HR Director

XU01 Xavier University; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement plan (401k)

Tuition remission

Generous paid time off

Disability and life insurance

Job summary

Xavier University is seeking a strategic HR Director to serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and direct comprehensive HR business partner services across all divisions. This senior role translates institutional priorities into workforce strategies that strengthen organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, and performance.

The Director will lead and develop a team of HR Business Partners, guide complex employee matters, and partner with university leaders to advance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Administration or related field.
• At least five years of progressive HR experience or senior HR leadership.
• Experience leading, supervising, or managing HR professionals.
• Ability to advise senior leaders and exercise sound independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted HR advisor to senior leaders and align HR strategies with institutional priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of employee relations, risk management, and compliance.
• Lead workforce planning, talent management, recruitment strategy, and succession planning.
• Advise on organizational design, change management, and communication strategies.
• Guide performance management, compensation guidance, and employee development.
• Establish service delivery standards for the HR team and use analytics to drive improvements.
• Ensure consistent application of policies and legal compliance.

Skills

Strategic HR leadership

Senior leadership advisory

Employee relations

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Administration or related field

Job description

Xavier University is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and forward-thinking HR Director to serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and lead comprehensive HR business partner services across all division and organizational units. This senior-level role translates institutional priorities into effective workforce strategies that strengthen organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, talent development, and performance. The Director provides strategic leadership across employee relations, workforce planning, talent management, organizational development, compensation, performance management, and change management. The position leads and develops a team of HR Business Partners, guides complex employee matters, and partners with University leaders to advance organizational goals while ensuring compliance with employment laws and University policies. The successful candidate will bring strong business acumen, sound judgment, and commitment to fostering a collaborative, include and high-performing workplace aligned with Xavier University's Jesuit mission and values.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic HR Leadership: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, aligning HR strategies with institutional priorities. Lead, mentor, and develop HR Business Partners while establishing consistent service standards, priorities, and practices across assigned units.
• Employee Relations and Risk Management: Provide strategic oversight of complex and sensitive employee matters, including investigations, performance management, workplace conduct, conflict resolution, accommodations, and corrective action. Partner with University leadership and legal counsel to mitigate risk and ensure compliance.
• Talent and Workforce Strategy: Lead workforce planning, talent management, recruitment strategy, succession planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness initiatives to support current and future in institutional needs.
• Organizational Development and Change Management: Advise leaders on organizational design, restructuring, workforce transitions, and change initiatives. Develop strategies that support effective communication, employee engagement, and successful implementation of organizational change.
• Performance and Compensation Management: Provide strategic guidance on performance management, position classification, compensation, staffing decisions, and employee development to promote consistency, equity, and alignment with University goals.
• HR Operations and Continuous Improvement: Establish service delivery expectations and performance measures for the HR Business Partner team. Use workforce analytics and HR metrics to identify trends, inform decisions, improve processes and enhance the employee experience.
• Policy and Compliance: Promote consistent application of University policies and employment practices while ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. Maintain appropriate confidentiality, documentation, and data integrity.
• University Collaboration and Mission Alignment: Partner with HR colleagues and campus leaders on enterprise-wide initiatives, policy development, and organizational priorities that advance Xavier University's mission, values, and commitment to care of the whole person.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Administration or a related field.
• At lease five years of progressive human resources experience and/or experience in a senior HR leadership role.
• Experience leading, supervising, or managing HR professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders, exercise sound independent judgment, and resolve complex or sensitive employee and organizational matters.

Benefits - applies only to full-time positions: Xavier University offers a wide array of complementary and affordable benefit options to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and employment class:

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage.
• Tax advantaged accounts including health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and dependent care account.
• Financial security via life and long-term disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, and retirement savings plans.
• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
• Tuition remission for employees and their eligible dependents.

Our campus is located in the vibrant and thriving city of Cincinnati, which has an array of neighborhoods and activities to suit many interests.

Guided by our mission and values, we welcome and support members from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. We unreservedly commit to open and free inquiry, deliberately seek out multiple perspectives, and create a campus where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Xavier University is part of the 500-year-old Jesuit Catholic tradition of academic excellence in the liberal arts.

At Xavier University, we are more than an academic institution - we are a mission-driven community grounded in the Ignatian tradition. Our values of reflection, service, and the pursuit of justice inspire everything we do, from our teaching and research to the way we treat one another. We believe in the power of collaboration, and we cultivate an environment where every voice is valued and diverse perspectives enrich our shared work. Our faculty, staff, and students form a vibrant, inclusive community united by a commitment to excellence, compassion, and a greater good. Whether you're applying for your first role in higher education or bringing years of experience, we invite you to explore how your journey might align with ours. Come be a part of something meaningful.