Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources

Academic Career & Executive Search•Edwardsville, IL

10d

About The Position

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in its search for Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources. For full consideration, please apply by February 10, 2026. This is a rare and highly impactful leadership opportunity to shape the future of Human Resources at a moment of extraordinary growth and transformation. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) seeks an accomplished HR executive to serve as Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources (AVC HR), a newly elevated role designed to reflect the University’s deep commitment to modernizing and strengthening HR as a strategic, future-focused institutional partner. Formerly titled Director of Human Resources, this position has been re-envisioned and enhanced, signaling SIUE’s recognition that HR is central to the University’s long-term success, organizational culture, and workforce strategy. SIUE’s momentum underscores the significance of this appointment. The University has achieved notable enrollment growth, including a 7.7% increase in Fall 2025, alongside major investments in academic innovation and campus infrastructure. These include construction of a new state-of-the-art Health Sciences Complex supporting the Schools of Pharmacy and Nursing, as well regional partnerships such as , which advances economic development, innovation, and community engagement across the Metro East and greater St. Louis region. The AVC HR will provide enterprise-wide leadership for a workforce of more than 2,300 employees across multiple campuses, including the main campus in Edwardsville, the School of Dental Medicine in Alton, a grant-funded Head Start unit and educational programs in East St. Louis, and forensic science program in Belleville. In a complex, unionized environment with 17 collective bargaining units, the AVC HR will reengineer core HR processes, strengthen workforce culture and engagement, modernize HR systems and infrastructure, and lead labor relations with credibility and effectiveness. This role requires both strategic perspective and hands-on execution with close collaboration across academic and administrative leadership to ensure HR practices align with institutional priorities, compliance obligations, and SIUE’s commitments to equity, diversity, and anti-racism. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, the AVC HR will work in close partnership with the Chancellor and senior leadership to build a responsive, collaborative, and high-performing HR organization aligned with the University’s mission, values, and long-term goals. This is a capstone role for an HR leader to shape the future of a complex public institution, influence organizational culture at scale, and leave a lasting impact on a university serving students, employees, and communities across the region.

Requirements

Broad HR functional expertise, including labor relations, talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, employee relations, HRIS, and compliance.
Deep knowledge and involvement in Union relations
Demonstrated ability to lead HR transformation, process improvement, and organizational change initiatives.
Strong strategic and operational leadership skills, with the ability to balance vision and hands-on execution.
Proven problem-solving ability with creative, solutions-oriented approach.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to build trust across diverse constituencies.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism initiatives.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Business Management, Business Administration, or closely related field.
5 - 7 years of progressively responsible HR experience, including supervision of staff.
Experience in complex, multi-union environments.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or advanced terminal degree in a related field.
Professional HR certification such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP.
Higher education experience.
Knowledge or familiarity of Illinois labor law.

Responsibilities

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources provides strategic and operational leadership for a comprehensive HR enterprise serving a complex, multi-campus public university.
Operating at the intersection of strategy, compliance, labor relations, and organizational effectiveness, the AVC HR leads institution-wide efforts to modernize HR operations, strengthen workforce culture, and align human resources practices with the University’s mission and regulatory environment.
Lead the Human Resources Department supporting more than 2,300 employees across three campus locations.
Partner with the Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, Deans, and Directors to advance HR strategies, workforce planning, and talent management initiatives.
Oversee labor relations, including negotiations, contract administration, and grievance processes, ensuring agreements are fair, fiscally responsible, and operationally effective.
Interpret, monitor, and support compliance with COLLECTIVE bargaining agreements while maintaining constructive relationships with labor organizations.
Lead initiatives to streamline HR processes, optimize HRIS functionality, and improve transparency and service responsiveness.
Ensure compliance with State University Civil Service System (SUCSS), SURS, IRS, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
Advise senior leadership on legislative, regulatory, and compliance matters impacting HR operations.
Respond effectively to emergent HR issues arising from federal or state mandates, executive orders, or institutional priorities.
Evaluate HR policies and procedures and develop a coherent policy framework that provides clear guidance while supporting the academic mission.
Design and administer staff compensation programs that are competitive, equitable, and aligned with the institution’s financial capacity.
Ensure benefits administration and payroll operations are efficient, compliant, and cost-effective.
Establish accountability through the use of data, analytics, and technology to assess and advance university-wide HR practices.
Recruit, develop, and mentor a high-performing HR team while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and engagement.