Assistant Director People & Culture

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

UW Information Technology (UW-IT) has an outstanding opportunity for an Assistant Director People & Culture to join their team. Reporting to the Associate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Assistant Director People & Culture is responsible for providing organizational leadership and operational oversight for UWIT’s People & Culture function. In alignment with UW and UWIT values, this role is responsible for setting expectations, providing consultation, and ensuring accountability for the delivery of high‑quality human resources and organizational development services that support a positive, inclusive, and effective workplace within UWIT. The salary information provided below is for a full-time position.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Communications or related field or experience.
Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible human resources or organizational leadership experience in a large, complex organization.
Management-level experience in HR and/or Payroll domains
Significant experience with complex employee relations issues
Advising managers on employee relations, performance management, and recruiting
Exercising a high level of confidentiality and handling sensitive information
Strong written and oral communication skills
Experience with complex personnel systems and managing diverse workloads in a high‑pressure environment
Strong leadership, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated tact and discretion
Ability to learn and apply new technologies

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Public Administration, Communications
SPHR, SHRM, or PHR certification
Experience in Labor Relations negotiations and union environments.
Experience in a large university, medical center, or other highly regulated environment.
Experience with UW Financial and HR/payroll systems.
Experience with Microsoft suite.

Responsibilities

Provide consultation and guidance to UWIT senior leaders, managers and supervisors on human resources matters, including performance management, corrective action, and employee relations, while maintaining accountability for outcomes and consistency across UWIT and in alignment with University policies and procedures.
Oversee UWIT recruiting activities in coordination with central UW recruiting services, including advising on staffing needs, recruitment strategies, and salary placement within established compensation frameworks.
Provide oversight and quality assurance for compensation, leave, and timekeeping practices within UWIT, including monitoring compliance with University policies, identifying trends or risks, and ensuring timely correction of issues.
Advise on employee relations concerns and partner with appropriate University offices (e.g., Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Civil Rights Investigation Office) for investigation and resolution, retaining direct ownership of complex, sensitive, or high-risk cases involving senior leaders, significant employee impact, or organizational risk.
Interpret federal, state, and University requirements and translate them into UWIT operational practices and guidance, prioritizing issues based on organizational risk, impact, and leadership needs.
Support leave administration and accommodation processes, ensuring compliance with FMLA, ADA, and applicable state and University requirements.
Ensure continuity of People & Culture services through operational oversight, including direct execution of HR functions when required due to staffing capacity, urgency, or complexity.
Contribute and be a strategic partner to UWIT workforce planning and organizational initiatives by providing analysis, recommendations, and making operational decisions related to prioritization, sequencing, and implementation aligned with UWIT priorities.
Partner with UWIT leadership and UWHR on team changes or reorganizations, including hands-on involvement in planning, communication, and execution for complex or high-impact organizational changes.
Collaborate with UWIT Finance and leadership to support workforce affordability, position planning, and compensation considerations, exercising delegated decision-making authority for UWIT People & Culture operational priorities within approved frameworks.
Provide budgetary oversight and stewardship for UWIT People & Culture, including monitoring expenditures, supporting workforce affordability analysis, and partnering with UWIT Finance to ensure alignment with approved budgets and funding sources.
Participate in selected University or UWIT committees and workgroups related to HR operations, workforce planning, or organizational effectiveness, as appropriate to the role’s scope (e.g., Professional Staff Salary Survey Committee).
Provide day‑to‑day leadership, coaching, and performance management for People & Culture staff.
Set clear expectations, support professional development, and conduct performance evaluations.
Foster a collaborative, service‑oriented team environment aligned with UWIT values.
Perform additional duties as needed to support UWIT People & Culture operations and organizational needs.