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Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
George Mason University (“George Mason”) invites applications, expressions of interest, and nominations for the role of Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Relations Officer (VPHR).
ABOUT GEORGE MASON
George Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial public institution with national distinction in academics and research. As the largest and most diverse university in Virginia, George Mason has students and faculty from all 50 states and more than 135 countries studying in 200+ degree programs. Rooted in George Mason’s diversity is a culture that is rewarding, exciting, and tied to meaningful work and opportunities to collaborate and create as a community.
Each year, George Mason welcomes thousands of scholars, builders, authors, explorers, leaders, and inventors. They come to learn and grow; they leave ready to change the world. George Mason is committed to access and excellence, and it defines success by the number of opportunities provided to students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the community. The institution is proud that 35 percent of its graduates are the first members of their family to earn a four-year degree. It is the largest public research university in Virginia with three campuses in Virginia, one campus in Songdo, Korea, and learning locations across the Commonwealth. George Mason has grown to more than 40,000 students, more than 4,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 200,000 alumni. George Mason currently has more than 7,500 non-student employees and nearly 4,000 student employees. In 2016, the university moved into the highest research category (R1) as determined by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
George Mason’s strategic direction is structured around five strategic priorities: deliver a distinctive and inclusive student experience that fosters lifelong engagement; expand the impact of George Mason’s research, scholarship, and creative enterprise; expand partnerships for economic and social impact; exemplify a university culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and invest in faculty and staff success.
Its location near Washington, D.C., fosters access to unique opportunities, resources, and audiences, as George Mason strives to be the best university for the world. With 10 schools and colleges devoted to a variety of areas of study, George Mason was the first university in the country to offer doctoral programs in conflict resolution, information technology, bioinformatics, and computational social science. As a place where "innovation is tradition,” George Mason is setting the benchmark for a bold, transformative learning experience through an experiential and global education that serves the evolving needs of students and communities.
THE NEXT VICE PRESIDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES
The Human Resources department at George Mason supports the university’s mission through the development and implementation of policies, programs, and practices that attract, compensate, support, retain, and reward faculty and staff. HR provides services to the university, promoting best practices, forming strategic partnerships, fostering innovation, investing in infrastructure, establishing efficient systems, fostering engagement and pursuing continuous improvement.
Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, the VPHR will provide vital, responsive, and transparent services, support, and structure to the university community. The Vice President serves as part of the George Mason University Executive Leadership Team and is accountable for the planning, development, and implementation of university-wide initiatives and strategies that support employee engagement, employee success, and a culture of excellence. This position holds executive responsibility for the design, development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive human resources programs for the university.
Areas of leadership and responsibility include, but are not limited to the development, management, and improvement of:
- Benefits
- Classification and compensation
- Employee Relations
- Performance management and employee engagement
- Talent acquisition
- Onboarding
- Organizational development, learning, and change management
- Clear communication of HR policies and initiatives
- HR metrics and KPIs to inform program, policy, and organizational changes
- HR information systems enhancements, technology innovations, and new ways of working
- HR operating budget
- Succession planning and internal development/promotion strategies
- Compliance and reporting accountability with all applicable state, federal, and university policies, laws, and regulations
- Transformation efforts to support the creation of new HR systems and practices in line with the increased autonomy granted through the Restructured Higher Education, Financial and Administrative Operations Act, Chapter 10 of Title 23.1 of the Code of Virginia (Tier 3).
The VPHR will be a university-wide thinker and collaborator, working with other senior leaders in leading and supporting change management initiatives and the George Mason community.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
This role represents the opportunity to make a lasting, positive, and transformative contribution to a vibrant and dynamic institution. The VPHR will bring leadership, focus, and vision to the following opportunities and challenges:
- Leading through change: George Mason is a young, innovative, and entrepreneurial institution – one that continues to evolve and transform at a quick pace. With many priorities and moving parts, in an environment that is regularly shifting and growing, the VPHR will be a transformational leader and a steadying force, collaboratively leading through change and creating and implementing best practices and next practices in the service of our students, faculty, and staff community members.
- Providing strategic leadership for standardizing and streamlining the HR function: The VPHR will be charged with overseeing an inclusive and collaborative modernization of decentralized human resources processes to include new technologies, systems, policies, and procedures where appropriate. Working within a traditional structure, the VPHR will work to increase automation and create and implement a strong set of best practices for the university to the benefit of its constituents and community.
- Focusing on resource optimization: The human resources department at George Mason comprises a lean, but highly efficient team. In a resource-constrained environment – dependent in many ways on state funding – the VPHR will prioritize customer-oriented service and exceptional constituent communication. They will be creative in using funding efficiently, operating from the lens of possibility and partnership within the George Mason community. The VPHR will be able to see the big picture, while also understanding the operational efficacies at the ground level. They will also advocate for resources for staff and the unit.
- Bringing vision, strategy, and support to human resources: The VPHR will bring a strategic vision and plan for the department. They will also be an outstanding advocate, uplifting the voices of George Mason’s employees to senior leadership and external partners. They will bring exceptional team management skills, and they will have the opportunity to challenge and support an expert, well-rounded, and dedicated HR team. The VPHR will be an accessible, present, and engaged leader who ensures that all community members feel valued and supported in their service to the institution.
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND KEY ATTRIBUTES
HR Experience
- Extensive experience in progressively responsible senior HR leadership roles (generally ten or more years)
- Demonstrated experience consulting and advising senior-level executives in broad functional areas of human resources
- Demonstrated experience in handling highly sensitive and confidential situations with a strong commitment to and record of exemplary professional and personal integrity
- An advanced degree or certification in the field is strongly preferred
Collaboration and Communication
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to listen, build relationships, communicate ideas and plans effectively, translate complex idea for various audiences, promote teamwork, and demonstrate high emotional intelligence
- Track record of engaging key constituents and collaborating effectively with multiple varied complex organizational units to optimize efficiencies
- A collegial, collaborative, consultative, transparent, and responsive professional approach to working across various key constituencies with multivariate interests and objectives
Change Management
- Demonstrated ability to lead change in and across a large organization
- Ability to create and translate vision, strategic direction, and long-term goals into specific projects and initiatives with clear timeline
- A track record of modernizing systems and policies, including collaboratively implementing new systems or technologies
- Skill in executing data-driven decision making to sustain and enhance quality of services
Leadership and Vision
- A visionary, innovative, and transparent approach to leadership that can address the challenges and opportunities facing higher education in the decades to come
- A demonstrated ability and desire to engage with, mentor, and develop employees and support the development of cohesive, collaborative teams
- Ability to think creatively, entrepreneurially, and innovatively
- A dedication to growing and fostering a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community
Understanding of the Needs of Public and/or Educational Institutions
- Comfort managing compliance and reporting requirements within a state system
- An understanding of shared governance and employment issues in an academic setting
- A deep respect for – and support of – students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and community members, as well as an understanding of and experience working with different complex employee classifications
- A passion for creating opportunity and accessibility in education
NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Application materials must include a cover letter detailing how the candidate's experiences match the position requirements and a resume. Submission of materials as Adobe PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. For full consideration, applicants must apply for job number 10001608 at www.jobs.gmu.edu.
Please direct all search inquiries and nominations to the search consultants at GeorgeMasonVPHR@storbecksearch.com
This is a full-time position that will be performed on site in Virginia. Salary commensurate with experience with a generous benefits package. Review of application materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. All requests for information, written nominations, confidential inquiries, and all application materials should be directed in confidence to:
Susan VanGilder, Managing Director and Beth McCarthy, Senior Associate at: GeorgeMasonVPHR@storbecksearch.com
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