Senior Director Strategic Programs and Partnerships

100 Miami University; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart city? Note: not specified

N/A

Job summary

Miami University seeks a Senior Director of Strategic Programs and Partnerships to lead enterprise HR strategy, workforce analytics, AI-driven tools, and information services across academic and administrative units. This role aligns talent systems with institutional priorities to drive organizational effectiveness and ROI.

The Senior Director will partner with CHRO, inform policy design, manage change, and build cross-campus partnerships to advance student and faculty success while shaping a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Higher Education, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in human resources, organizational strategy, or a related field, preferably in higher education or complex organizations.
• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Higher Education, Business Administration, or related field or Doctorate (PhD or EdD) in Educational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-level initiatives involving data analytics, HR technology, and organizational change.
• Strong understanding of human capital theory, workforce analytics, and strategic HR practices.
• Experience implementing AI or advanced analytics in human capital environments.
• Familiarity with shared governance structures and the academic enterprise.
• Core Competencies: Strategic Thinking & Systems Leadership; Data-Informed Decision Making; Change Leadership & Organizational Development; Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement; Innovation & Continuous Improvement; Equity-Minded Leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead alignment of enterprise human capital strategy with university-wide priorities.
• Design, integration, and improvement of strategic human capital initiatives.
• Build cross-campus partnerships to ensure alignment and shared accountability for outcomes.
• Oversee AI-driven tools and business intelligence systems to enhance decision-making.
• Lead workforce analytics, dashboards, and reporting frameworks for recruitment, retention, and development.
• Establish data governance standards and ensure ethical use of AI in HR practices.
• Provide strategic oversight of HR technology systems and IT partnership for HRIS modernization.
• Design enterprise change management strategies and leadership capacity for transformation.
• Develop policy frameworks to ensure compliance, clarity, and equity.

Skills

Data analytics

HR technology

Organizational change

Human capital theory

Workforce analytics

Strategic HR practices

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Doctorate

Job description

Job Title Senior Director Strategic Programs and Partnerships Department Human Resources Worker Type Regular Pay Type Salary Position Salary Minimum $140,000.00 Position Salary Maximum $160,000.00 Salary will be commensurate with the level of the position, education, and experience. Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Benefit Eligible Yes Screening Date 2026-08-14

Job Description Summary

The Senior Director of Strategic Programs & Partnerships provides vision, leadership, and integration across high-impact functional areas including AI and business intelligence, HR applications and information services, change management, policy design and administration, academic and student employee support, workforce analytics, and succession planning. This position is responsible for aligning human capital strategy with institutional priorities, ensuring that talent systems, data infrastructure, and organizational practices drive measurable outcomes in organizational effectiveness, employee experience, and return on investment (ROI). The Senior Director operates at the intersection of strategy, technology, and people, leveraging data-informed decision-making, cross-functional partnerships, and innovative program design to support the university’s academic mission.

Job Description Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Institutional Alignment

• Serve as a senior advisor to the CHRO on enterprise human capital strategy, aligning programs and systems with university-wide strategic priorities.
• Lead the design, integration, and continuous improvement of strategic human capital initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness and institutional performance.
• Build and sustain cross-campus partnerships with academic leadership, finance, IT, and student affairs to ensure alignment and shared accountability for outcomes.

AI, Business Intelligence & Workforce Analytics

• Oversee the development and implementation of AI-driven tools and business intelligence systems to enhance decision-making across the employee lifecycle.
• Lead enterprise workforce analytics, including predictive modeling, dashboards, and reporting frameworks that inform recruitment, retention, and talent development strategies.
• Establish data governance standards and ensure ethical, transparent, and equitable use of AI in human capital practices.

HR Applications & Information Services

• Provide strategic oversight of HR technology systems, ensuring integration, usability, and alignment with institutional needs.
• Partner with IT to modernize HRIS infrastructure and optimize system performance, data integrity, and user experience.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to streamline processes and increase operational efficiency through technology.

Change Management & Organizational Effectiveness

• Design and implement enterprise change management strategies that support institutional transformation and cultural alignment.
• Develop frameworks, tools, and leadership capacity for managing complex organizational change.
• Facilitate initiatives that strengthen leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, and organizational adaptability.

Policy Design & Administration

• Oversee the development, review, and administration of human capital policies to ensure compliance, clarity, and alignment with institutional values and strategy.
• Lead policy modernization efforts that reduce administrative burden while supporting equity, accountability, and transparency.
• Serve as a key liaison for policy interpretation and governance.

