Vice President for Human Resources

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Harvard University seeks an accomplished, strategic, and deeply collaborative human resources executive to serve as its next Vice President for Human Resources (VPHR). This is a pivotal opportunity for a mission‑driven leader to help one of the world’s most influential universities meet the current moment, advance a future‑focused people strategy, strengthen workplace culture and service, and build the organizational resilience and capacity required for Harvard to thrive in its next chapter.

Founded in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the world’s most prominent centers of teaching, research, and discovery. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with campuses in Allston and Boston’s Longwood Medical Area and additional locations around the country and around the world, Harvard has evolved from a small colonial college into a globally recognized research university comprising Harvard College, 12 graduate and professional schools, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

Today, Harvard is home to approximately 25,000 students, more than 20,000 faculty and staff, and a worldwide alumni network exceeding 400,000 individuals whose leadership and contributions span every sector of society.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President, the Vice President for Human Resources serves as a member of Harvard University’s executive leadership team and sets the strategic vision for Human Resources across the University. The VPHR is the senior‑most HR leader for Central Administration, with responsibility for all aspects of the employment life cycle for approximately 6,000 employees, and serves as a strategic convener and coordinating partner to HR leaders across Harvard’s 12 schools.

Building on a strong HR foundation, the VPHR will advance a progressive, service‑oriented, multi‑year, and business‑aligned “strategy for people” that supports Harvard’s teaching, research, and administrative mission while balancing institutional needs, employee experience, and financial sustainability. This leader will strengthen the University’s ability to attract, develop, engage, and retain exceptional talent; foster a culture of respect, inclusion, accountability, and belonging;

modernize HR policies, practices, and service models; and position HR as a trusted, data‑informed, forward‑looking, and high‑touch partner. The VPHR will also mentor, develop, and elevate a team of six direct reports who oversee approximately 180 staff across the Center for Workplace Development, HR Operations, Workforce Analytics and Employee Communications, Human Resources Consulting, Labor and Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition and Outreach, and Total Rewards.

This position represents an exciting opportunity to shape the people strategy, workplace culture, and future capacity of Harvard University. The successful candidate will be a highly experienced, relationship‑centered HR executive who combines enterprise perspective with practical discipline; brings strong business and financial acumen; and has the judgment, credibility, and relationship‑building skills to lead through ambiguity, complexity, and change. This leader must be both strategic and hands‑on, able to engage effectively with senior leaders, school‑based HR leaders, faculty and administrative leaders, managers, staff, and union partners.

Success will require a leader who can build trust in a large, decentralized, shared governance environment; develop and empower a high‑performing Harvard HR team; communicate with clarity and consistency; strengthen internal communication and culture‑building; move with appropriate urgency; accelerate adoption of needed changes; and anticipate external pressures affecting higher education and the workforce. The VPHR will bring substantive senior‑level HR leadership experience across…