Human Resources Consultant, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

University of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN

1d • $67,000 - $77,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The UTIA Human Resources Consultant serves as a senior, internally facing HR consultant and generalist who partners with leaders across a large, decentralized academic enterprise. You will diagnose workforce and organizational needs, apply policy and precedent, and frame evidence-based options (not decisions) that strengthen leadership decision-making. The portfolio includes complex employee relations, HR projects/continuous improvement, HRIS-enabled reporting and data interpretation, compensation partnership, and organizational effectiveness support (e.g., role clarity and change navigation). This position is one of five peer HR Consultant roles that work closely as a team—sharing expertise, ideating together, and providing backup support—and reports to the Director of Human Resources for UTIA.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience).
• 5 or more years of progressive HR experience in a large, complex, decentralized organization, including consultative leader advising and employee relations.
• Demonstrated skill in influencing without authority, applying policy/precedent, and managing sensitive matters with discretion and sound judgment.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Development, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, or related field.
• Higher education and/or complex public-sector experience; familiarity with shared governance dynamics.
• Experience working in a partnered HR service model with centers of expertise (e.g., compensation, employee relations, recruiting, operations).
• Project/workstream leadership and organizational effectiveness experience (e.g., workforce planning, organizational design, change-impact assessment).
• HRIS reporting/analytics capability and comfort using emerging tools (including AI where appropriate) to improve insights and service delivery while protecting confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Advise and coach leaders on workforce and organizational matters—diagnosing issues, applying policy/precedent, and framing evidence-based options.
• Manage complex, sensitive employee relations matters from intake through resolution with timely, well-documented case handling and defensible rationale; coordinate escalation and partner engagement when appropriate.
• Lead HR projects and continuous-improvement workstreams—aligning stakeholders, defining deliverables, and driving implementation.
• Partner with UTK HR centers of expertise to coordinate employee lifecycle transactions and position management; use HRIS reporting and workforce data to provide decision-ready insights; contribute to peer-team knowledge sharing and backup coverage.
• Recommend and assess workforce changes that enable individual and organizational success, including adoption of new technologies, culture initiatives, and employee engagement strategies.

Benefits

• UT market range: MR11
• Anticipated hiring range: $67,000 – $77,000 annually
• Salary offer will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Candidates with directly relevant experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications for this role may be considered above the anticipated hiring range, consistent with university policy and internal equity considerations.
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level