Position Summary
The Assistant Director of HR Employment Operations and Compliance provides ongoing leadership and daily business direction for a broad portfolio of employment services supporting Michigan State University's faculty, staff, students, retirees, departments, and external stakeholders. Reporting to the Director, who establishes the overall direction and priorities for the unit, this role translates that direction into operational plans, service expectations, resource priorities, and coordinated execution across multiple employment functions and customer service channels. Through a team of managers and supervisor, the Assistant Director maintains oversight of operational performance, risk management, data stewardship, and continuous improvement, ensuring high-quality, timely, consistent, and solution-oriented service. The role serves as a senior operational partner for employment systems and policy implementation, leads significant service and technology initiatives, and provides leadership guidance on complex or sensitive employment matters. This position is central to sustaining a responsive, customer-centered HR service model aligned with the Director’s priorities and the university’s mission.
What You’ll Do
- Lead, align, and develop managers and supervisors across multiple functional teams, communicating the Director’s priorities, clarifying decision rights, strengthening accountability, and building a collaborative, customer-focused leadership culture.
- Provide ongoing oversight and daily business direction for employment operations, including academic appointments, support staff hiring and separations, temporary, on-call, and student employment, and centralized HR customer service; translate the Director’s overall priori ties into coordinated plans and execution while functional managers maintain detailed subject-matter expertise and manage day-to-day processes .
- Direct daily business operations through clear service standards, performance expectations, escalation frameworks, and cross- functional operating practices that support consistent, accurate, and timely resolution of employment needs.
- Provide ongoing business oversight for the applicant tracking system (PageUp) and employment-related functions within the university’s enterprise business system (EBS), advancing priorities established with the Director while managers and technical partners provide detailed process and system expertise.
- Lead the operational portfolio of process improvement, automation, system enhancement, and service optimization initiatives within the Director’s overall direction; establish implementation priorities, remove barriers, manage organizational impacts, and ensure intended outcomes are achieved.
- Maintain ongoing oversight of employment data integrity, records management, controls, and compliance, using management reporting and assurance from functional leaders to identify risk, direct corrective action, and inform the Director.
- Provide senior operational judgment and direction for complex or sensitive employment matters, engaging managers and subject-matter experts to develop options and recommendations; represent the Director and make delegated decisions in their absence.
- Build strong partnerships with HR leaders and university stakeholders to guide system upgrades, policy implementation, workforce initiatives, and service changes that improve institutional effectiveness and customer experience.
- Represent the division on university committees, working groups, and cross-institutional initiatives, influencing decisions and advancing HR innovation, shared-service maturity, and institutional priorities.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven success providing strategic leadership for complex, multi-functional HR, shared-services, or customer service operations through managers and supervisors.
- Ability to translate the Director’s overall strategy and priorities into daily business direction, operational plans, service standards, performance measures, and accountable execution across multiple teams.
- Strong business acumen and sufficient knowledge of employment services and HR technology to oversee operations, assess risk, make informed decisions within delegated authority, and effectively evaluate recommendations from functional and technical experts.
- Demonstrated ability to lead operation al improvements and change initiatives, prioritize work within established unit direction, and guide teams through process, technology, policy , and service-model transformation.
- Sound senior-level judgment, analytical capability, and influential communication skills, with the ability to direct daily operations, navigate complex employment matters, align diverse stakeholders, and appropriately elevate strategic or high-risk matters to the Director.
Salary
The salary range for this position is fixed at $125,000 – $133,000. Final compensation will be determined based on relevant experience within this range.
Remote Work Capability
This position is based in East Lansing, Michigan, on the campus of Michigan State University. Human Resources embraces flexible work options, and this position allows for a hybrid work schedule (if desired), with regular onsite work required at least 3 days per week. All work schedules are assessed for impact to the work outcomes of the individual, team, and department – and must be pre-approved by the supervisor.
Why Join Us
At Michigan State University Human Resources, the Employment Operations and Compliance unit plays a critical role in delivering accessible, high‑quality service to a diverse campus community. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to lead impactful employment operations, shape customer experiences, and drive meaningful improvements in how HR services a re delivered. You’ll work alongside dedicated professionals committed to service excellence, innovation, and inclusive excellence; while contributing to the success of one of the nation’s leading public research universities.
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Human Resources Administration or related field; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in records management; project management; designing, developing and implementing systems; and experience working with mainframe and personal computer based systems and software; employment law and record retention regulations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience .
Desired Qualifications
Experience working effectively in a highly unionized environment, including applying collective bargaining agreements and navigating employment processes within represented workforces; proven ability to lead process improvement, automation, or service optimization efforts that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and customer experience; experience applying judgment to resolve complex employment issues and interpret policies within a large, decentralized, or higher‑education organization; experience with HR employment systems (e.g., applicant tracking systems and enterprise HRIS), including system enhancements or implementations; strong leadership, analytical and collaboration skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions and work effectively with cross‑functional stakeholders.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
Resume and Cover Letter
Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Website
hr.msu.edu
Remote Work Statement
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
Bidding Eligibility ends November 3, 2026 at 11:55 PM
