Principal Human Resources Business Partner

Job Details

Department: Human Resources

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

The Opportunity

The Principal HR Business Partner will sit alongside vice presidents, deans, and senior leaders — not as a support function, but as a true strategic partner. A thought leader. A change agent. A workforce architect who can see around corners, challenge assumptions, and help George Mason’s leadership build the organization it needs to fulfill its mission.

This is a director-level individual contributor role with enterprise impact. It partners directly with senior leaders to translate institutional priorities into effective organizational structures, talent strategies, and workforce plans.

Essential Functions

• Drive the design and alignment of organizational structures and workforce models across supported portfolios.
• Advance George Mason’s Workforce of the Future strategy.
• Shape leadership decisions related to compensation strategy, retention planning, performance effectiveness.
• Leverage workforce analytics and talent insights to inform leadership decision-making.
• Serve as the primary integrator between academic and administrative units and HR Centers of Excellence.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Significant progressive HR experience, including senior-level HR business partnership in complex organizations (typically seven or more years).
• Demonstrated experience shaping workforce strategy, organizational effectiveness, and talent programs with senior leadership.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience in higher education, research institutions, healthcare systems, or similarly complex environments.

Compensation: The expected range for this position is $145,000 to $160,000.

Posting Open Date: March 19, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: April 2, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes