Executive Director, Human Resources (HR) Operations

University of the District of Columbia • Washington, DC

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director of HR Operations provides strategic leadership and operational governance for the University’s human resources infrastructure, overseeing compensation strategy, classification and job architecture, benefits administration, talent acquisition and retention strategies, and HRIS & payroll systems modernization for optimizing operational service delivery. Reporting to the Vice President for Human Resources, the Executive Director HR Operations will serve as the #2 for the UDC Office of Human Resources. This executive role is accountable for the design, execution, and continuous improvement of scalable HR frameworks that ensure equity, compliance, risk mitigation, fiscal responsibility, recognition and engagement, and service excellence across the institution. The Executive Director supports the VPHR in providing strategic leadership and direction for several functional areas of Human Resources (HR), including compensation, benefits, talent acquisition, HRIS & payroll as well as the engagement to support the recruitment, retention, and motivation of a highly qualified and engaged workforce. This role is a key advisor to the VPHR and senior leadership in aligning HR strategies with the organization's short and long-term objectives. This critical role directs a multidisciplinary HR operations team and external partners, including classification and compensation consultants, Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU's), working with members of DCHR and OPRS, and District benefits administration partner. The Executive Director ensures cohesive integration of recruitment, retention, onboarding and offboarding, compensation governance, HRIS data analysis, assist in completing internal and external audits, payroll system improvements for timely and accurate pay administration, workforce analytics and planning, creation and implementation of policies/procedures/guidelines/ SOPs, and modernization initiatives in alignment with the University’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan and Service Excellence standards. The incumbent serves as a senior operational advisor to HR and University leadership, translating institutional priorities into structured HR systems, policy frameworks, and measurable outcomes.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, with demonstrated expertise in compensation administration, job classification, recruitment or HR operations.
• Experience in a leadership role.
• Experience supervising professional staff and/or student employees.
• Strong knowledge of compensation and classification practices, including job analysis, pay equity, and benchmarking.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement HR policies, procedures, and process improvements.
• Proficiency with HRIS, payroll systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, discretion, and ethical standards.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education or public-sector HR operations.
• Treats others with courtesy, respect, and dignity in the workplace.
• Promotes cooperation through open and honest communications and consideration of others ideas, thoughts, and opinions.
• Professional certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
• Demonstrated success in leading modernization efforts, including automation, digital tools, and process redesign.
• Experience with workforce planning, HR metrics, and data reporting to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Knowledge of federal and District of Columbia employment laws and regulations.
• Proficiency in project management, workflow automation, or HR information systems.

Responsibilities

• Enterprise HR Operations & Talent Acquisition Leadership – 20%
• Compensation Strategy & Classification Governance – 20%
• HRIS & Payroll Administration - 15%
• Benefits Administration Oversight & Vendor Governance – 10%
• HR Modernization, Policy & Systems Strategy – 20%
• Workforce Analytics & Strategic Decision Support – 10%
• Institutional Collaboration & Executive Advisement – 5%
• Budget, Vendor & Operational Resource Management – 5%

Benefits

• Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the University of the District of Columbia' s retirement plan (TIAA).

What This Job Offers

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