Strategic HR Leader for Higher Education

South Dakota Board of Regents; Aberdeen (SD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern State University invites applications for the position of Associate Vice President for Human Resources, the University’s chief HR officer. Reporting to Finance & Administration leadership and the Board of Regents HR team, the AVP provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all HR functions while serving two institutions.

The role leads recruitment, compensation, benefits, compliance, HRIS, payroll, and organizational development to advance student and staff success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, Leadership, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all Human Resources operations.
• Advise leadership on workforce planning, organizational development, and employee relations.
• Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention initiatives for faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Oversee employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, and corrective action processes.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and Board of Regents policies, including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, ACA, Title VII, Title IX, and EEO requirements.
• Manage HR information systems, workforce reporting, and personnel records.
• Oversee payroll operations within a complex system governing Board of Regents campuses.
• Support organizational effectiveness through strategic planning and data-informed decision-making.

Skills

Strategic HR leadership

Workforce planning

Employee relations

Compensation & benefits

Talent acquisition

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Northern State University invites applications for the position of Associate Vice President for Human Resources, the University’s chief HR officer. Reporting to Finance & Administration leadership and the Board of Regents HR team, the AVP provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all HR functions while serving two institutions.

The role leads recruitment, compensation, benefits, compliance, HRIS, payroll, and organizational development to advance student and staff success.