"Director of Talent"

Job Description Summary

The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by October 11, 2025. Applications received after October 11, 2025 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.

Why URI?

The University of Rhode Island is a vibrant, land- and sea-grant institution committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. As the state's flagship university, URI offers a collaborative and inclusive environment where innovation and community impact thrive. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of talent at URI and contribute to a bold vision for institutional growth.

About Human Resources:

The HR team at URI is a dedicated group of professionals committed to driving the university's mission by prioritizing our most valuable resource: our people. Currently undergoing an exciting transformation, we are focused on fostering growth, agility, and excellence to become strategic partners and trusted resources for the campus community. We strive to deliver innovative, high-quality, and compliant HR initiatives that attract, engage, develop, recognize, and retain a diverse and talented workforce. Our team works hard, supports one another, and values a collaborative and fun work environment, all while providing exceptional service to the university.

Work Environment

This position is in person based at URI's Kingston campus with flexibility for hybrid work arrangements. Occasional travel will be required for recruitment and professional development events (estimated at 5%).

Position Summary

The University of Rhode Island (URI) is seeking a visionary and strategic Director of Talent to lead a transformative approach to talent acquisition and employee development. As the inaugural leader in this role, you will be responsible for overhauling recruitment processes, elevating the candidate experience, and building a dynamic talent strategy that supports URI's mission as a premier public research university. This role will lead a team of talent professionals and will drive innovation, equal opportunity, inclusivity, and operational excellence across the employee lifecycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Talent Acquisition

• Redesign and modernize URI's recruitment strategy, policy, and processes to ensure efficiency, transparency, equal opportunity, and equity.
• Lead the development of a compelling employer brand that reflects URI's values and attracts top-tier talent.
• Supervise and mentor Talent Acquisition Specialists, an HR Technician, and other HR professionals within the talent acquisition and recruitment function, cultivating a high-performing, service-oriented team.
• Implement data-driven sourcing strategies and recruitment marketing campaigns to reach qualified candidate pools and promote equal opportunity for all.
• Champion a seamless, engaging candidate experience from application through onboarding.

Learning & Development Leadership

• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of training programs, such as leadership development, technical skills training, and onboarding using data analysis to drive improvements and ensure resources are accessible and effective.
• Provide strategic oversight to the Manager of Learning and Development to build scalable, impactful programs.
• Support initiatives that promote leadership development, onboarding, and career growth across the university.
• Align learning strategies with institutional goals, employee feedback, compliance requirements, and evolving workforce needs.

Talent Strategy & Workforce Planning

• Collaborate with HRBPs and university leadership to forecast talent needs and develop long-term workforce plans.
• Use analytics to assess recruitment effectiveness, employee engagement, and retention trends.
• Drive continuous improvement through feedback loops, benchmarking, and stakeholder engagement.

Culture & Inclusion

• Partner with Community, Equity, and Diversity (CED) and Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) leaders to embed inclusive practices into recruitment and employee development.
• Promote a culture of belonging, learning, and innovation across all levels of the university.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

Perform other duties as required.

Licenses, Tools, and Equipment:

Personal computers, printers, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, HRIS, database management and spreadsheet software.