DIR HUMAN RESOURCES

Covenant Health; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant Health in Knoxville seeks a Director of Human Resources to serve as a strategic advisor to senior leaders, aligning people strategies with organizational goals. This role leads a large HR team and drives employee engagement, leadership effectiveness, and operational excellence across hospitals and service lines.

The incumbent will oversee employee relations, talent management, and organizational effectiveness, ensuring compliance and data-driven decision-making to support Covenant

Qualifications

• 8+ years HR experience, preferably in a large, matrixed environment.
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking.
• Proven ability to influence and partner with leaders/executives.
• Experience in employee relations, talent management, and organizational effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to align people strategies with organizational goals.
• Lead HR Business Partners and HR Coordinators to ensure high-quality service.
• Manage complex employee relations matters and investigations.
• Drive leadership development and succession planning.
• Lead change management initiatives and ensure adoption across the organization.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and accreditation standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

HR analytics

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Overview

Director of Human Resources

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Covenant Health Overview:

Covenant Health is the region's top-performing healthcare network with 10hospitals,outpatient and specialtyservices,andCovenant Medical Group, our area's fastest-growing physician practice division. Headquartered in Knoxville, Covenant Health is a community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system and the area's largest employer. Our more than 11,000 employees, volunteers, and 1,500 affiliated physicians are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the more than two million patients and families we serve every year. Covenant Health is the only healthcare system in East Tennessee to be named a Forbes "Best Employer" seven times.

Position Summary:

The HR Director serves as the strategic advisor and trusted partner to business leaders, aligning people strategies with organizational goals. This role is a senior HR leader for large or complex hospitals or lines of business, championing a culture rooted in the organization's values, fostering an environment of transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. The HR Director drives initiatives that enhance employee engagement, leadership effectiveness, and operational excellence while providing expert consultation on employee relations, talent management, and organizational effectiveness across all people processes.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with leaders to understand business objectives and translate them into HR strategies, serving as a primary HR advisor to hospital or business line leadership
• Lead, coach, and develop HR Business Partners and HR Coordinators to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of HR services, build capability across the HR team, and drive alignment with organizational priorities, culture, and leadership expectations.
• Lead complex employee relations matters and investigations, providing expert coaching and guidance to leaders on team dynamics, performance management, and effective resolution of employee relations issues.
• Drive leadership development and succession planning by partnering with leaders to assess talent, develop high-potential employees, and implement succession strategies that strengthen leadership capability and ensure readiness for critical roles.
• Provide leadership for change management initiatives by driving effective communication, promoting adoption, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring measurable, sustained organizational outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and accreditation standards, proactively leading efforts to maintain continuous HR survey readiness and coordinating preparation, documentation, and follow-up activities for Joint Commission, CMS, and other regulatory agency reviews.
• Analyze workforce metrics and leverage data storytelling to inform leadership decision-making, identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and guide targeted interventions that drive cultural, behavioral, and organizational improvement.
• Collaborate with HR Centers of Excellence to support core HR processes including performance management, compensation planning and processes, leave of absence administration, talent acquisition
• Promote a culture, engagement, and retention through leadership coaching and employee experience initiatives.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

Bachelor degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology or related field. Master degree preferred in Business, Organizational Development, or Healthcare Administration.

Minimum Experience:

8+ years HR experience, preferably in a large, matrixed environment. Leadership experience preferred.Strong business acumen and strategic thinking expertise. Proven ability to influence and partner with leaders and/or executives. Excellent consulting and analytical skills

Licensure Requirement:

None