Executive Director, Human Resources (HR) Operations

Executive Director, Human Resources (HR) Operations

Company: University of the District of Columbia

Job Location: Washington, 20008

Category: Human Resources

Type: Full-Time

Number of Vacancies: 1

Position Status: Full-Time, Regular

Pay Plan, Series & Grade: DS0058/2A

Salary Range: $134,333.24 - $141,854.08

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Location: 4200 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Brief Description of Duties

The Executive Director of HR Operations provides strategic leadership and operational governance for the University's human resources infrastructure, overseeing compensation strategy, classification and job architecture, benefits administration, talent acquisition and retention strategies, and HRIS & payroll systems modernization for optimizing operational service delivery.

Reporting to the Vice President for Human Resources, the Executive Director HR Operations will serve as the #2 for the UDC Office of Human Resources. This executive role is accountable for the design, execution, and continuous improvement of scalable HR frameworks that ensure equity, compliance, risk mitigation, fiscal responsibility, recognition and engagement, and service excellence across the institution. The Executive Director supports the VPHR in providing strategic leadership and direction for several functional areas of Human Resources (HR), including compensation, benefits, talent acquisition, HRIS & payroll as well as the engagement to support the recruitment, retention, and motivation of a highly qualified and engaged workforce. This role is a key advisor to the VPHR and senior leadership in aligning HR strategies with the organization's short and long-term objectives.

This critical role directs a multidisciplinary HR operations team and external partners, including classification and compensation consultants, Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU's), working with members of DCHR and OPRS, and District benefits administration partner. The Executive Director ensures cohesive integration of recruitment, retention, onboarding and offboarding, compensation governance, HRIS data analysis, assist in completing internal and external audits, payroll system improvements for timely and accurate pay administration, workforce analytics and planning, creation and implementation of policies/procedures/guidelines/ SOPs, and modernization initiatives in alignment with the University's 2024-2029 Strategic Plan and Service Excellence standards.

The incumbent serves as a senior operational advisor to HR and University leadership, translating institutional priorities into structured HR systems, policy frameworks, and measurable outcomes.

Position Responsibilities

Enterprise HR Operations & Talent Acquisition Leadership - 20%
* Provides strategic oversight of HR operations and full-cycle recruitment functions, ensuring consistent service delivery, compliance, and operational efficiency across all divisions.
* Leads and develops HR professional staff, including recruitment, classification, compensation, and operational personnel. Establishes performance standards, accountability structures, and succession planning within the unit.
* Ensures onboarding and offboarding processes are standardized, compliant, and aligned with institutional branding and employee experience goals.

Compensation Strategy & Classification Governance - 20%
* Oversees the University's compensation structures, salary administration guidelines, and job architecture framework. Directs market benchmarking, pay equity analysis, and classification methodologies to ensure internal consistency and external competitiveness.
* Manages external classification and compensation consultants engaged in institutional modernization and job architecture projects. Provides executive-level recommendations to the VP regarding salary actions, reclassifications, and compensation risk mitigation.

HRIS & Payroll Administration - 15%
* Assist and oversee HRIS and payroll administration and risk mitigation by working with the HRIS & Payroll Manager
* Create a business relationship with DCHR, OPRS and other applicable District partners to rslove concerns in a timley and effective manner
* Work with the HRIS & Payroll team to complete internal and external audits

Benefits Administration Oversight & Vendor Governance - 10%
* Provides operational oversight of benefits administration processes, ensuring coordination with District partners.
* Supervises internal benefits administration support and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, enrollment timelines, and employee communications. Monitors vendor performance and service-level agreements to ensure responsive and accurate benefits delivery.

HR Modernization, Policy & Systems Strategy - 20%
* Leads enterprise-wide HR process modernization initiatives, including workflow redesign, SOP development, digital automation, and system optimization.
* Ensures HR policies and procedures are current, compliant, clearly documented, and aligned with institutional standards and brand guidelines. Oversees maintenance of HR digital platforms and employee-facing resources.

Workforce Analytics & Strategic Decision Support - 10%
* Establishes HR metrics dashboards and reporting frameworks to support workforce planning, recruitment forecasting, compensation modeling, and operational performance measurement.
* Provides data-driven insights to the VP and executive leadership to inform strategic staffing and budget decisions.

Institutional Collaboration & Executive Advisement - 5%
* Patners with University leadership, Finance, and Academic Affairs to align workforce structure, compensation practices, and recruitment strategy with institutional priorities.
* Represents HR Operations in cross-functional planning initiatives and enterprise modernization efforts.

Budget, Vendor & Operational Resource Management - 5%
* Oversees HR operational budgeting, vendor contracts, and fiscal planning related to recruitment tools, consultants, events, and service providers. Ensures responsible stewardship of resources and alignment with institutional financial controls.
* Provides oversight of operational logistics, audit support, ethics reporting coordination, and compliance documentation.

Required qualifications

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, with demonstrated expertise in compensation administration, job classification, recruitment or HR operations.
• Experience in a leadership role.
• Experience supervising professional staff and/or student employees.
• Strong knowledge of compensation and classification practices, including job analysis, pay equity, and benchmarking.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement HR policies, procedures, and process improvements.
• Proficiency with HRIS, payroll systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, discretion, and ethical standards.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in higher education or public-sector HR operations.
• Treats others with courtesy, respect, and dignity in the workplace. Promotes cooperation through open and honest communications and consideration of others ideas, thoughts, and opinions.
• Professional certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
• Demonstrated success in leading modernization efforts, including automation, digital tools, and process redesign.
• Experience with workforce planning, HR metrics, and data reporting to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Knowledge of federal and District of Columbia employment laws and regulations.
• Proficiency in project management, workflow automation, or HR information systems.

Employment Benefits: Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the University of the District of Columbia's retirement plan (TIAA).

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