Assistant HR Director, Academic Human Resources

University Of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Job summary

The University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business seeks an Assistant HR Director, Academic HR to lead the Academic HR function for faculty, lecturers, and graduate student employees.

You will advise the HR Director and school leaders on complex HR matters, design scalable processes, and use technology to reduce administrative burden while improving access to information. This hybrid role requires 3 days/week on-site in Ann Arbor, MI, with responsibilities spanning policy

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• 8+ years HR experience in faculty affairs or related field
• Experience with collective bargaining agreements and union grievances
• Experience leading HR process improvement initiatives
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of the full faculty HR lifecycle.
• Advise senior school leadership on faculty HR matters including recruitment, appointments, promotions, and leaves.
• Lead design and continuous improvement of Academic HR processes and systems.
• Implement technology-enabled solutions to improve operations and reduce administrative burden.
• Use data to monitor activity and inform workforce decisions.
• Represent Ross in university-wide Academic HR committees and initiatives.
• Coach and develop two HR Generalists and guide day-to-day activities.

Skills

Strong communication

Strategic mindset

Stakeholder management

Policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Assistant HR Director, Academic Human Resources

Who We Are

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a diverse learning community grounded in the principle that business can be an extraordinary vehicle for positive change in today's dynamic global economy. Our mission is to build a better world through business. Through our powerful ideas, purpose-driven leaders, and positive impact, we empower business leaders to improve the world. Learn more about Ross HERE .

Job Summary

The Assistant HR Director, Academic HR provides leadership and strategic direction for the Academic HR function at the Ross School of Business, supporting the full faculty employment lifecycle for faculty, lecturers, and graduate student employees. You will serve as a key advisor to the HR Director, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research, Academic Area Chairs, and other school leaders on complex faculty HR matters, including appointments, compensation, promotions, leaves, performance matters, collective bargaining agreements, and faculty transitions. You will lead the design, administration, and continuous improvement of Academic HR processes and systems, focusing on creating efficient, accurate, scalable, and user-centered practices. You will use technology, data, automation, and strong process design to reduce administrative burden, strengthen controls, improve access to information, and enhance the experience of faculty and academic leaders.

This role is hybrid with on-site expectations 3 days/week in Ann Arbor, MI. For a full job description, see link here . For questions about this role, email [e-mail].

Responsibilities*

• Provide leadership and oversight of the full faculty HR lifecycle, ensuring efficiency and compliance with institutional policies, best practices, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Partner closely with the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research, acting as a trusted advisor on all faculty-related HR matters, including recruitment, appointments, promotion and tenure, faculty reviews, performance management, leaves, and departures.
• Interpret and apply University policies, school practices, collective bargaining agreements, and other requirements to complex Academic HR situations
• Identify emerging issues, operational risks, or areas requiring leadership attention and proactively develop recommendations and solutions
• Lead continuous improvement of Academic HR processes, systems, and workflows, identifying opportunities to simplify work, strengthen controls, improve accuracy, and reduce administrative burden.
• Evaluate and implement technology-enabled solutions, including workflow automation and appropriate use of emerging technologies, to improve Academic HR Operations.
• Use data and reporting to identify trends, monitor Academic HR activity, support workforce decisions, and provide meaningful information to school leadership.
• Serve as the primary point of contact on the lecturer and graduate student employee collective bargaining agreements (CBA). As the subject matter expert, ensure compliance with terms and conditions, and resolve any CBA-related questions or issues.
• Manage and resolve union grievances and complaints, collaborating closely with the central Academic HR department and union representatives to ensure fair and timely resolution.
• Lead, coach, and develop two HR Generalists, providing guidance, mentorship, and support in managing their day-to-day responsibilities. Clarify responsibilities, priorities, performance expectations, and professional development.
• Lead or contribute to school-wide and University initiatives involving faculty policy, academic workforce planning, data governance, organizational effectiveness, and faculty support.
• Represent Ross in University-wide Academic HR meetings, working groups, and initiatives and communicate relevant changes and implications to Ross stakeholders.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• 8+ years of human resources experience, working in faculty affairs and/or management consulting.
• Experience working with collective bargaining agreements and managing union grievances
• Previous experience leading HR process improvement initiatives
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications
• Working knowledge of relevant federal and state employment laws
  

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off (Vacation, Holidays, Season Days)
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Flexible Work Program
  

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Additional Information

The salary offer range for this position is $87,600 - $118,200. Salary offers are determined based on several factors, including a candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications, along with internal equity considerations. It is not common for new hires to be placed at the top of the range.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.The review and selection process maybegin as early as the eighth day after posting.Thisopening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.