Senior Faculty Affairs Partner

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Amherst (MA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc. invites applications for a Senior Faculty Affairs Partner to advise the Dean and College leadership on faculty affairs and academic personnel matters.

The role ensures alignment with university standards and serves as the main liaison to Academic HR in the Provost’s Office. Collaborating with the Provost’s Office and HR, this role advances compliant, high‑quality operations across faculty appointments, promotions, tenure, and leaves, while guiding policy

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and seven or more years of progressive HR or academic administration experience.
• Advanced knowledge of academic personnel processes and collective bargaining agreements.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations or policy matters.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic Faculty Affairs partner to define and implement operational strategies that advance the College’s mission.
• Act as primary contact for all faculty lifecycle matters including appointments, promotions, tenure, and leaves.
• Interpret policies and advise on labor relations strategy in collaboration with HR and Provost’s Office.
• Coordinate payroll, benefits, accommodations, and absence management with HR Centers of Excellence.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, CBAs, and regulatory standards in all personnel actions.
• Manage high-volume workflows and coordinate faculty searches across departments.
• Support change management for new policies and system upgrades.
• Collect and report faculty data for accreditation and planning.
• Mentor staff on faculty affairs processes and participate in university initiatives.

Skills

Strategic HR partnership

Academic personnel processes

Employee relations

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

The Senior Faculty Affairs (FA) Partner serves as a senior advisor to the Dean and College leadership, providing strategic direction on faculty affairs and academic personnel matters. This role ensures the effective implementation of faculty policies and practices in alignment with university standards and serves as the primary liaison to Academic HR in the Provost’s Office.

In collaboration with the Provost’s Office, the Office of Human Resources, and campus stakeholders, the Senior FA Partner advances consistent, compliant, and high-quality faculty affairs operations in support of the College’s mission and strategic priorities.

Essential Functions

• Serves as a strategic Faculty Affairs partner to the Dean and College leadership team to define, support, and implement operational strategies that advance the College’s academic, research, and social justice mission.
• Serves as the primary point of contact within the College for all faculty lifecycle matters, including appointments, promotions, tenure, and leaves.
• Partners with Academic HR in the Provost’s Office and HR Business Partners to interpret policies, resolve complex employee relations or performance issues, and advise on labor relations strategy.
• Collaborates with HR Centers of Excellence (COEs) to ensure smooth facilitation of payroll and benefits administration, accommodation requests, and absentee management for faculty.
• Ensures compliance and consistency in all academic personnel actions and documentation with university policies, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable legal and regulatory standards.
• Manages high-volume workflows and coordinates faculty searches across multiple departments.
• Supports change management efforts related to new policies, collective bargaining agreements, and system upgrades.
• Collects and reports faculty data for accreditation, compliance, and institutional planning.
• Mentors and provides guidance to staff on faculty affairs processes.
• Represents the College in university-wide Academic HR and HR partner initiatives.

Other Functions

• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, College, and University goals and objectives.
• May supervise employees as the College's administrative structure evolves.
• Safeguards and maintains confidential personnel records on behalf of the College.
• Travels and attends meetings, as requested.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, and seven or more years of progressive HR or academic administration experience.
• Advanced knowledge of academic personnel processes and collective bargaining agreements.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations or policy matters.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• PHR certification and/or SPHR-CP certification.
• Demonstrated leadership in faculty affairs or academic HR or higher education.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with academic leaders and central administration.
• Proven ability to build partnerships and lead through influence in a complex organization.

Additional Details

The College of Education includes three (3) departments and serves approximately 400 undergraduate students and 400 graduate students. At any one time, the College maintains approximately 240 employee appointments, including tenure system faculty, part‑time and full‑time lecturers, permanent and temporary staff members, post‑doctoral research associates, graduate teaching assistants, and student employees.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday‑Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (40 hours per week)

Required to work occasional nights and weekends.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, with the expectation that the person in the role will be able to work onsite full‑time for the first six months in the role before converting to a mutually agreed upon hybrid work schedule.

The hybrid work schedule is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position is non‑unit, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Non‑Unit (Professional/or Classified) Employee Personnel Policy.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 28.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and a cover letter outlining their interest in the role. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide the contact information for three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.