Associate Director, Organizational Development

Northwestern University; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 82,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid vacation and holidays

Tuition benefits for employees and dependents

Job summary

Northwestern University is seeking an Associate Director of Organizational Development to oversee HR functions across the Libraries and University Press. This senior role involves advising library teams and implementing HR practices that enhance effectiveness and organizational alignment.

The ideal candidate should possess a Bachelor’s degree and extensive HR experience in higher education, with strong communication and problem-solving skills. The role includes leading compliance programs and workforce engagement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience in HR or related fields.
• Progressively responsible HR experience with supervisory roles.
• Strong listening and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Implement HR functions within Northwestern University Libraries.
• Advise library teams on HR policies and initiatives.
• Facilitate recruitment and performance management processes.

Skills

Human Resources Management

Organizational Development

Communication Skills

Conflict Resolution

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Peoplesoft

Job description

Department

Department: NUL Org Dev

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Organizational Development (OD) holds a senior role in implementing all staff and faculty Human Resources functions within Northwestern University Libraries and University Press.

Serving as an organizational consultant and advisor to library teams and facilitating process improvement and change initiatives across the organization, the Associate Director works closely with the OD Director and library leadership team to advance initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen organizational alignment, and support a high-performing, collaborative and innovative culture.

The Associate Director administers HR programs, policies, and procedures that support the Libraries’ workforce and align with institutional priorities. Responsibilities include implementing staff and faculty HR practices, facilitating faculty librarian promotions and staff reclassifications, and fostering an empowered, productive work environment. The Associate Director provides advice to the OD director and makes recommendations for library policies, guidelines, and updates.

Working to build trust across the organization, the Associate Director partners with department directors, faculty, and staff to promote continued learning, engagement, growth, and effective performance. As a co-liaison to the Office of the Provost, Human Resources, SEIU Local 73, and the Office of Student Affairs, the role coordinates recruitment, compensation, onboarding, promotion, merit and retention activities within a unionized environment.

The Associate Director also collaborates with the Organizational Development team to lead workforce engagement initiatives including National Library Week and Staff Engagement Day that strengthen and renew the Libraries’ culture.

Specific Responsibilities

• Partner with library leadership to align people-focused priorities with the Libraries’ strategic vision, priorities and organizational goals, fostering a collaborative, high-performance and innovation culture.
• Provide feedback and recommendations on organizational effectiveness, performance management, talent acquisition, and compensation; identify talent gaps and lead coaching, training, and communication initiatives, including support for initiatives such as organizational realignments.
• Supervise the department administrative assistant and/or student worker; provide work direction to others and coordinate administrative efforts across departments.
• Ensure clear, consistent communication of HR policies, procedures, and programs; maintain strong working relationships with university HR partners such as the Provost Office, Student Affairs, Office of Human Resources, HR Business Partners, and department directors.
• Use data to identify trends, recommend improvements, develop project plans, and lead high-impact implementation efforts that increase operational effectiveness.
• Lead compliance programs; implement departmental and university policies; ensure adherence to all relevant laws, regulations, and institutional requirements; develop tools and resources to support faculty and staff compliance.
• Optimize HR services, technologies, policies, and workflows; represent the Libraries on HR-related committees (e.g., recruitment, staffing, HRIS); perform other duties as assigned.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with union stewards and SEIU Local 73 representatives through ongoing collaboration and administer aspects of the collective bargaining agreement.
• Coach supervisors on performance concerns, leave administration, approve timesheets, and oversee completion of annual staff Conflict of Interest survey, annual ARL report submission, merit increases and ad-hoc requests from union.
• Initiate and implement the librarian faculty promotion and application process from submission to notification.
• Work with the Business Office Support team to facilitate financial approvals and vendor payments.
• Partner with managers to promote fairness and consistency across performance management and labor relations practices.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Applied Behavioral Sciences, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in a higher education or related environment in a Human Resources or HR Generalist role.
• Progressively responsible experience, including management and/or supervisory responsibilities.
• Experience in employee relations, conflict resolution, coaching, and developing or implementing communication plans.
• Strong listening skills with the ability to identify root causes of issues, proactively address concerns, and manage challenging situations with professionalism.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with individuals at all organizational levels.
• Exceptional problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities, with proven capacity to exercise strong judgment in complex situations.
• Experience managing departmental budgets.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a university or higher education setting.
• Experience with the following software: Peoplesoft, Saba Talent, OnBase, OneDrive, Workforce Solutions, SharePoint, FASIS, I-9 verifications.
• Master’s degree in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Applied Behavioral Sciences, Business Administration or related field.
• SHRM PHR, SCP or CP certification.
• Experience or familiarity with a collective bargaining environment.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $82,000-$97,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre‑tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.