Divisional Human Resources Partner

Denison University•Granville, OH

1d•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 Denison University is an independent, coeducational, residential college of liberal arts and sciences. Founded in 1831, Denison is one of the earliest colleges to be established in the old "Northwest Territory," west of the Allegheny Mountains and north of the Ohio River. Denison University is a leading liberal arts college where faculty and students collaborate in research, civic engagement, & cultivation of independent thinking. As a leader among the nation's top residential liberal arts colleges, Denison has earned a reputation for academic rigor that is rivaled only by its commitment to preparing students for a lifetime of personal, professional and civic success. Denison is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Title IX Notice: Sex discrimination is prohibited by federal law through Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Denison does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education programs or activities that it operates including admissions and employment. For Denison’s official Notice of Non-Discrimination, please visit https://denison.edu/forms/non-discrimination-notice. You can learn more about Title IX at Denison at https://denison.edu/campus/title-ix. Job seekers who may need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should contact the Office of Human Resources at (740) 587-6299 or by email at [email protected].

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