Position Profile

Associate Vice President for Human Resources

December 2020

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ABOUT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Portland State University (PSU) is Oregon’s largest urban university, located in Portland, Oregon. PSU enrolls over 26,000 students and offers programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. PSU is an internationally recognized university known for excellence in student learning, innovative research, and community engagement. PSU contributes to the economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the Portland region and beyond. Employees describe Portland State University as a vibrant, diverse, progressive place to work and an environment that welcomes process improvement and innovation. Portland State’s 50-acre downtown campus is located in the heart of the city; a hub of culture, business, and technology and just 90 minutes from mountains and the Oregon Coast.

Portland State University is committed to providing access and excellent education to students from all backgrounds. PSU is a national College of Distinction, a mark of excellence earned for its pioneering University Studies program, a four-year pathway to undergraduate success. Additionally, the U.S. News & World Report ranks PSU as the No. 1 school in Oregon for social mobility due to the institution graduating the highest number of economically-disadvantaged students. See www.pdx.edu for additional information about the institution.

HUMAN RESOURCES

PSU’s Human Resources team is committed to providing quality service that enables faculty and staff to contribute at the highest level to support the mission of the University. This unit serves the PSU community in the areas of employee recruitment and retention; employee and labor relations; training, organization development and strategy; classification/compensation; payroll & benefits; human resources information systems; and business intelligence. Human resources staff is comprised of seven directors/consultants reporting to the Associate Vice President of Human Resources and an additional 23 staff members.

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POSITION Associate Vice President for Human Resources

Portland State University seeks a forward-thinking and dynamic leader for Associate Vice President (AVP) for Human Resources. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Finance and Administration, this position will continue the momentum toward a strategically-driven organization, providing management and leadership in human resource functions for the University’s principal assets: its students, faculty, and staff. The AVP serves as a critical advisor to senior University leadership on all human resources matters and participates in the development and implementation of the University’s strategic plans, policies, and procedures. The successful candidate will lead PSU’s team of HR professionals through extensive knowledge of HR best practices, employee engagement, total rewards, HRIS, analytics and data-based decision making, strategic leadership, and employee/labor relations. Responsibilities include:

• Driving informed decision making by leveraging data to identify trends; working with leaders to identify root causes of any issues and develop effective, timely solutions.

• Developing HR plans and strategies that support achieving overall business objectives. • Functioning as a strategic advisor to each unit’s executive/senior leadership regarding organizational and

management issues. • Developing comprehensive strategic recruiting and retention plans to meet the needs of the University. • Overseeing the development and implementation of comprehensive compensation plans ensuring

competitiveness and equitability. • Overseeing labor relations with HR to ensure a partnership between the University and employee bargaining

units. • Working in partnership with Academic Affairs regarding academic labor relations. • Promoting a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement with an eye toward

automation for increased efficiency. • Providing leadership and guidance to the HR department by overseeing talent acquisition, training, retention,

leadership development, and performance management using an equity lens. • Developing and implementing a comprehensive succession and continuity plan for HR including cross-training

and professional development opportunities. • Overseeing the budget for the human resources department. • Overseeing the HR functions: employment, employee and labor relations, compensation, HRIS, benefits, and

payroll. • Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and reinforcing PSU’s position as an equal

opportunity employer. • Partnering with General Counsel and Global Diversity and Inclusion offices to investigate and resolve employee

complaints, allegations, and employee relations issues. • Partnering with internal offices, including the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Global Diversity and

Inclusion, to ensure compliance with federal and state laws. • Establishing and implementing HR efforts that effectively communicate and support PSU’s mission and

strategic vision. • Partnering with University leadership to elicit feedback and assess efficacy of HR communication

campaigns/programs. • Other duties as assigned.

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QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required: • A Bachelor’s degree in human resources, organizational development, labor law, or other related fields. • Minimum of 7+ years of human resources experience in areas such as training, payroll, employment, HRIS,

employee and labor relations, compensation, and benefits administration; at least five of those years should have been spent in a leadership role.

