Leader Human Resources Business Partner (Hybrid) - Human Resources

Washington University in St. Louis • St. Louis, MO

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Plans, develops and deploys complex strategic HR service leading as a trusted strategic advisor to executive leaders across the university, partnering to drive people initiatives that advance institutional strategy, operational continuity, and sustainable growth. Provides executive-level HR leadership, guiding a team of HR Business Partners in delivering integrated, high-impact HR services to academic and administrative units. Works collaboratively with the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), HR Centers of Excellence (CoEs), and university leadership to shape HR strategies, policies, and programs that promote organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, and institutional excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Human Resources In Progressively More Senior Roles (10 Years)

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting senior academic or administrative leaders through complex organizational and workforce changes.
• Experience leading HR teams and partnering with executive-level leadership in a complex, decentralized organization with a higher-education or a mission-driven sector.
• Master's degree
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) - Society for Human Resource Management
• University Setting Or Large, Complex Organization With A Matrix Structure (6 Years)
• Adaptability
• Budgeting
• Business Oriented
• Confidential Data Handling
• Consulting
• Customer Service
• Data Analysis
• Design Thinking
• HR Legal Compliance
• Human Resources Compliance
• Human Resources Key Performance Indicators (HR KPIs)
• Human Resources Policies
• Impact Analysis
• Interact with All Levels of Management
• Interpersonal Management
• Leadership
• Multiple Project Management
• Oral Communications
• Organizational Planning
• Priority Management
• Problem Solving
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Talent Acquisition
• Teamwork
• Written Communication

Responsibilities

• Partners with executive and senior leaders—including deans, vice presidents, and senior administrators—to develop and execute people strategies that enable the university’s mission, academic priorities, and operational objectives.
• Serves as a key advisor and thought partner to institutional leadership on complex HR and organizational issues, providing strategic counsel and actionable recommendations.
• Builds trusted relationships across academic and administrative leadership to influence decision-making and drive institutional initiatives forward.
• Functions as the first point of escalation for significant organizational or workforce challenges across schools and departments, ensuring effective resolution and alignment with university values and policies.
• Leads, mentors, and develops a team of Human Resources Business Partners, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality, consultative HR services.
• Drives the professional development, upskilling, and continuous improvement of the HR Business Partner team to strengthen strategic capability, business acumen, and partnership effectiveness.
• Promotes a culture of collaboration, inclusion, accountability, and service excellence within the HR Business Partner team.
• Oversees the design, coordination, and implementation of HR services and initiatives across schools and departments, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and consistency in approach.
• Ensures that HR services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each academic and administrative unit while maintaining adherence to central HR policies and frameworks.
• Translates school and department priorities into actionable HR strategies, programs, and initiatives that enhance workforce capability, organizational design, and engagement.
• Partners closely with the CHRO and HR Leadership Team to develop, deploy, and evolve HR strategies, programs, policies, and services across the institution.
• Collaborates with HR Centers of Excellence (e.g., Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Learning & Development, Employee Relations, etc.) to ensure HR solutions are aligned with institutional goals and meet the diverse needs of academic and administrative clients.
• Provides feedback to CoE and central HR teams on the effectiveness, relevance, and impact of programs, policies, and services to inform continuous improvement.
• Leverages HR data and analytics to assess workforce trends, inform leadership decisions, and anticipate future needs within schools and departments.
• Analyzes HR metrics such as turnover, engagement, workforce composition, and performance outcomes to support strategic planning and risk management.
• Monitors customer satisfaction and service level metrics to evaluate effectiveness and identify areas for process and service enhancement.
• Leads the HR Business Partner function in supporting major institutional change initiatives, including reorganizations, culture transformation, and leadership transitions.
• Stays informed on emerging higher education, workforce, and HR trends to proactively guide institutional strategy and readiness.
• Promotes best practices and innovative HR approaches that enhance organizational agility and institutional resilience.
• Provides other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees.
• Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees