Vice President Human Resources

Care New England; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Care New England Health System seeks a Vice President, Human Resources to serve as the senior HR executive for Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, RI. The role leads HR strategy, labor relations, compliance, and employee relations, guiding the on-site HR Business Partners and aligning workforce strategies with system priorities.

The VP HR partners with executive leadership, shape workforce development, and ensures equity and compliance across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of related HR experience.
• Expert knowledge of federal and state employment and labor laws (NLRA, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, ERISA).
• Strong executive presence with ability to influence senior leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage risk while maintaining employee engagement and organizational integrity.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior HR executive and strategic advisor to the operating unit President/COO and executive leadership team.
• Lead development and execution of the operating unit’s people strategy in alignment with Care New England system priorities.
• Represent Human Resources on executive committees, labor‑management councils, and governance forums.
• Champion organizational culture, engagement, workforce development, and leadership accountability.
• Act as the operating unit’s primary labor relations leader and central point of contact and strategy in partnership with the EVP Chief People Officer, VP of Total Rewards, and Internal Legal Counsel.
• Provide expert guidance on contract interpretation, grievance handling, disciplinary actions, and arbitration preparation.
• Analyze grievance and labor activity trends to proactively mitigate risk and improve outcomes.
• In partnership with legal counsel, develop and deliver labor relations training for executives, managers, and supervisors.
• Oversee employee relations strategy, investigations, and case management to ensure consistency and legal defensibility.
• Advise leaders on performance management, corrective action, and separation decisions.
• Identify systemic issues and implement corrective strategies to reduce organizational risk.
• Ensure continuous workforce‑related compliance readiness for Joint Commission, DOH, CMS, EEOC, and other regulatory bodies.
• Partner with HR Compliance and system leadership to maintain audit‑ready documentation and processes.
• Promote consistent adherence to policies, procedures, and employment standards.
• Lead and develop the operating unit HR team, including HR Business Partners and functional staff.
• Oversee HR operations including talent acquisition partnership, onboarding, compensation administration, benefits coordination, occupational health liaison, and workforce planning.
• Manage departmental budget, HR metrics, and reporting.
• Ensure alignment between operating unit needs and Care New England system initiatives.
• Participate in system‑wide initiatives, task forces, and special projects.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the EVP Chief People Officer.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

The Vice President, Human Resources serves as the senior HR executive for Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, RI.

The VP HR is responsible for the full spectrum of human resources leadership at Women & Infants Hospital, including labor relations strategy, collective bargaining preparation, compliance readiness, and employee relations. The Vice President, Human Resources will oversee the on-site hospital HR Business Partner team.

As a key member of Women & Infants executive leadership team, the VP HR partners closely with the hospital President/COO and senior leaders to align workforce strategy with clinical, operational, financial, and cultural priorities.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer for Care New England, the position also serves as the primary liaison between Women & Infants Hospital and Care New England system HR leadership, ensuring enterprise strategies are effectively translated into local execution while maintaining consistency, equity, and compliance across the system.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic HR Leadership:

• Serve as the senior HR executive and strategic advisor to the operating unit President/COO and executive leadership team
• Lead development and execution of the operating unit’s people strategy in alignment with Care New England system priorities
• Represent Human Resources on executive committees, labor‑management councils, and governance forums
• Champion organizational culture, engagement, workforce development, and leadership accountability

Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining:

• Act as the operating unit’s primary labor relations leader and central point of contact and strategy in partnership with the EVP Chief People Officer, VP of Total Rewards, and Internal Legal Counsel
• Provide expert guidance on contract interpretation, grievance handling, disciplinary actions, and arbitration preparation
• Analyze grievance and labor activity trends to proactively mitigate risk and improve outcomes
• In partnership with legal counsel, develop and deliver labor relations training for executives, managers, and supervisors

Employee Relations & Risk Management:

• Oversee employee relations strategy, investigations, and case management to ensure consistency and legal defensibility
• Advise leaders on performance management, corrective action, and separation decisions
• Identify systemic issues and implement corrective strategies to reduce organizational risk

Regulatory Compliance & Audit Readiness:

• Ensure continuous workforce‑related compliance readiness for Joint Commission, DOH, CMS, EEOC, and other regulatory bodies
• Partner with HR Compliance and system leadership to maintain audit‑ready documentation and processes
• Promote consistent adherence to policies, procedures, and employment standards

HR Operations & Department Leadership:

• Lead and develop the operating unit HR team, including HR Business Partners and functional staff
• Oversee HR operations including talent acquisition partnership, onboarding, compensation administration, benefits coordination, occupational health liaison, and workforce planning
• Manage departmental budget, HR metrics, and reporting
• Ensure alignment between operating unit needs and Care New England system initiatives

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in system‑wide initiatives, task forces, and special projects
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the EVP Chief People Officer

Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree Required; Master's Degree Preferred

10 years or more related experience

• Advanced knowledge of federal and state employment and labor laws (including NLRA, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, ERISA)
• Expert‑level understanding of collective bargaining agreements and grievance/arbitration processes
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence, negotiate, and advise senior leaders
• High level of discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage risk while maintaining employee engagement and organizational integrity

Additional Information:

Care New England Health System (CNE) and its member institutions, Butler Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, Kent Hospital, VNA of Care New England, Integra, The Providence Center, and Care New England Medical Group, is a trusted, integrated health care organization that fuels the latest advances in medical research, attracts the nation's top specialty-trained doctors, hones renowned services and innovative programs, and engages in the important discussions people need to have about their health and end‑of‑life wishes. Care New England is helping to transform the future of health care, providing a leading voice in the ongoing effort to ensure the health of the individuals and communities we serve.

Americans with Disability Act Statement:

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled must be able to perform the essential job‑specific functions either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation, to be determined by the organization on a case‑by‑case basis.

EEOC Statement:

Care New England is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status

Ethics Statement:

Employee conducts himself/herself consistent with the ethical standards of the organization including, but not limited to hospital policy, mission, vision, and values.