Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Cornell University • Ithaca, NY

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Cornell University is seeking a highly strategic, collaborative, and innovative leader to serve as its next Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (VP CHRO). Reporting to the President, and serving as a key leader, connector, and strategist across all of Cornell’s campuses, which include over 18,000 employees and 11 unions, the VP CHRO is responsible for directing the University’s overall strategic and operational human resources functions. As a trusted advisor to the President, Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and other institutional leaders, the VP CHRO will provide data-informed recommendations and pragmatic options on complex workforce, organizational, and cultural issues. Further, the VP CHRO will design, implement, and continually iterate on a change agenda that aligns with institutional priorities and capacity, while allowing flexibility for local needs and a shifting regulatory landscape. The successful candidate will be a highly visible, engaged, and credible leader who thrives in complexity and brings tested best practices, empathy, and resolve to lead through change. They will work to elevate HR’s role across the University as a strategic partner and ensure a consistent, influential presence in enterprise decision-making. Combining strategic acumen with operational depth, the VP CHRO will help Cornell balance competing priorities with clarity and decisiveness. With a deep commitment to Cornell’s mission and community, the next VP CHRO will play a vital role in shaping the University’s future as an engaged employer of choice and upholding its reputation as a world-class academic institution.

Requirements

• Highly strategic, collaborative, and innovative leader.
• Trusted advisor to the President, Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and other institutional leaders.
• Experience providing data-informed recommendations and pragmatic options on complex workforce, organizational, and cultural issues.
• Ability to design, implement, and iterate on a change agenda.
• Ability to align change agenda with institutional priorities and capacity, while allowing flexibility for local needs and a shifting regulatory landscape.
• Highly visible, engaged, and credible leader.
• Ability to thrive in complexity.
• Experience bringing tested best practices, empathy, and resolve to lead through change.
• Ability to elevate HR’s role as a strategic partner.
• Ability to ensure a consistent, influential presence in enterprise decision-making.
• Strategic acumen with operational depth.
• Deep commitment to Cornell’s mission and community.

Responsibilities

• Directing the University’s overall strategic and operational human resources functions.
• Providing data-informed recommendations and pragmatic options on complex workforce, organizational, and cultural issues.
• Designing, implementing, and continually iterating on a change agenda that aligns with institutional priorities and capacity, while allowing flexibility for local needs and a shifting regulatory landscape.
• Elevating HR’s role across the University as a strategic partner.
• Ensuring a consistent, influential presence in enterprise decision-making.
• Helping Cornell balance competing priorities with clarity and decisiveness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed