Human Resources Manager

Job Description

The Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) was formed in 2021 with the aspiration to become the nation’s preeminent academic organization at the nexus of interdisciplinary research, technology, policy, and talent development to advance national security. The Institute grew from the Hume Center, which was launched in 2010 thanks to an endowment from Ted and Karyn Hume.

VTNSI is a national leader in advancing security and resilience through innovative and applied research, empowering the next generation of experts, and building strategic alliances to address evolving national security challenges. We bring together exceptional interdisciplinary faculty, unique research infrastructure, and deep partnerships with industry and government sponsors to execute impactful research and development.

The Human Resources Manager serves as a key member of the Virginia Tech National Security Institute’s (VTNSI) administrative team, providing embedded HR leadership within a complex, research-driven environment. This role leads and administers human resources operations across the institute while proactively translating evolving research and programmatic needs into HR actions. The position provides both operational and consultative HR support across recruitment, employee relations, performance management, compensation, training, HRIS/data management, and compliance by exercising a high level of judgment, confidentiality, and autonomy.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, VTNSI, with a functional reporting line to the HR director in the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI), the position will be responsible for:

• Partnering with institute leadership, stakeholder groups, and ORI HR to develop and execute workforce planning strategies aligned with sponsored project-based and operational staffing models, and organizational priorities.
• Leading talent acquisition and recruitment efforts by advising on workforce planning, position design, classification and compensation analysis, and sourcing strategies, while overseeing the full recruitment lifecycle to ensure a compliant and positive candidate experience in evolving competitive talent markets.
• Managing HR operations and employee lifecycle activities, including onboarding, offboarding, employment changes, records management, and data integrity by ensuring accurate, audit-ready, defensible, compliant, and efficient processes.
• Developing, analyzing, and using workforce data metrics, reports, and data-driven insight to support operational planning, organizational decision-making, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Serving as the institute’s lead HR contact on employee relations, policy interpretation, organizational design, workforce decisions, and change management, coordinating with ORI HR director to address complex personnel matters and ensuring alignment with university policies and strategic HR initiatives.
• Identifying and delivering HR-related training, guidance, and resources for leaders, managers, and employees on HR policies, processes, talent development, employee relations, compliance requirements, and workplace best practices.
• Applying analytical and consultative skills to conduct and defend complex classification and compensation analyses, synthesize information from multiple sources, research and evaluate HR-related requests, and develop well-supported business justifications and recommendations for decision-making.
• Developing and facilitating HR-related training materials and presentations for managers and employees across a complex organization.
• Supervising HR staff by overseeing transactional HR processes, fostering professional development, improving service-delivery, and driving operational effectiveness and process improvement initiatives.
• Interpreting, applying, and effectively communicating university, state, and federal HR policies, procedures, and employment regulations while accurately advising leaders, managers, and employees on policy-related matters and ensuring consistent compliance across the institute.
• Maintaining strong collaborative partnerships with institute leadership and ORI HR while ensuring accountability for institute-level HR outcomes and compliance with university, state, and federal policies, guidelines, and practices.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree with significant progressively responsible professional HR experience.
• Demonstrated progressive human resources experience supporting HR functional areas, including recruitment, onboarding/offboarding, classification and compensation analyses, performance management, employee relations, and training.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, apply, and advise on complex university, state, and federal employment policies, procedures, and regulations with a high degree of accuracy, judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
• Experience advising managers and organizational leadership on HR-related matters, including workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, talent strategy, and policy interpretation.
• Strong knowledge of HR systems, data management practices, and personnel processes, with demonstrated ability to maintain data integrity, analyze workforce information, and support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while exercising sound judgment and maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, including the ability to identify process improvement opportunities and implement effective operational solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship management skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with faculty, staff, leadership, and administrative partners across a complex organization.
• Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, customer service, professionalism, and inclusive workplace practices.
• Due to the nature of work conducted by the organization, the successful candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher education or research environment.
• Experience supervising or leading HR support staff and coordinating operational workflows.
• Experience developing or analyzing HR reports, metrics, or workforce data to support decision-making.
• Professional HR certification such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP.