Associate Director, HR, Provost Centers

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world‑renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly‑regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions, most recently with Forbes naming Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Associate Director, HR, Provost Centers

Associate Director D, Human Resources, School/ Center

The position reports to the Director of Human Resources, Office of the Provost, and will act as a senior HR partner for assigned departments/centers. These include Undergraduate Admissions, Penn Global, and the Penn Museum, among others. The selected candidate will serve as a strategic partner to their areas and be responsible for addressing staff relations issues, providing performance management guidance, overseeing hiring processes, facilitating onboarding, and collaborating with managers and staff to offer guidance on a range of issues.

The candidate will also support the Provost Center HR staff in other areas related to the Provost.

• Act as an HR partner for selected departments/centers; handle all staff relations issues; advise directors, managers, and staff on HR policies, procedures, and best practices; review and assist with all performance management issues. Manage collective bargaining agreements (CBA’s) for unionized staff within assigned areas.
• Liaise with executive leaders on HR needs of selected staff, assisting with HR related programs, such as annual performance reviews;
  Assist managers & staff with questions on HR and University policies, benefits; train new managers on best practices.
• Participate in organizational development and strategic planning for assigned areas, providing guidance on the most effective implementation of changes. Work with leadership on implementation.
• Partner with compensation on standard processes: reviewing positions to determine job profile/salary/title; reviewing requests for mid‑year adjustments for reclassification and/or salary adjustments; working with managers to develop job descriptions for new or replacement positions.
• Coordinate with PAA Finance Group to ensure decisions/actions are within budgetary constraints. And coordinate hiring processes with talent acquisition partners. Assist with organizational issues as needed.
• Lead HR‑related initiatives, including process improvements and strategic projects.
• Work with hiring officers to onboard staff appropriately; conduct exit interviews; and provide advice to senior leadership based on the interviews. Review benefits with new staff as needed.
• Develop and deliver training programs addressing the needs of supervisors and/or staff.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree plus 5‑7 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Experience in human resources management is required. Higher education experience preferred.
• Experience should include most or all of the following areas: employee relations,…