Senior HR Partner, Student Life

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

9d • $120,000 - $130,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

USC Human Resources, Ethics, and Compliance (HREC) is seeking an experienced Senior HR Partner to serve as a trusted strategic advisor to USC Student Life leaders. USC Student Life is a multifaceted, student-facing organization focused on creating an outstanding student experience. The Senior HR Partner will work closely with leaders across the client group to understand their business and priorities, build trusted relationships, and provide strategic HR guidance on complex people and organizational needs.

This position is part of University Human Resources' Client Services, reports to a Director, and is assigned to USC Student Life to provide dedicated HR partnership while collaborating with USC's HR Centers of Expertise.

The Senior HR Partner will join a complex and highly engaged client environment where building trust, learning the organization, and maintaining a strong presence with leaders will be essential to success. The role requires someone who can confidently coach and consult with leaders and drive people strategies that build a culture aligned with organizational goals and priorities. It also requires the ability to navigate difficult conversations, manage employee relations matters and workplace investigations, and provide guidance to HR Partners and Associate HR Partners.

The position is suited to an HR professional who is curious, organized, relationship-driven, and uses sound judgment. The successful candidate will take time to understand the client before recommending solutions and be comfortable navigating complexity and ambiguity while serving as a strategic partner to leaders across Student Life. The role follows a hybrid-fixed work arrangement, with at least three onsite days and two remote days per week. Onsite work takes place at various locations within the assigned client organization, and travel between USC locations is required based on client and business needs. Additional onsite days may be required during onboarding and to meet client needs. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday; the university may modify schedules and arrangements based on business needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, psychology, human resources, industrial relations, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of experience in human resources or human capital management.
• In-depth understanding of and experience working across a broad spectrum of HR domains, including total rewards (including compensation), employee and labor relations, talent management (including performance management, learning and development), continuous process improvement, change management, training, community and inclusion, workforce planning, and organizational development and design.
• Demonstrated success consulting with business unit leaders about talent management strategies, including workforce planning, talent assessments, employee and labor relations, and performance management.
• Ability to work with multiple leaders and manage competing priorities.
• Experience presenting complex and sensitive information articulately through presentations or reports to executive leadership.
• Excellent mentoring and coaching skills to enhance client management and leadership abilities and relationships among teams.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, including conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with diverse teams.
• Ability to learn quickly and flexibly adapt HR expertise to different business units.
• Ability to develop positive working relationships and rapport with team members.
• Ability to manage one or more direct reports.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to USC's Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability, demonstrated through ideas, words, and actions.
• Combined experience and education may substitute for the minimum education and minimum work experience requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in business, psychology, human resources, industrial relations, or a related field.
• Ten or more years of experience in human resources or human capital management.
• Experience in higher education and/or consulting.
• Knowledge of Workday Human Capital Management applications and analytics.
• CIPD, CPLP, ODCP, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR, or similar certification.
• Preferred SHRM or human resources certification: PHR or SPHR, or ability to obtain one certification within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the assigned client organization and develop a strong understanding of its business, people, culture, priorities, and long-term goals.
• Build relationships with employees and leaders at all levels, providing proactive HR consultation, coaching, and guidance.
• Participate in strategic planning and advise leaders on workforce planning, change management, succession planning, performance management, talent development, and organizational effectiveness strategies.
• Manage and resolve employee and labor relations matters, including workplace investigations, performance concerns, disciplinary actions, and other sensitive employee matters.
• Coach leaders through complex people decisions and provide thoughtful HR guidance, including appropriately challenging assumptions when needed.
• Partner with USC HR Centers of Expertise to deliver solutions across Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR systems and analytics, learning and organizational development, and other HR functions.
• Use workforce data, employee feedback, and organizational insights to support hiring, promotion, compensation, professional development, succession planning, and other talent decisions.
• Communicate complex HR policies, practices, and employment requirements in ways that enable leaders and employees to understand and act.
• Manage competing priorities and changing business needs with sound judgment, discretion, responsiveness, and follow-through.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to HR Partners and Associate HR Partners and contribute to a collaborative HR environment.
• Maintain current knowledge of HR leading practices and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested; the university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Benefits

• USC offers a wide variety of benefits and programs that support staff and their families.
• Programs supporting work-life balance and employee well-being.
• A work culture characterized by mutual respect, trust, and synergy.

What This Job Offers

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