HR Director

UWLAC University of Wisconsin La Crosse; La Crosse (WI); On-site; USD 103,500 - 126,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacation

Retirement plan

Job summary

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is seeking a Human Resources Director to lead the Office of Human Resources, overseeing payroll, benefits, employee relations, and training. The role partners with campus offices to ensure compliance with laws and UW policies, and to advance recruiting, development, and service excellence across faculty, staff, and student workers.

The position reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget and Human Resources.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or public administration is required.
• Five years leading and managing human resource functions including recruitment, retention, performance planning, payroll and benefits, and training.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with a broad range of people.
• Strong presentation skills.
• A collaborative, team-oriented style.
• Ability to develop solid collaborative relationships with a diverse campus community.
• Demonstrated service orientation and proactive support to campus stakeholders.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations (EEO, ADA).

Responsibilities

• Campus collaboration with the Office of Civil Rights and Compliance and campus offices to develop HR strategies and policies.
• Maintain knowledge of federal and state employment laws and University policies.
• Provide leadership for the Workday HCM system and related HR technologies.
• Lead day-to-day operations of the Office of Human Resources and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Manage payroll and benefits administration, employee relations, training, and development.
• Oversee budget for the Office of Human Resources.
• Develop and implement HR policies and communicate them clearly to employees and supervisors.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Collaborative mindset

Customer service

Workday knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or public administration

Master’s degree in human resources, business, or public administration (preferred)

Professional HR Certification (preferred)

Eight+ years of HR management experience in higher education or similar setting (preferred)

Tools

Workday HCM system

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title: HR Director

Job Category: Limited

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: HR Director (B)

Job Duties

Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget and Human Resources, the Human Resources Director oversees the daily operations of the Office of Human Resources for the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. This position is responsible for managing core HR services, ensuring accurate and timely HR transactions, and supporting employees, supervisors, and campus partners with HR processes and information. Core functional areas of the Office of Human Resources include talent acquisition, payroll and benefits, employee relations support, performance management administration, and training coordination. This position works in partnership with other university offices to ensure the university's compliance with federal and state laws and regulations and Universities of Wisconsin personnel policies and procedures.

The review of applications starts on August 27, 2026. Applications received on or before August 27th are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled. Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus. UW-La Crosse does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608-785-8013.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Campus Collaboration: Work in close collaboration with the Office of Civil Rights and Compliance as well as university divisions, colleges, departments, and offices to develop strategies, programs, and policies that create and support an inclusive work environment.
• Compliance: Maintain knowledge of federal and state employment laws as well as Universities of Wisconsin personnel policies and institutional reporting requirements.
• HR Information Technology: Provide functional leadership for the Workday HCM system. Leverage Workday and related HR technologies to deliver accurate data, enhance HR service, and strengthen compliance. Lead efforts to train and support campus stakeholders in the effective use of Workday and associated HR systems.
• Leadership & Management: Lead the day-to-day operations of the Office of Human Resources, including staffing, workflow, and high-quality service delivery. Foster a professional and positive work environment that promotes collaboration and constructive problem solving. Ensure consistent application of HR procedures and responsive customer service. Serve as a resource to campus constituents and the HR staff, and oversee the core functions and services of the Office of Human Resources for faculty, academic staff, university staff, and student employees. Core responsibilities include payroll and benefit administration, employee relations, training and development, employee assistance programs, and oversight of the Workday HCM system.
• Financial Management: Responsible for managing and administering the annual operating budget for the Office of Human Resources.
• Policy & Procedures: In collaboration with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget and Human Resources, develop and implement policies and procedures that meet the human resource needs of the university and support the recruitment and retention of faculty and staff. Apply a comprehensive and strategic approach to communicating human resource policies and procedures to employees and supervisors. Assure guidance and support is also provided to employees and their shared governance groups in a manner that minimizes conflicts in the workplace and promotes communication and enhanced performance.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or public administration, or related field is required.
• 5 years leading and managing human resource functions including employee recruitment and retention, performance and evaluation planning, employee relations, payroll and benefits, employee and supervisor training, and career and leadership development.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with a broad range of people.
• Strong presentation skills.
• A collaborative, team-oriented style.
• The ability to develop solid collaborative relationships with a diverse group of campus constituents including faculty, staff, and students.
• A demonstrated service orientation and proactive in providing service and support to campus stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of and ability to apply federal and state employment laws and regulations, including EEO, ADA, and other workplace compliance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree in human resources, business or public administration, or related field.
• Professional certification in human resources.
• Progressively responsible experience in human resource management in higher education.
• A total of eight or more years of experience in human resource management and supervision in a higher education, public sector, or private sector setting.
• Strong working knowledge and experience with Workday.

Benefits

Your benefits add an additional 40%+ to the overall financial package from the university.

• Paid vacation for 12-month positions.
• Excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage.
• Paid holidays and paid sick days.
• After 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career.

Benefits at UWL are highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation. Benefit eligibility is determined at the point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

The Universities of Wisconsin serve approximately 161,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the Universities of Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree – with a median salary of more than $66,000. The Universities of Wisconsin provides a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. The Universities of Wisconsin and its employees are purpose-driven, people-focused, and committed to stewardship.

Special Notes: Application deadlines TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Priority consideration is given to those candidates who apply by the listed 'First Review Date'. Applications received after that date may be considered at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or if you are not able to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact the Office of Human Resources.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials UWL is a state agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWL will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of 'final candidates' and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC & Reference Check Policy All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) For the UWL Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.uwlax.edu/student-life/student-resources/annual-security-report/ or contact the University Police Department at 608.785.9000.

Compensation: $115,000 / year