Executive Director, People Strategy & Partnerships

University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Los Angeles seeks an Executive Director of the People Strategy and Partnership unit to strengthen the connection between CHR expertise and colleges, schools, and administrative units. The role provides integrated strategic HR partnership, portfolio leadership, organizational guidance, and accountability across campus HR.

UCLA seeks a proactive, strategic, collaborative leader who can translate complex organizational challenges into practical, forward-thinking HR

Qualifications

• Experience in higher education and/or the public sector HR field.
• 8-10 years of progressive HR management in a larger organization.
• Experience with UC systemwide personnel policies and applicable laws and regulations (Preferred)
• Experience managing HR consultation and operations across multiple clients in complex, decentralized environments.
• Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and evaluate staff.
• Expertise in strategic planning, performance measurement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of Six Sigma or process improvement methodologies to enhance quality and efficiency.
• Ability to balance customer service with compliance while developing constraint-aware solutions.
• High level of political acumen and interpersonal skills to influence diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; handles difficult situations effectively.
• Team-building skills to collaborate and provide feedback.
• Knowledge of HR, payroll, and financial systems; leverage technology for operational effectiveness.
• Analytical and strategic thinking with attention to detail; solve complex problems.
• Knowledge of employment laws, policies, and labor agreements, with discretion handling confidential information.
• Ability to develop budget plans and administer financial resources.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for execution of HR strategy and operational initiatives across UCLA.
• Lead efforts to strengthen HR compliance and effectiveness, reduce risk, and accountability.
• Serve as trusted strategic advisor across HR functions.
• Establish service standards for portfolio HR support and direct HR operations.
• Oversight of the People Strategy & Partnerships unit; coordinate with CHR COEs.

Skills

Leadership & management

Strategic planning

Process improvement

Stakeholder management

Communication

Team building

Analytical thinking

Employment laws & labor agreements

Budgeting

Change management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in related field

Master's Degree in HR/Business (Preferred)

CCP / SPHR / SHRM-SCP (Preferred)

Tools

HR information systems

Payroll systems

Financial systems

Job description

Special Instructions to Applicants

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor and Chief People Officer, the Executive Director, People Strategy & Partnerships provides executive leadership for the execution of human resources strategy and transformational operational initiatives across UCLA Campus. The role will shape and execute ways Campus Human Resources delivers HR services to clients across UCLA. The Executive Director has oversight of the new People Strategy & Partnerships unit. Through a team of management direct reports and campus departmental HR resources, the incumbent leads a large and complex portfolio-based support structure that shapes the delivery of HR services to promote greater consistency, clarity, efficiency, responsiveness, and shared accountability across the UCLA Campus HR environment. The Executive Director will also lead efforts to strengthen HR compliance and effectiveness, reduce risk, and establish accountability for HR operations, while appropriately addressing significant HR vulnerabilities. The incumbent serves as a trusted strategic advisor and provides expert consultation to support a broad range of HR functions through various reporting relationships, including, but not limited to, employee and labor relations, talent acquisition & workforce planning, classification, compensation, leaves of absence, performance management, organizational effectiveness, and policy interpretation and administration. The incumbent establishes service standards for portfolio HR support and directs HR operations, organizational planning, resource allocation, service performance, process improvement, and integration with CHR Centers of Excellence (COE) to ensure HR capabilities and services are aligned with campus priorities. The incumbent serves as a key member of the CHR's leadership team and provides the vision, leadership, planning, and operations oversight to ensure day-to-day and strategic objectives are being met in the People Strategy & Partnerships unit. The role provides executive guidance on significant organizational, talent, and change matters, directs resolution of complex issues spanning departmental and CHR functions, and uses insights and data to anticipate emerging needs, evaluate service effectiveness and capacity, and drive strategic decisions regarding HR structures, priorities, and service delivery.

Department Summary

Campus Human Resources (CHR) provides a full range of human resource management services through its various Centers of Excellence, including Benefits, Compensation and Classification, Employee and Labor Relations, HR and Payroll Operations, Learning and Organizational Development, Staff and Faculty Counseling, and Talent Acquisition and Workforce Planning. CHR also leads and supports campus-wide human resources strategies, programs, initiatives, and special projects designed to strengthen UCLA's workforce and advance the University's mission.

The People Strategy and Partnership function strengthens the connection between CHR expertise and the college, schools, departments, and administrative units it serves by providing integrated strategic HR partnership, portfolio leadership, organizational guidance, and accountability. The function is designed to promote greater consistency, clarity, efficiency, responsiveness, and shared accountability across the UCLA Campus HR environment.

Position Summary

The Executive Director of the People Strategy and Partnership unit will strengthen the connection between CHR expertise and the colleges, schools, departments, and administrative units it serves by providing integrated strategic HR partnership, portfolio leadership, organizational guidance, and accountability. The function is designed to promote greater consistency, clarity, efficiency, responsiveness, and shared accountability across the UCLA Campus HR environment.

UCLA seeks a proactive, strategic, collaborative self-starter who thrives in a dynamic environment, builds trusted partnerships, and translates complex organizational challenges into practical, forward-thinking solutions. The ideal candidate will bring sound judgment, strong relationship-building skills, and a commitment to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and service. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape a more integrated, responsive, and strategically aligned HR partnership model that empowers campus leaders, strengthens organizational effectiveness, and advances UCLA's mission of teaching, research, and public service.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience in higher education and/or the public sector human resources field. (Required)
• 8-10 Years Of progressive Human Resources management in a larger organization. (Required)
• Experience with UC systemwide personnel policies and applicable laws and regulations (Preferred)
• 1. Experience managing HR consultation and operations across multiple clients in complex, decentralized environments. (Required)
• 2. Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to motivate, coach, and evaluate staff. (Required)
• 3. Expertise in strategic planning, performance measurement, and continuous improvement initiatives. (Required)
• 4. Knowledge of process improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma) to enhance quality and efficiency. (Required)
• 5. Ability to balance customer service with compliance while developing creative, constraint-aware solutions. (Required)
• 6. High level of political acumen and interpersonal skills to build relationships with and influence diverse stakeholders. (Required)
• 7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including translating complex information for varied audiences. Demonstrated ability to handle extremely difficult or volatile situations/individuals effectively. (Required)
• 8. Team-building skills with the ability to collaborate, provide feedback, and foster a supportive work environment. (Required)
• 9. Knowledge of HR, payroll, and financial systems, and ability to leverage technology for operational effectiveness. (Required)
• 10. Analytical and strategic thinking skills, with attention to detail and ability to solve complex problems. (Required)
• 11. Knowledge of employment laws, policies, and labor agreements, with discretion in handling confidential information. (Required)
• 12. Ability to develop budget plans and administer financial resources, exercising care and fiscal responsibility. (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Bachelor's Degree in a related area and/or equivalent combination of education and experience/training. (Required)
• Master's Degree in human resource management, business administration, or a related discipline. (Preferred)
• CCP, SPHR, or SHRM-SCP certification (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Schedule

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered

Complete Position Description

https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Human%20Resources%20Manager%203%20(41273838)