Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Training and Performance

Buffkin / Baker•Harrisonburg, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

James Madison University (JMU) invites nominations and applications for the position of Assistant / Associate Vice President for HR, Training and Performance. JMU is a public university located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, founded in 1908. It is an R2 institution committed to creating an environment where faculty can invest deeply in their identities as teachers, scholars, and creatives. JMU offers faculty and staff flexibility to grow and evolve across a career, understanding that student-centered teaching, research, and service are core to its educational mission. The university's mission is to prepare students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives. Its vision is to be the national model for the engaged university, engaged with ideas and the world. The Madison Promise, launched in 2025, outlines JMU's commitment to transformational education, pioneering research, and belonging. The brand essence, 'Being the Change®', signifies using intellect, heart, and action. The Assistant / Associate Vice President for HR, Training and Performance reports to the Vice President for Administration and Finance and provides strategic leadership to the Human Resources and Talent Development departments, ensuring alignment with the university's mission and high standards of service and performance. This role also supports the VP for Administration and Finance with special projects and serves on various university committees to drive policy, compensation, and engagement initiatives. The successful candidate is expected to be on-site at the Harrisonburg campus.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in Human Resources or a related field coupled with proven leadership experience in supervising and guiding human resources management, talent development, or a related field.
Experience within a college or university system, a closely related field or an organization of equal or greater complexity and understanding higher education administration and governance structures.
In-depth knowledge of HR practices, policies, and procedures and talent development strategies and programs.
Demonstrated, significant leadership experience in labor relations and collective bargaining, preferably within a higher education or public-sector environment with strong knowledge of employment and labor laws applicable to unionized workplaces.
Proven ability to advise executive leadership and work collaboratively with academic and administrative stakeholders with demonstrated skill in change management, stakeholder engagement, and conflict resolution during periods of organizational transition.
Candidates must possess a fundamental understanding of all relevant laws, regulations, and practices to ensure compliance with governing agencies.
The successful candidate will provide evidence of effective leadership to include operating in a culture of teamwork including trust, respect, and dignity.
Candidates must possess a proven ability to create an environment where others are motivated to achieve shared goals.
Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with superiors, subordinates, and colleagues.
Excellent project management skills, with the ability to coordinate special projects and initiatives.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a high level of customer service.
Ability to effectively manage and guide departments to align with organizational missions and goals.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to review and improve programs and processes.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field preferred.
Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR are preferred.
Experience supporting or implementing collective bargaining and labor-relations practices in a newly unionized or transitioning organization, including developing policies, procedures, training, and labor-management structures from the ground up.
Experience managing or overseeing multiple bargaining units or employee groups.
Experience partnering with legal counsel on labor-relations strategy and compliance.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership, supervision, performance evaluation, coaching, guidance and encouragement to the Director for Human Resources (HR) and Director of Talent Development (TD).
Provides leadership, supervision, performance evaluation, coaching, guidance and encouragement to an Administrative Assistant and a Policy and Compliance Specialist.
Lead the implementation of collective bargaining agreements, including establishing institutional processes and timelines to ensure effective and compliant roll-out through strategic leadership and advising on collective bargaining obligations, contract interpretation, and employee relations in a unionized environment.
Guide and support campus stakeholders through labor-relations change, ensuring consistent understanding and application of union agreements across academic and administrative units by fostering constructive labor-management relationships and engagement strategies development that promotes communication, trust, and collaboration as collective bargaining relationships are established.
Ensure institutional compliance with collective bargaining agreements and applicable federal, state, and local labor laws, working closely with legal counsel as needed.
Direct or support contract negotiations and administration, as appropriate, including preparation for bargaining, coordinating institutional responses, and ensuring alignment with university priorities.
Provides support and assistance to the VP for Administration and Finance, coordinating special projects as needed.
Provides strategic guidance to the Human Resources Director, ensuring the department’s strong commitment to the university and divisional mission, as well as a high level of customer service, performance, and effectiveness.
Provides strategic guidance to the Talent Development Director, ensuring the department’s strong commitment to the university and divisional mission as well as a high level of customer service, performance, and effectiveness.
Serves as the chair of the University Policy Committee (UPC), the JMU Compensation Advisory Council (CAC), chair of the A&F Engagement Council, a member of the Institute for the Stewardship of the Natural World (ISNW), the University Planning Team (UPT) and the Reengineering Madison Steering Committee.