Director of Human Resources, Employee Experience

Davidson College•Davidson, NC

9h•Onsite

About The Position

Davidson College seeks an agile, hands-on, and forward-thinking Director, Employee Experience to serve as a key operational leader and strategic thought partner for internal stakeholders, including constituents, direct reports, and the broader HR Team. This role is built for a seasoned HR leader who thrives both in developing proactive, high-level strategy and working directly "in the weeds"—managing modern HR operations, driving digital workflows, and fostering an inclusive, high-performing workplace culture. Leading a team of three (two HR Generalists and a Front Desk/Operations Coordinator), this position will directly oversee end-to-end employee lifecycles, talent acquisition, employee relations, and offboarding, all key functions in engaging our employees at Davidson College. The ideal candidate brings proven leadership experience, deep familiarity with modern HR technology, and a track record of elevating employee engagement across a diverse community.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive HR experience, including direct, hands-on responsibility in core HR operations, employment/benefits, or employee relations.
Minimum of 2–3 years of direct supervisory experience leading HR teams.
Demonstrated proficiency with enterprise HRIS platforms, advanced HR analytics, and modern workflow automation tools.
A balanced blend of strategic vision and a willingness to roll up your sleeves to handle tactical execution and problem-solving.
Ability to balance macro-level strategy with micro-level execution and day-to-day triage.
Strong analytical skills with a proactive approach to resolving complex employee and operational challenges.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with the emotional intelligence to navigate sensitive situations.
Unwavering commitment to confidentiality, compliance, and ethical leadership.
A record of attracting, mentoring, and retaining high-quality talent and building empowered teams from ambitious, individual contributors.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in HR, Business, or related discipline.
Professional HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR).
Prior HR leadership experience in higher education, non-profit, or complex matrixed organizations.
Direct experience with Oracle Cloud HR or major HRIS software conversions/implementations.

Responsibilities

Partner closely with the CHRO to lead day-to-day HR operations, driving process efficiency, compliance, and continuous improvement across all functions.
Lead, develop, and empower direct reports (two HR Generalists and front desk staff), establishing cross-training practices and clear professional growth paths.
Act as a thought partner across the campus community, anticipating emerging workplace trends and translating them into actionable talent strategies.
Partner seamlessly across functional areas—aligning HRIS data integrity, benefits strategy, and Learning & Development initiatives—to deliver an integrated, high-touch experience across the full employee lifecycle.
Support recruiting best practices to source, attract, and hire exceptional, mission-aligned talent.
Oversee professional development programs, manager trainings, and onboarding experiences that promote career growth across the institution.
Drive initiatives that attract, grow, and retain a diverse workforce from all backgrounds and experiences.
Elevate the Talent Acquisition function from transactional posting and offer execution to true talent consulting—proactively sourcing, talent mapping, and building robust candidate pipelines, of exceptional, mission-aligned talent.
Serve as a strategic advisor to hiring managers across campus, coaching them on search strategy, interview design, candidate evaluation, bias mitigation, and competitive closing techniques.
Build holistic candidate engagement touchpoints, pre-boarding and post-boarding journeys that maintain candidate and manager excitement to ensure a seamless transition into the Davidson community.
Drive the end-to-end employee experience from the moment an applicant applies, creating meaningful connections to Davidson College's mission, values, and community long before day one.
Champion the ongoing employee journey by partnering with Learning & Development to curate targeted manager training and high-impact onboarding experiences for employees that promote continuous career growth, active engagement, and a deep sense of belonging across the institution.
Design and execute holistic engagement, retention, and recognition initiatives that attract, grow, and retain a vibrant workforce, advancing Davidson’s commitment to an inclusive and supportive work environment.
Serve as a primary point of contact for complex employee relations issues, policy interpretation, and conflict resolution, applying critical thinking and sound judgment.
Maintain operational oversight of HR systems (e.g., Oracle Cloud), ensuring accurate reporting, data integrity, and modernized digital workflows.
Partner with HRIS to evaluate and update existing HR workflows to ensure a seamless, customer-centric experience for faculty, staff, and job applicants.