in alignment with UT and Student Affairs policies and employment law; draft corrective action documents as necessary; liaise and consult with University Human Resources, Department of Investigations and Adjudications, Dean of Students, Title IX Office, University Compliance Services, and Legal Services; maintain accurate and confidential documentation of employee relations cases.
• Act as primary resource for employee inquiries and concerns, ensuring timely and professional resolution; support initiatives to enhance employee engagement and workplace culture.
• Provide direct and indirect supervision of staff, including hiring, training, and evaluation; supervise two Human Resource Coordinators, providing guidance and oversight on daily operations; create professional development plans and opportunities for team members; mentor supervisees to strengthen HR knowledge and leadership capabilities.
• Oversee all unions performance evaluation process and educate supervisors and staff on performance evaluation processes.
• Facilitate and provide strategic oversight of all Human Resource functions for the department—including recruiting, hiring, Workday assignments, compensation review, leave management, corrective action, staff recognition, staff training, and professional development opportunities.
• Provide consultation to hiring managers on departmental recruiting, hiring processes, reclassifications, additional duties, merit distributions, training and development, and employee relations issues to ensure compliance and consistency across the department while adhering to all appropriate policies, procedures, regulations, and applicable laws.
• Oversee student employment programs, ensuring compliance with institutional and legal requirements; provide guidance to supervisors and students on employment policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic and professionalism through consistent and punctual attendance and reliable timesheet submissions, which contributes positively to team productivity and reliability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Five plus years of current, relevant, and substantial experience in the administration of human resource functions.
• Experience with employee relations, recruiting, performance management, and direct supervision of HR staff.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices.
• Excellent communication, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively across different levels of an organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in human resources or related field.
• Experience with student employment at a higher education institution; experience with UT Austin policies and procedures.
• Professional HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM‑CP, or SHRM‑SCP).
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvements and implement HR initiatives.
• Proficiency in Workday.
• Working knowledge of UT policies and procedures.
• Ability to speak Spanish.

Core Competencies

• Leadership and Team Development
• Confidentiality and Ethical Practice
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving
• Interpersonal Communication
• Adaptability and Collaboration

Salary Range

$75,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

Typical office environment; use of manual dexterity; repetitive use of keyboard at a workstation.

Work Shift

M‑F, 8 am – 5 pm. Some flexibility may be required during peak deadline periods.

This is an on‑site position – 40 hours per week. The schedule will vary with university and departmental schedules, and with the types of events scheduled and operational functions. Working nights, weekends and more than 40 hours per week will be required.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers

You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional required materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the application questions section; you will be able to multi‑select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL required materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers

As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log‑in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional required materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University‑Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalists(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I‑9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E‑Verify

The University of Texas at Austin uses E‑Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E‑Verify is 854197. For more information about E‑Verify, please see the following:

• E‑Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP‑3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.