Senior HR Partner, University Relations

University of Southern California; California; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

USC University Relations seeks a Senior HR Partner to serve as a trusted strategic advisor to leaders across the organization. You will learn the client’s business, build trusted relationships, and provide thoughtful HR guidance aligning people strategies with organizational goals.

The role requires coaching executives, handling employee relations and investigations, and guiding workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, and change management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, psychology, human resources, industrial relations or related.
• Experience advising executive leadership on people strategy and HR solutions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to University Relations leaders on people strategy and workforce planning.
• Coach leaders through complex people decisions and guide organizational effectiveness initiatives.
• Manage employee relations matters and workplace investigations when needed.
• Partner with USC HR Centers of Expertise to deliver integrated HR solutions (Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR systems, etc.).
• Leverage people data and insights to inform decisions on promotion, compensation, and development.

Skills

HR partnership

Employee relations

Coaching leaders

Workforce planning

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Position Overview

USC Human Resources, Ethics, and Compliance (HREC) is seeking an experienced Senior HR Partner to serve as a trusted strategic advisor to USC University Relations leaders.

USC University Relations advances the university's role as an anchor institution by supporting the university's leadership, faculty, staff, and students in building and strengthening community partnerships and civic leadership. With more than 200 professionals, University Relations partners with community stakeholders and leaders at the local, state, and federal levels of government. The department's scope includes government relations, civic and community partnerships, pre-K-16 education access programs, and Classical California - the nation's most listened to musical public radio station. The Senior HR Partner will support its diverse portfolio and advise leaders on strategic people and organizational needs.

This position is a part of University Human Resources' Client Services, reporting to a Director, and is assigned to USC University Relations as their respective client providing dedicated HR partnership while collaborating with USC's HR Centers of Expertise.

Learn more about USC University Relations: https://communities.usc.edu/

The Opportunity

USC's Senior HR Partners are expected to learn their client's business, build trusted relationships, and provide thoughtful HR guidance that balances immediate needs with longer-term organizational priorities.

The role requires someone who can confidently coach and consult with leaders and drive people strategies that build a culture aligned with organizational goals and priorities. The role requires the ability to navigate difficult conversations, manage employee relations matters and workplace investigations. Working with University Relations leadership, this role will prioritize workforce planning and strategy, organizational effectiveness and team culture, change management and performance management strategies and programs. Senior HR Partners also provide guidance to HR Partners and Associate HR Partners.

This opportunity is well suited for an HR professional who uses sound judgment, is comfortable navigating complexity and ambiguity, and enjoys being close to the business while solving complex people challenges.

Key Accountabilities

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the assigned client organization, developing a strong understanding of its business, people, culture, priorities, and long-term goals.
• Build relationships with employees and leaders at all levels, providing proactive HR consultation, coaching, and guidance.
• Participate in strategic planning and advise leaders on workforce planning, change management, succession planning, performance management, talent development, and organizational effectiveness strategies.
• Manage and resolve employee and labor relations matters, including workplace investigations, performance concerns, disciplinary actions, and other sensitive employee matters.
• Coach leaders through complex people decisions and provide thoughtful HR guidance, including appropriately challenging assumptions when needed.
• Partner with USC HR Centers of Expertise to deliver solutions across Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR systems and analytics, learning and organizational development, and other HR functions.
• Leverage workforce data, employee feedback, and organizational insights to support hiring, promotion, compensation, professional development, succession planning, and other talent decisions.
• Communicate complex HR policies, practices, and employment requirements in ways that enable leaders and employees to understand and act.
• Manage competing priorities and changing business needs with sound judgment, discretion, responsiveness, and follow-through.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to HR Partners and Associate HR Partners and contribute to a collaborative HR environment.
• Maintain current knowledge of HR leading practices and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Work Schedule & Work Arrangement

The regular work schedule for these positions is Monday through Friday. These positions follow a hybrid-fixed work arrangement with an expectation of working onsite at least three days per week and remotely two days per week. Additional onsite days will be required during onboarding and to meet client needs.

Onsite days will be spent within the assigned client organization at various locations. Travel between USC locations is required based on client and business needs.

The university reserves the right to modify work schedules and arrangements based on business needs.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, psychology, human resources, industrial relations or related