Human Resources Manager

MSU Careers Details•East Lansing, MI

18d

About The Position

The College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) is seeking an experienced human resources professional to serve as its senior HR leader. Reporting directly to the Director of the Veterinary Medical Center, the Human Resources Manager provides strategic HR leadership and serves as a trusted partner to the Director, hospital leadership, managers, supervisors, and employees. The role works closely with the College Human Resources Manager and collaborates with College and University Human Resources. The Human Resources Manager oversees HR priorities and unit-level HR operations, including recruitment and hiring, onboarding, payroll-related activities, employee records, HR transactions, and workforce reporting. The position provides consultation on complex and sensitive matters such as employee relations, labor relations, performance management, conflict resolution, compensation, organizational change, recruitment strategy, and workforce planning. It is the primary VMC contact for complex employee relations and conflict resolution matters involving central Human Resources and support staff union groups. The role strengthens leadership effectiveness by coaching and advising supervisors and managers, identifying development needs, and developing or coordinating training and resources. The manager leads HR initiatives, policies, processes, best practices, and system changes; analyzes workforce trends and HR metrics; supports organizational change; and supervises the VMC HR/Finance Analyst, who handles day-to-day HR operations and designated financial support activities.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to completion of a four-year college degree in human resources or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Three to five years of related, progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in accounting, management, budget preparation, and database system analysis and maintenance.
Ability to organize and manage a demanding workload with minimal supervision.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong judgment and problem-solving skills.
Business acumen.
Integrity, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in human resources, business administration, organizational development, labor relations, or a related field.
Professional HR certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
Experience providing HR leadership in a complex organization.
Significant experience with employee relations, labor relations, conflict resolution, performance management, and organizational change.
Demonstrated experience coaching and developing supervisors and leaders.
Experience supervising professional staff.
Experience working in a unionized environment and/or higher education setting; strongly preferred.
Experience in healthcare, veterinary, academic medical, or a similarly complex operational environment.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic HR leadership and advise the VMC Director, hospital leadership, managers, and supervisors.
Lead complex employee relations matters, including performance concerns, workplace conflict, corrective action, and other sensitive personnel issues.
Coach supervisors and managers on leadership, employee engagement, performance management, communication, conflict resolution, and organizational change.
Develop, coordinate, and implement leadership and supervisory training and professional development initiatives.
Partner with hospital leadership on workforce planning, recruitment strategy, organizational structure, compensation, retention, succession planning, and other strategic workforce priorities.
Serve as the primary VMC liaison with College and University Human Resources and support staff union groups on complex employee relations and labor matters.
Lead development and implementation of HR priorities, policies, processes, best practices, and system changes within the VMC.
Provide oversight and approval, as appropriate, for unit-level HR transactions and ensure HR processes are accurate, timely, compliant, and consistently applied.
Supervise, develop, and direct the VMC HR/Finance Analyst responsible for day-to-day HR operations and designated financial support activities.
Analyze workforce trends and HR metrics to identify needs, support decision-making, and recommend improvements.
Support organizational change initiatives and help hospital leadership communicate and implement changes affecting employees.
Promote a workplace culture consistent with University and College values and the VMC mission.