Assistant Vice President Human Resources

Columbia University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University Facilities & Operations (CUFO) seeks an accomplished HR executive to lead the HR function as AVP HR. This senior role shapes workforce strategy, labor relations, and organizational development to support CUFO’s 2,000-employee operation across 10 departments.

The AVP HR partners with central HR, Legal, and Equity, oversees HR operations and analytics, and leads a high-performing team to advance performance, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive human resources leadership experience, including substantial unionized environment exposure.

Responsibilities

• Develop workforce strategies aligned with CUFO's mission, priorities and long-term objectives.
• Lead labor and employee relations and participate in collective bargaining negotiations.
• Partner with HR, GC, Equity and other university offices to align workforce policies and practices.
• Oversee talent acquisition, leadership development, succession planning, and retention strategies.
• Direct HR operations, compensation, policy administration, analytics, and HR systems.
• Coordinate safety, business continuity, and HR leadership across CUFO.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or related field

Tools

PeopleSoft

Kronos

Telestaff

Job description

Columbia University Facilities & Operations (CUFO) seeks a strategic and collaborative human resources executive to serve as Assistant Vice President, Human Resources (AVP HR). Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the AVP serves as the senior human resources leader for one of Columbia University's largest and most complex administrative divisions. CUFO employs approximately 2,000 employees across 10 departments, including approximately 1,300 union-represented and 700 non-union employees, supporting the University's academic, research, residential, public safety, utility, transportation, dining, real estate, and campus operations functions. CUFO operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, managing approximately 300 buildings, more than 17.5 million square feet, and oversees approximately $800 million in annual operating and capital expenditures.

About the Role:

The AVP serves as a member of the CUFO Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive workforce strategy that supports organizational performance, employee engagement, leadership development, and operational excellence. The AVP oversees all human resources functions, including labor relations, employee relations, talent management, compensation, compliance, organizational development, HR operations, workforce analytics, and workforce transformation. The AVP leads a team of approximately 18 HR professionals, including three HR portfolio Directors and the Executive Director of Client Shared Services, and serves as CUFO's principal partner to Columbia Human Resources, the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Institutional Equity, and other key University stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Human Capital Leadership

• Develop and implement workforce strategies aligned with CUFO's mission, operational priorities, and long-term objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior CUFO leadership on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, succession management, employee engagement, talent development, and labor relations and human capital management in general.
• Lead workforce transformation, change management, and modernization initiatives that strengthen organizational performance and service delivery.
• Participate in strategic planning, and workforce forecasting activities.

Labor Relations and Employee Relations

• Serve as CUFO's senior labor relations executive and primary liaison with union leadership.
• Key participant in collective bargaining negotiations.
• Oversee leads CUFO contract administration, grievance resolution, arbitration proceedings, and labor-management initiatives.
• Foster constructive labor-management relationships that support organizational stability and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee employee relations, investigations, performance management, conflict resolution, corrective action, and workplace concerns.
• Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements, labor laws, University policies, and employment regulations.

University Partnership and Workforce Governance

• Partner closely with Columbia Human Resources, the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Institutional Equity, and other University departments to ensure alignment of workforce strategies and policies.
• Collaborate with central HR functions including Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, Learning & Development, and HR Systems.
• Represent CUFO on University committees, task forces, and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure consistent application of University policies while addressing the unique requirements of a large, unionized, 24/7 operating environment.

Talent, Leadership, and Organizational Development

• Oversee talent acquisition, workforce planning, onboarding, retention, succession planning, and leadership development programs.
• Build and maintain talent pipelines for operational, technical, professional, and leadership positions.
• Develop strategies to address workforce readiness, skills gaps, leadership continuity, and future workforce needs.
• Promote a culture of engagement, accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and high performance.

HR Operations, Compliance, and Analytics

• Direct all HR operations, including compensation, classification, policy administration, performance management, workforce administration, and employee records management.
• Oversee the HR budget and ensure delivery of efficient, high-quality HR services.
• Utilize workforce analytics, metrics, and technology to drive data-informed decision-making.
• Oversee HR systems, including PeopleSoft, Kronos, Telestaff, and related workforce technologies.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

Workforce Safety, Business Continuity, and HR Leadership

• Partner with Environmental Health & Safety and Public Safety to support workplace safety, employee wellbeing, and workforce resilience.
• Participate in emergency preparedness, workforce continuity, and crisis-response planning.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing HR team and oversee external consultants, labor counsel, vendors, and service providers.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and service excellence within the HR organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive human resources leadership experience, including substantial experience in a highly unionized environment.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in core areas such as:
• Experience leading large-scale organizational change and workforce transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws, labor regulations, and workforce compliance requirements.
• Experience utilizing workforce analytics and data-driven decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to influence executive leaders and build strong relationships across a complex, matrixed organization.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, leadership, and stakeholder-management skills.

Preferred Skills

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, facilities management, public-sector organizations, or similarly complex operational environments.
• Experience supporting a large, diverse, multi-location workforce operating in a 24/7 environment.