Divisional Human Resources Partner

Denison University • Granville, OH

4h • Onsite

About The Position

The Divisional Human Resources Partner (DHRP) serves as a strategic and consultative partner to academic and administrative leaders, aligning human resources practices with the university’s mission, values, and strategic priorities. The DHRP provides guidance on faculty and staff employee relations, performance management, talent strategies, and organizational effectiveness while ensuring compliance with applicable employment laws, accreditation standards, and university policies. Key Responsibilities Strategic Partnership Partner with academic deans, department chairs, and administrative leaders to support workforce planning and organizational effectiveness Advise leaders on organizational design, change management, and people-related implications of academic and operational initiatives Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on faculty and staff lifecycle matters Employee & Faculty Relations Provide guidance on employee and faculty relations issues, including performance concerns, investigations, corrective action, and separations Support consistent application of university policies, faculty handbooks, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and shared governance processes Assist leaders with conflict resolution while maintaining academic freedom and institutional standards Talent Management & Workforce Planning Partner with academic and administrative leaders on recruiting strategies for faculty and staff Support onboarding, engagement, professional development, and retention initiatives Collaborate on succession planning for key administrative and academic leadership roles Performance Management & Development Advise leaders on performance evaluation processes for staff and, as appropriate, faculty Support coaching, development plans, and performance improvement efforts Contribute to leadership development programs for department chairs and managers Policy, Compliance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including those impacting higher education (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, Title IX, and FERPA as applicable) Interpret and apply university policies, faculty handbooks, and employment agreements consistently Partner with General Counsel, Academic Affairs, and other stakeholders on complex or sensitive matters Compensation, Benefits & Total Rewards Provide guidance on compensation practices, job classifications, and internal equity for staff roles Support faculty compensation processes in coordination with Academic Affairs Assist leaders and employees with benefits programs and total rewards initiatives HR Programs & Initiatives Support university-wide HR initiatives such as employee engagement, DEI efforts, and culture-building programs Contribute to continuous improvement of HR processes, systems, and service delivery Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a related field 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably within higher education or a complex organization Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with academic and administrative leaders Preferred Master’s degree in Human Resources, Higher Education Administration, or a related field HR certification (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR) Experience supporting faculty populations and shared governance environments Key Competencies Understanding of higher education culture and governance Strong consulting, coaching, and relationship-building skills Sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality Ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities Commitment to equity, inclusion, and institutional values Working Conditions Primarily campus-based with flexibility for meetings across departments and occasional after-hours support

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a related field
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably within higher education or a complex organization
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with academic and administrative leaders

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Higher Education Administration, or a related field
• HR certification (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR)
• Experience supporting faculty populations and shared governance environments
• Understanding of higher education culture and governance
• Strong consulting, coaching, and relationship-building skills
• Sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and institutional values

Responsibilities

• Partner with academic deans, department chairs, and administrative leaders to support workforce planning and organizational effectiveness
• Advise leaders on organizational design, change management, and people-related implications of academic and operational initiatives
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on faculty and staff lifecycle matters
• Provide guidance on employee and faculty relations issues, including performance concerns, investigations, corrective action, and separations
• Support consistent application of university policies, faculty handbooks, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and shared governance processes
• Assist leaders with conflict resolution while maintaining academic freedom and institutional standards
• Partner with academic and administrative leaders on recruiting strategies for faculty and staff
• Support onboarding, engagement, professional development, and retention initiatives
• Collaborate on succession planning for key administrative and academic leadership roles
• Advise leaders on performance evaluation processes for staff and, as appropriate, faculty
• Support coaching, development plans, and performance improvement efforts
• Contribute to leadership development programs for department chairs and managers
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including those impacting higher education (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, Title IX, and FERPA as applicable)
• Interpret and apply university policies, faculty handbooks, and employment agreements consistently
• Partner with General Counsel, Academic Affairs, and other stakeholders on complex or sensitive matters
• Provide guidance on compensation practices, job classifications, and internal equity for staff roles
• Support faculty compensation processes in coordination with Academic Affairs
• Assist leaders and employees with benefits programs and total rewards initiatives
• Support university-wide HR initiatives such as employee engagement, DEI efforts, and culture-building programs
• Contribute to continuous improvement of HR processes, systems, and service delivery

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees