Chief Human Resources Officer

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Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE)’s senior HR leader and the institutional architect for how the School recruits, compensates, develops, and supports its workforce. The CHRO works closely with the Dean’s Office, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Chief People Officer (CPO), and the senior leadership team to ensure HR operations, compliance, and workforce strategy are executed with rigor, equity, and excellence.

As HGSE’s lead expert on employment law, university policy, and HR risk, the CHRO ensures that HR practices are legally sound, equitable, and aligned with university standards, and that the School rests on a scalable, compliant, and data‑driven HR foundation. The CHRO also leads the responsible adoption of AI across HR operations so that emerging technologies enhance efficiency, insight, and decision‑making while maintaining ethical and compliant practices.

The CHRO serves as a strategic leader for a workforce of more than 400 faculty and staff and several hundred student employees across academic, research, and administrative functions. This includes more than 100 faculty members, a substantial population of union‑represented employees, and a diverse range of academic and administrative professionals. Partnering with leaders across more than 30 departments, centers, and administrative units, the CHRO advances workforce strategy in a complex, mission‑driven environment that requires navigating faculty governance, university‑wide policies, collective bargaining agreements, and the evolving needs of a leading research university.

Leading a dedicated HR team, the CHRO oversees talent acquisition, employee and labor relations, compensation, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, learning and development, and performance management. The role supports significant annual hiring activity and maintains relationships with multiple bargaining units, including HUCTW and HGSU. As a member of the School’s senior leadership team, the CHRO collaborates with Harvard’s Vice President for Human Resources and peer CHROs across the University, and supports a predominantly hybrid workforce operating across multiple locations, balancing strategic leadership with operational excellence in a highly collaborative environment.

• Serve as a senior strategic advisor to the CAO, Dean's Office, and leadership team, ensuring that HR strategy is fully integrated into HGSE's institutional priorities, workforce investments, and long‑term planning. Translate institutional goals into clear workforce implications, including staffing models, capability requirements, and operating constraints.
• Partner with the Dean’s Office, the CAO, and the CPO to lead school‑wide workforce strategy, advising on organizational structures, headcount planning, and capability development required to advance HGSE's mission, with a particular focus on ensuring that workforce design aligns with both financial realities and long‑term strategic ambitions.
• Represent HGSE in university‑wide HR forums on policy, compliance, compensation, and…