Academic & Student Employee Support

• Provide strategic leadership for services and programs supporting faculty, academic staff, and student employees.
• Ensure human capital practices are responsive to the unique needs of academic units and aligned with the university’s teaching and research mission.
• Partner with academic leadership to enhance faculty and student employment experiences.

Succession Planning & Talent Strategy

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive succession planning framework for faculty and staff leadership roles.
• Integrate succession planning with talent development, performance management, and workforce planning strategies.
• Utilize data and predictive analytics to identify talent gaps and inform long-term workforce strategy.

ROI & Program Evaluation

• Establish metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness and return on investment of human capital programs.
• Drive a culture of evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement across all functional areas.
• Regularly report outcomes and insights to executive leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Higher Education, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in human resources, organizational strategy, or a related field, preferably in higher education or complex organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Higher Education, Business Administration, or related field or Doctorate (PhD or EdD) in Educational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, or related field.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-level initiatives involving data analytics, HR technology, and organizational change.
• Strong understanding of human capital theory, workforce analytics, and strategic HR practices.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience implementing AI or advanced analytics in human capital environments.
• Familiarity with shared governance structures and the academic enterprise.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Systems Leadership
• Data-Informed Decision Making
• Change Leadership & Organizational Development
• Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
• Equity-Minded Leadership

Impact Statement

This role is central to Miami University’s ability to leverage human capital as a strategic asset. By integrating technology, data, and people-centered practices, the Senior Director will enhance institutional effectiveness, improve employee outcomes, and ensure that human capital investments yield measurable value in support of the university’s mission.

Additional Position Information

Required Application Documents Resume and cover letter

Special Instructions (if applicable) none

Additional Information

A criminal background check is required. All campuses are smoke- and tobacco-free campuses. This organization participates in E-Verify.

Remote Work For positions that are approved for remote work

Remote work is not a right, it is a work arrangement that can be modified or revoked by Miami University at any time for any reason, including the convenience of the University.

Reasonable Accommodations Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to [e-mail] or 513-529-3560. Questions and follow-ups regarding requests should also be directed here.

Miami University Values Statement

Miami University is a scholarly community whose members believe that a liberal education is grounded in qualities of character as well as of intellect. We respect the dignity of other persons, the rights and property of others, and the right of others to hold and express disparate beliefs. We believe in honesty, integrity, and the importance of moral conduct. We defend the freedom of inquiry that is the heart of learning and combine that freedom with the exercise of judgment and the acceptance of personal responsibility. For more information on Miami University’s mission and core values, please visit the Mission and Core Values webpage.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement

Miami University, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encourages applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Miami University prohibits harassment, discrimination and retaliation on the basis of age (40 years or older), color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin (ancestry), pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, status as a parent or foster parent, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs or employment practices. Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to [e-mail] or 513-529-3560.

Clery Act

As part of the University’s commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe learning and working environment, we encourage you to read Miami University’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report at: http://www.MiamiOH.edu/campus-safety/annual-report/index.html, which contains information about campus safety, crime statistics, and our drug and alcohol abuse and prevention program designed to prevent the unlawful possession, use, and distribution of drugs and alcohol on campus and at university events and activities. This report also contains information on programs and policies designed to prevent and address sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Each year, email notification of this website is made to all faculty, staff, and enrolled students. Written notification is also provided to prospective students and employees. Hard copies of the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report may be obtained from the Miami University Police Department at 513-529-2223.

Labor Law Posters for Applicants

Please visit our Labor Law Posters webpage to access all relevant and applicable labor law information.

Miami University is a major public university with a small college feel. Creating environments for learning excellence and providing career opportunities in Oxford, Hamilton, Middletown, West Chester and Luxembourg, our faculty, staff, and student employees are the fuel that drives Miami! We rank first nationally among public universities for best teaching by U.S. News & World Report. Our opportunities for growth and advancement are not limited to students in the classroom. Our faculty, staff, and student employees are highly valued for their contribution toward the Miami experience. Miami’s main campus is located in Oxford, Ohio, 35 miles north of Cincinnati. A true college town, Oxford features a wide variety of shops and restaurants within walking distance of the main campus. Our regional campuses are located in Hamilton, Middletown, and the Voice of America Learning Center in West Chester, Ohio. For faculty and staff, Miami offers a great work environment and competitive benefits. We invite you to experience Miami and see how you can support the University’s Mission.