Director of HR Portfolio Management and Strategy
About The Position
The Director of Project Management for HR Strategy & Operations is a pivotal role designed to lead high-impact initiatives that align with the organization’s long-term human capital goals. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Business Enablement, this individual will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of complex HR projects. Beyond traditional project management, this role serves as a strategic resource to the HR Division, providing critical support with departmental priorities and change management. The ideal candidate will possess a blend of technical project discipline, HR domain expertise, and the executive presence required to navigate a complex organizational landscape. This role reports to the Associate Vice President, Business Enablement and collaborates with University HR leadership to align HR strategy with institutional goals. This role is responsible for the orchestration of the HR project portfolio and the successful execution of the Division’s highest-priority strategic initiatives. The position also operates with a high degree of autonomy, acting as a strategic partner to the Human Resources leadership team.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree and at least 7 to 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
- PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent certification preferred.
- Advanced proficiency in project management software (e.g., Smartsheet, Asana, MS Project).
- Deep familiarity with HRIS/HCM platforms (e.g., Workday, Oracle, or SAP SuccessFactors) and their implementation lifecycles.
- The ability to see the "big picture" and link HR projects to broader organizational goals.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical project details into executive-level summaries.
- Strong negotiation skills to manage competing priorities and resource constraints across different departments.
- Proficiency in data analysis to measure project success and drive evidence-based decision-making.
Responsibilities
- Lead the planning and implementation of large-scale HR projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
- Conduct regular "portfolio health" audits to ensure project outcomes are directly advancing the University’s "In Principle and Practice" goals.
- Proactively identify institutional risks within HR initiatives and develop mitigation strategies before they reach the executive level.
- Develop comprehensive project plans, including resource allocation and milestone tracking.
- Facilitate cross-functional teams (e.g., IT, Finance, Legal, and HR COEs) to ensure integrated delivery of HR solutions.
- Maintain project dashboards to provide real-time visibility into project health and ROI.
- Lead special projects, handling sensitive or rapid-response initiatives.
- Assist in the development of executive-level presentations and strategic briefing documents, synthesizing complex data into compelling "stories".
- Act as a surrogate for the AVP in select internal meetings to ensure project alignment and continuity.
- Coordinate the HR leadership team’s annual planning cycle and track progress against departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Develop and execute change management strategies (utilizing frameworks like ADKAR or Prosci) to ensure high adoption rates for new HR programs and systems.
- Partner with communications regarding HR initiatives, ensuring a consistent and professional voice.
- Identify potential points of resistance across the workforce and develop proactive intervention plans.
- Conduct post-project evaluations and "lessons learned" sessions to drive continuous improvement in HR service delivery.
- Stay abreast of HR technology trends and regulatory changes to ensure project outcomes remain compliant and competitive.
Benefits
- Excellent healthcare
- Tuition benefits for employees and their families
- Generous retirement benefits
- Wide variety of professional development opportunities
- Supportive work and family benefits
- Wealth of health and wellness programs and resources
- Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
- Flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care expenses
- Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children
- Retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth options
- Substantial amount of time away from work
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Wellness and Work-life Resources
- Professional and Personal Development resources
- Access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities
- Discounts and Special Services (arts and entertainment, transportation, mortgages, new cars, cellular phone service, movie tickets, theme parks)
- Flexible Work Hours
- Penn Home Ownership Services (forgivable loan for eligible employees)
- Adoption Assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
