Executive HR Advisor (Administrator III, Range 1) - San Francisco Bay Region Network

San Francisco State University•San Francisco, CA

119d•$174,480 - $191,928•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive HR Advisor (EHRA) for SFSU serves as the on-site HR advisor and day-to-day relationship owner for SFSU, acting as the primary HR leadership point for the campus President, Provost, vice presidents, deans, and the campus community. This role ensures SFSU leaders receive responsive, contextual, and in-person HR support, connecting campus stakeholders to Network HR Operations, Centers of Excellence (CoE), and Recruiting resources. The EHRA is the senior HR presence on SFSU and may join the President’s cabinet. The core mandate is to advance the consistency and integrity of the Network’s shared HR model while prioritizing SFSU needs through expert HR guidance, strong service delivery, and clear escalation pathways. The EHRA translates campus priorities and workforce needs into HR solutions, advises on the full spectrum of HR domains, and acts as the institutional bridge between SFSU and the Network’s HR functions. This position requires significant independent judgment on matters with substantial legal, institutional, and organizational impact, and is accountable for HR customer support outcomes at SFSU across all HR process areas. The SFBRN provides back-office administrative and transactional functions to CSUEB, SFSU, and SSU through an integrated structure comprising HR Consulting, HR Operations, and HR Centers of Excellence. The EHRA is the senior leader within the HR Consulting pillar for the Network, responsible for the primary, on-site relationship and people-strategy support to each campus. HR Consulting maintains strong, campus-facing HR partnerships while the SFBRN HR model ensures consistent services and standards across the Network. HR Operations handles high-volume transactional HR services, and HR Centers of Excellence establish Network-wide HR policies and provide deep expertise in areas like employee and labor relations, compensation, compliance, and learning and professional development.

Requirements

7 years Progressively responsible experience in human resources, with demonstrated breadth across multiple HR disciplines and a track record of advising senior institutional leaders at the vice president, provost, or presidential level.
3 years Experience in an HR business partner, senior HR generalist, or HR consulting role serving as a strategic advisor to campus or organizational leadership in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
3 years Experience in higher education, multi-campus systems, or similarly complex public sector organizations, including demonstrated ability to navigate campus politics, governance structures, and faculty and staff employment dynamics.
Demonstrated ability to build trusted advisory relationships with university Presidents, Provosts, VPs, and deans, providing strategic HR counsel with the executive presence, credibility, and judgment that senior campus leadership demands.
Broad knowledge of human resources principles and practices across multiple HR disciplines, including employee relations, talent acquisition, performance management, compensation, benefits, leave, workforce planning, and HR compliance.
Strong knowledge of applicable federal and California employment law including FMLA, CFRA, ADA, FEHA, Title IX, EEO/AA, and FLSA and demonstrated ability to advise campus leaders on complex, real-world HR situations.
Proven ability to serve as the institutional bridge between campus needs and Network HR resources, connecting stakeholders with the right operational and specialized support while maintaining accountability for outcomes at the campus level.
Ability to exercise independent judgment on complex, sensitive, and ambiguous HR situations navigating campus-specific context, institutional politics, and Network-wide policy with sound judgment and integrity.
Effective executive communication, influencing, and advisory skills, with the ability to represent HR in senior leadership forums, cabinet meetings, and university governance settings.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple campus priorities and competing demands in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment while maintaining service quality and responsiveness.
Knowledge of HRIS platforms and workforce data, with the ability to translate HR data and program performance information into campus-relevant insights for senior leaders.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources management, business administration, organizational development, or a related field. In lieu of a degree, a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, including demonstrated experience advising senior institutional leaders.
Must pass a background check.
Position is primarily based at SFSU and serves as the on-site, campus-facing HR leader. Occasional travel to other Network universities or SFBRN locations may be required to support operational and collaborative needs.
Position may serve on the SFSU President’s cabinet at the President’s discretion.
Given the scale of the Network’s HR operations, this position may carry additional Network-wide leadership responsibilities as determined by the Network CHRO.
Position is a 24-hour on-call position in case of emergencies and critical Network needs.
This position may be required to provide an on-campus HR presence at their respective home campus as needed.
The incumbent seldom refers matters to supervisor except for clarification of policy
Applicants must be able to provide proof of US Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, within three business days from their date of hire.

Nice To Haves

2 years Experience in employee and labor relations, including advising on progressive discipline, grievances, collective bargaining agreement administration, and workplace investigations in a unionized environment
Experience consulting on employee and labor relations matters, including progressive discipline, grievance resolution, workplace investigations, and MOU/CBA interpretation in a unionized public sector environment.
Familiarity with CSU Administrative Manual (ICSUAM) policies, applicable MOUs, and the dynamics of Faculty Affairs partnership in a CSU or comparable higher education environment.
Experience working in or alongside a shared services or network HR delivery model, with demonstrated ability to leverage centralized resources while maintaining strong campus relationships.
Master’s degree in Human Resources management, business administration, organizational development, or a related field.
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent senior HR credential

