Director of Human Resources, College of Natural Sciences

The University of Texas at Austin; Utah; On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a Director of Human Resources for the College of Natural Sciences to provide strategic and operational leadership across three workforce groups. You will unify a decentralized HR community around consistent workflows and best practices, serving as a trusted advisor to the Dean and college leadership.

The role emphasizes leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to build trust, strengthen partnerships, and elevate HR in a large public university.

Responsibilities

• Strategic HR leadership and workforce planning: Partner with CNS leadership to develop and implement workforce strategies, organizational structures, talent management initiatives, and governance practices aligned with college and departmental priorities.
• HR governance and compliance: Lead implementation of university workforce policies, regulatory changes, and HR initiatives across departments. Ensure local practices comply with federal and state requirements and university policy.
• Operational excellence and HR technology: Identify gaps and inefficiencies; standardize and improve HR processes; and support technology enhancements that strengthen accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience. Use workforce data, HR metrics, and trend analysis to inform leadership decisions and evaluate the effectiveness of HR programs.
• Employee relations and organizational effectiveness: Provide senior-level guidance on complex and high-risk employment matters in collaboration with central university offices. Advise leaders on performance management, restructuring, retention, and organizational effectiveness.
• College leadership and institutional engagement: Represent the college on committees, task forces, and leadership forums, and build p

Job description

Director of Human Resources, College of Natural Sciences

Hiring Department: College of Natural Sciences

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Dec 07, 2026

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS

The Opportunity

Lead HR for the largest college at one of the nation's top public research universities, the University of Texas at Austin. As Human Resources Director, you will bring consistency, clarity, and a strong service culture to a decentralized HR community, building alignment around shared processes, common standards, and collective accountability. If you have led HR in a university, public agency, or other large, complex organization, you will recognize the challenge and appreciate the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in higher education. The role calls for a leader who can navigate complexity, build trust, strengthen partnerships, and bring people together around a common vision.

Experience in higher education, research, or the public sector is helpful, but not required. We will help you learn UT Austin policies, practices, and terminology. What matters most is your leadership, sound judgment, and ability to unify teams and elevate HR across a large, complex organization.

About the College and the University

The College of Natural Sciences Discovery starts here in the College of Natural Sciences , where we are changing the world through transformative experiences, education, and research. We are the largest college at UT Austin, home to top-ranked academic specialties, a dozen departments, and award-winning student programs and faculty. Join us and pave the way for the next generation of leaders and breakthroughs in science, technology, and mathematics.

The University of Texas at Austin

Founded in 1883, The University of Texas at Austin ranks among the best universities in the world. With 70 programs ranked in the top 10, UT is the #1 public university in Texas and the #8 public university in the nation. The university community includes some 55,000 students, 4,760 faculty, 15,000 staff across 16 colleges and schools. As Texas' leading research university, UT attracts more than $1.37 billion annually for discovery. Located in Austin, UT offers a dynamic place to build a career in public higher education. UT Austin offers outstanding employee benefits and total rewards packages. For more details, please see: Benefits | Human Resources.

Purpose

The Human Resources Director provides strategic and operational leadership for all HR functions across the College of Natural Sciences (CNS). This role oversees the full employee lifecycle (hiring through separation) for three workforce groups: academic research staff, administrative and operations staff, and student employees. You will unify the college's decentralized HR community around consistent workflows and best practices and serve as a trusted advisor to the Dean and college leadership on complex employment matters. The ideal candidate is a seasoned HR leader with both strategic vision and hands‑on expertise, gained in a large, complex organization. Experience in higher education or research is preferred but not required.

What you will bring to the role:

• Leadership through influence in a decentralized environment
• Relationship‑building across a wide range of stakeholders, from faculty and researchers to business managers and central offices
• Balance of strategic thinking and operational execution
• Ability to foster collaboration and shared accountability for results
• Sound judgment, transparency, and resilience in complex situations

Responsibilities

• Strategic HR leadership and workforce planning: Partner with CNS leadership to develop and implement workforce strategies, organizational structures, talent management initiatives, and governance practices aligned with college and departmental priorities.
• HR governance and compliance: Lead implementation of university workforce policies, regulatory changes, and HR initiatives across departments. Ensure local practices comply with federal and state requirements and university policy.
• Operational excellence and HR technology: Identify gaps and inefficiencies; standardize and improve HR processes; and support technology enhancements that strengthen accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience. Use workforce data, HR metrics, and trend analysis to inform leadership decisions and evaluate the effectiveness of HR programs.
• Employee relations and organizational effectiveness: Provide senior-level guidance on complex and high-risk employment matters in collaboration with central university offices. Advise leaders on performance management, restructuring, retention, and organizational effectiveness.
• College leadership and institutional engagement: Represent the college on committees, task forces, and leadership forums, and build p