• Solid knowledge of recruiting, performance management, training and development, wage and hour law, labor law, Title IX and legal compliance, benefits, compensation, EEO/AA guidelines, and employee relations.

• Ability to develop policies and procedures, and to effectively communicate all policies and procedures to University employees and departments.

• Superior interpersonal communication skills with a proven ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a variety of both internal and external constituents.

• Experience as a successful facilitator in conflict resolution. • Experience designing and implementing successful staff development programs. • Demonstrated leadership ability with strong organizational and administrative skills with the ability to balance

the daily operations of a Human Resources office with the strategic needs of the University. • A strong commitment to customer service, including a demonstrated record of fostering that commitment

within HR teams and related work groups.

Preferred: • Master’s degree in Human Resources-related field. • 7+ years of experience leading an HR department. • Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification. • Experience in employee and labor relations/collective bargaining contract administration, grievances, and

arbitration and/or experience working in a unionized environment. • Experience working in public higher education and ideally in a large, decentralized institution. • Experience in overseeing HR information systems and related technologies.

Key Cultural Competencies: • Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences. • Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors,

orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds. • Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive

settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement. • Adheres to all PSU policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the

Professional Standards of Conduct, which can be found at: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/professional-standards-conduct-policy.

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INQUIRIES, NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications can be submitted immediately and will be reviewed as they come in. Those received by February 1, 2021 will be given first consideration.

To apply, go to: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su223. Please submit a PDF version of your resume, a letter of interest which highlights your key qualifications for the role, and a one-page diversity statement upon application. The diversity statement should describe how your values and leadership frame or center equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in your work. Please highlight any specific EDI impacts you have had through initiatives that you have led; how you have acted in ways that have transformed your department, unit, and/or your institution; and please demonstrate your understanding of PSU's key cultural competencies in this document.

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:

Caitlin Hummel, BS Beth Baldino, MSW Senior Consultant Senior Consultant Summit Search Solutions, Inc. Summit Search Solutions, Inc. Direct: (585) 880-7550 Direct: (828) 216-6606 chummel@summitsearchsolutions.com bbaldino@summitsearchsolutions.com

PSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities and a campus climate that supports equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Summit Search Solutions, Inc. is a boutique executive search firm dedicated to serving education and nonprofit communities nationwide. Summit has a team of experienced recruiting consultants in strategic locations across the country including California, Kansas, New York, North Carolina, and Oregon.

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ABOUT PORTLAND, OREGON

Big city excitement and small-town charm make Portland one of the most popular cities on the west coast. Situated approximately 70 miles from the Pacific Ocean where the Columbia and Willamette Rivers meet, Portland enjoys a magnificent setting, combining sparkling waterways with lush greenery rarely found in urban settings. The Portland metro area is home to approximately 2.35 million residents. Portland is widely recognized in national surveys and rankings as one of America's most livable cities.

Portland's historic old town, many galleries and museums, Saturday Market, Waterfront Park and an abundance of fine restaurants keep residents and visitors busy and satisfied. The performing arts in the area offer classical music, jazz, and blues as well as theater and dance. Portland is just a short distance from the spectacular Columbia Gorge and Multnomah Falls, windsurfing at Hood River, valley wineries, skiing at Mt. Hood, and the drama of the Oregon coast.

Portland is known for its extensive park system of more than 200 parks. These encompass such areas as the elm-shaded South Park Blocks in the downtown area and Washington Park, home of the International Rose Test Garden and a Japanese Garden. Portland's Forest Park, over 5,000 acres, is the largest park within a city in the U.S. and has nearly 80 miles of walking trails.

Portland's award-winning mass transit system is one of the most extensive and advanced in the U.S. and includes buses and the MAX, an urban light rail line, as well as a downtown transit mall.

To learn more about Portland and surrounding areas:

Information about Portland, OR: https://www.travelportland.com/ Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce: https://www.portlandregion.com/ City of Portland, OR: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/