Responsibilities

Serves as the primary, on-site HR advisor to the SFSU President, Provost, vice presidents, and deans, providing responsive, contextual, and expert HR guidance that is grounded in the campus’s culture, leadership priorities, and strategic goals.
Advises the SFSU President directly on HR matters of institutional significance including campus workforce strategy, organizational design, senior personnel decisions, employee relations concerns, and HR risk outside the SFBRN, serving as a trusted executive partner with the depth of knowledge and judgment that campus leadership demands.
May serve on the SFSU President’s cabinet at the President’s discretion, representing the HR function in senior leadership forums and ensuring that people-strategy considerations are integrated into campus decisionmaking at the highest level.
Translates campus-specific context, priorities, and workforce challenges into actionable HR strategies, partnering with Network HR Operations and CoE leaders to ensure the right resources and expertise are directed to SFSU' needs.
Serves as the senior escalation point for HR matters at SFSU, exercising independent judgment on complex or high-stakes situations and escalating to the Network CHRO on matters requiring Network-level resolution.
Coordinates with Faculty Affairs leadership at SFSU to support the consistent application of HR programs, policies, and compliance frameworks across all employee groups, navigating the intersection of staff and faculty governance structures with care and institutional awareness.
Owns accountability and responsibility for HR customer support outcomes at SFSU across all HR process areas including recruitment, new hire onboarding, employee development and training, performance management, career and succession planning, compensation, payroll, employee data administration, benefits, employee separation, compliance, employee and labor relations, workforce planning and analytics, and time and attendance management.
Builds and maintains trusted advisory relationships with campus managers, supervisors, and HR stakeholders, serving as the primary day-to-day HR contact for SFSU and ensuring that every inquiry, concern, or request is addressed with accuracy, urgency, and appropriate routing.
Seamlessly connects campus stakeholders to SFBRN HR Operations and CoE resources when transactional or specialized support is needed, serving as the informed and accountable liaison who ensures the right expertise reaches the campus community.
Advises campus managers and administrators on HR policies, applicable CSU Administrative Manual (ICSUAM) provisions, MOU and CBA requirements, and state and federal employment law, providing clear and authoritative guidance that enables informed decision-making.
Exercises judgment to resolve HR inquiries and issues at the campus level, escalating complex, intercampus, or high-impact matters to the Network CHRO or the appropriate Network HR functional leader as needed.
Provides consultation and support on employee and labor relations matters at SFSU, advising on the progressive discipline process, supporting grievance and complaint resolution, and assisting with workplace investigations in coordination with the Network Employee and Labor Relations and Compliance team.
Consults on MOU and CBA provisions as they apply to individual employee situations at SFSU, partnering with the Network Employee and Labor Relations team for complex or precedent-setting matters.
Supports collective bargaining agreement administration at the campus level, ensuring managers and supervisors understand and consistently apply applicable contract provisions with the benefit of contextual campus knowledge.
Consults on reasonable accommodation requests under the ADA and FEHA, partnering with the Network HR Operations team to facilitate the interactive process and ensure timely and appropriate accommodation outcomes.
Serves as the campus-level HR compliance resource for SFSU, consulting on Title IX compliance (employment), EEO matters, ADA/interactive process administration, and other applicable regulatory requirements, and responding to audit requests in coordination with the Network HR CoE.
Forecasts staffing needs by division and college at SFSU, partners on organizational restructuring, and tracks turnover and retention metrics to inform workforce planning decisions, translating campus intelligence into Network-level workforce strategy.
Serves as a key consultant and partner throughout the recruitment process at SFSU, advising campus leadership and hiring managers on job selection criteria, candidate evaluation, offer execution, and pre-hire due diligence in close collaboration with the Director of Recruiting.
Leads new hire onboarding activities at SFSU, ensuring a seamless and positive new employee experience by coordinating with Network HR Operations and CoE teams, conducting or supporting orientation, and driving new hire activity completion.
Leads the exit interview process at SFSU, gathering and synthesizing feedback to identify campus-specific retention trends and surface recommendations to the President and Network CHRO.
Advises campus leadership on voluntary and involuntary separation processes, including separation terms, documentation standards, and reduction in workforce matters, partnering with Network HR Operations and the Employee and Labor Relations team for execution and compliance.
Advises SFSU managers, deans, and VPs on performance management processes, including goal development, mid-year and annual evaluations, 360 feedback, and individual development planning, providing coaching and guidance grounded in campus-specific context.
Partners with campus leadership to support career and succession planning activities, including talent reviews and succession plan development, connecting campus needs with Network CoE expertise.
Monitors HR program effectiveness at SFSU across all process areas, surfacing data-driven insights and program performance trends to the Network CHRO and relevant Network HR functional leaders.
Ensures HR communications to SFSU leaders, managers, and employees are timely, accurate, contextually relevant, and reflective of both campus priorities and Network-wide HR standards.
Represents SFSU perspectives and needs within the SFBRN HR organization, providing campus intelligence to the Network CHRO and Network HR functional leaders that informs program design, service delivery priorities, and continuous improvement.
Participates in Network HR planning and leadership forums, contributing the campus-facing perspective to Network-level strategy and program development.
Champions equity, diversity, and inclusion as a core organizational value, integrating these principles into all programs, policies, and leadership practices.
Models and stewards the Network’s core values innovation, employee fulfillment, teamwork, respect, excellence, integrity, service, and accountability in all aspects of work and leadership.
Upholds Network, university, and unit policies governing privacy of information, authorized use of Network resources, and the security of Network systems and data.
Demonstrates and promotes safe work practices for oneself, the team, and the broader office environment.
Assumes additional leadership responsibilities as directed by the Network CHRO, including potential Network-wide functional responsibilities where applicable. The Network reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.
Chairs and/or participates on university committees.