Chief People Officer, Higher Education Leadership

Concordia College; West Virginia; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Concord University seeks a collaborative, experienced Chief Human Resources Officer to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all HR functions across the university. This role reports to the President and sits on the Cabinet, shaping policies, employee relations, and campus culture.

The successful candidate will advance workforce strategy, engagement, and organizational development while ensuring compliance with state code, HEPC rules, and university policies.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in HR, business, or related field.
• Minimum of five years of senior human resources experience.
• Knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices.
• Proven leadership and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience handling confidential information with discretion and working with diverse constituencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for all HR functions and operations.
• Develop HR strategies aligned with strategic priorities and workforce needs.
• Advise university leadership on employment-related matters and organizational effectiveness.
• Lead employee engagement and organizational development initiatives.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, retention, compensation, benefits, and compliance.
• Ensure legal compliance and manage HR policies; interface with legal and risk management.
• Lead HR reporting and policy development impacting the university.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

HR best practices

Discretion

Diversity collaboration

Education

Master's degree

Tools

HRIS systems

Excel

Job description

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Concord University seeks a collaborative, experienced, and student-centered leader to serve as the Chief Human Resources Officer. Reporting to the President and serving on Cabinet, the Chief Human Resources Officer provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all human resources functions, including recruitment and retention, employee relations, disciplinary action, up to and including termination, compensation and classification, benefits administration, performance management, compliance, professional development, and policy administration.

The Chief Human Resources Officer serves as a trusted advisor to university leadership and works closely with faculty, staff, and administrators to foster a positive workplace culture that supports employee success and advances the University’s mission. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of higher education human resources, a commitment to customer service, and the ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day operational responsibilities. This position will play a key leadership role in strengthening employee engagement, supporting workplace culture initiatives, and helping the University continue to be an employer of choice.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duty/Responsibility

• Provide leadership and oversight for all human resources functions and operations.
• Develop and implement HR strategies that support the University’s strategic priorities and workforce needs.
• Serve as a resource to university leadership on employment-related matters, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement.
• Foster a workplace culture that promotes professionalism, collaboration, inclusion, and employee well-being
• Partner with university leadership to identify opportunities to enhance employee satisfaction, workplace effectiveness, and organizational culture.
• Serve on the President’s Cabinet and report directly to the President. Supervise human resources staff and risk management staff.
• Responsible for ensuring deadlines are met for all required human resources and employment reporting to HEPC , the Legislature, the federal government, etc. are met.
• Serve on various national, statewide and university committees as necessary.
• Oversight of the HR functions for the Concord Research Development Corporation.

Employee Engagement and Organizational Development

• Lead initiatives designed to improve employee engagement, morale, retention, and workplace satisfaction.
• Analyze employee survey data, including institutional climate and workplace satisfaction surveys, and develop recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with campus leadership, faculty, and staff to implement strategies that support a positive and productive work environment.
• Support organizational development efforts, succession planning, leadership development, and workforce planning initiatives. Create and maintain the university organizational structure in conjunction with the President and governing board.
• Coordinate employee recognition and appreciation programs that reinforce the University’s values and mission.

Talent Acquisition and Retention

• Lead recruitment and oversee the onboarding efforts for faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Develop strategies to attract, retain, and support a talented and diverse workforce.
• Monitor workforce trends and recommend improvements to hiring and retention practices.
• Managing the search, interview and hiring processes for senior university leadership and other executive roles, in conjunction with the President and consistent with state code and all applicable rules and policies.

Employee Relations and Performance Management

• Provide guidance, support and oversight regarding employee relations matters, conflict resolution, and workplace concerns.
• Administer performance evaluation processes and support employee development initiatives.
• Assist supervisors in addressing performance, disciplinary, and workplace issues in a fair and consistent manner.

Compensation, Benefits, and Compliance

• Oversight of university compensation and classification programs and support salary studies and market analyses as necessary or as mandated by state code or HEPC rules and policies reporting for such requirements.
• Oversight of employee benefits administration and serve as a liaison with state agencies and benefit providers.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws, regulations, and university policies. Interfacing directly with legal counsel, risk management, etc., to handle external complaints and to mitigate risk. Working with Risk Management to handle EEOC , BOL , Civil Rights, Human Rights, etc. complaints as well as serve as a representative of the university in grievances.
• Prepare disciplinary notices, improvement plans, investigative reports, etc.
• Maintain HR policies and procedures and recommend revisions as needed.

Training and Professional Development

• Coordinate employee training and professional development opportunities.
• Support leadership development and succession planning efforts.
• Promote programs that enhance employee engagement and workplace effectiveness.

Human Resources Operations

• Maintain accurate personnel records and HR reporting systems.
• Utilize data and analytics to inform decision-making and improve HR services.
• Oversee HR processes and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and effectiveness.
• Reviewing all major university personnel policies, handbook revisions, and structural reorganization proposals before adoption.
• Responsible for leading, developing, and managing legally compliant employee programs and practices, including EEO .
• Manages, modifies, etc., all Board of Governor’s policies that relate to employment, HR, disciplinary action, compliance, etc.
• Handles all terminations and suspensions.
• Serve as lead on handling employee complaints.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience at a high level.
• Demonstrated knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and human resources best practices.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong understanding of best practices for human resources professionals.
• Experience managing confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Human resources experience within higher education.
• Experience working in a public institution or complex organizational environment as a Chief Human Resources Officer or Vice President for Human Resources, or similar high-level human resources professional.
• Professional certification such as SHRM -CP, SHRM - SCP , PHR , or SPHR .
• Experience leading employee engagement initiatives, workplace culture assessments, and organizational development efforts.
• Experience interpreting employee satisfaction survey results and implementing action plans based on findings.
• Knowledge of West Virginia higher education personnel policies and procedures HRIS systems and Microsoft Office. Extensive knowledge of Excel is a plus.

% of Time

Education/Knowledge

Minimum Education Master's

Required Licenses/Certification

Required Skills

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply employment laws, regulations, and policies.
• Excellent judgment, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Commitment to customer service and employee support.
• Ability to build trust and maintain effective working relationships across the institution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use data to drive decision-making and organizational improvement.

Required Experience

Type of experience Needed

Type of experience Needed Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience at a high level.

Amount of Experience Needed (Months/Years)

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Required Documents

Resume

Cover Letter

Unofficial Transcripts

Optional Documents

Concord University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer.
Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Concord University
1000 Vermillion Street
P.O. Box 1000
Athens, West Virginia 24712-1000
1-800-344-6679 | 1-304-384-3115