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Executive Director, HR Business Partnership & Client Services

University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA · 1 mo ago
Human Resources$170k–$250k/yrFull-time

About the role

The University of Pennsylvania seeks an inaugural Executive Director, HR Business Partnership & Client Services to shape the next chapter of Human Resources at Penn. Reporting directly to the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), this role will lead the evolution of Penn's HR Business Partnership model and client services organization.

Responsibilities

  • Shape Penn's HR Business Partnership Model

    • Partner with the CHRO to implement and continuously strengthen Penn's enterprise HR Business Partnership model.
    • Build a high-performing community of HR Business Partners through coaching, professional development, and shared leading practices.
    • Serve as the senior HR Business Partner for the Executive Vice President’s portfolio, providing strategic counsel on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, leadership, employee and labor relations, and organizational change.
    • Strengthen Human Resources' reputation by promoting consultative, data-informed, and client-centered practices throughout the HR organization.

  • Advance Client Services Excellence

    • Provide leadership for Penn's client services organization, including the continued evolution of the HR Solution Center.
    • Establish service standards, governance, and performance expectations that promote consistency, accountability, and operational excellence.
    • Integrate the work of HR Business Partners, Centers of Excellence, and operational teams to deliver integrated HR solutions.
    • Promote a culture in which service excellence is viewed not simply as responsiveness, but as the delivery of strategic value to the University community.

  • Build Organizational Capability

    • Partner with the CHRO to develop leaders, represent HROrganizational consulting, and advance use of analytics.
    • Help build the University's capability to achieve its mission by fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups.

Qualifications and Leadership Profile

  • Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field and at least ten years of progressively responsible HR leadership experience, including leadership of enterprise HR Business Partner, client services, shared services, or comparable strategic HR functions.

  • Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives to address organizational effectiveness, workforce strategy, leadership, and complex employee issues.

  • Experience leading and developing high-performing HR teams within large, highly matrixed, and decentralized organizations.

  • Broad knowledge of Human Resources disciplines, with the ability to integrate strategic priorities with effective service delivery and workforce solutions.

  • Demonstrated success leading organizational change, building organizational capability, and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups.

  • Strong business acumen, executive presence, and the ability to influence, build consensus, and navigate complexity with sound judgment.

  • Experience leveraging workforce analytics, operational metrics, and data-informed insights to improve organizational effectiveness and decision-making.

  • Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills, with the ability to establish credibility and trust across all levels of the organization.

Preferred Experience

  • SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or comparable professional certification.

  • Experience within higher education, academic medicine, healthcare, or another large, mission-driven, decentralized organization.

  • Experience leading HR transformation, organizational effectiveness, or enterprise service delivery initiatives.

  • Familiarity with Workday and modern HR technologies that support workforce analytics, employee experience, and service delivery.

Leadership Expectations

  • Authentic, collaborative, and values-driven leader who builds trust through partnership, develops others, and leads with humility, curiosity, and accountability.

  • Lead through influence in a highly decentralized environment.

  • Balance strategic thinking with operational execution.

  • Foster collaboration across teams while creating shared accountability for results.

  • Navigate complexity with sound judgment, transparency, and resilience.

  • Develop leaders and cultivate high-performing, engaged teams.

  • Champion inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement.

  • Model Penn's values through integrity, respect, service, and a deep commitment to the University's mission.

Measures of Success

  • Establish a cohesive, highly effective HR Business Partnership model that is recognized across the EVP portfolio and University for strategic consultation, consistency, and collaboration.

  • Improve the quality, responsiveness, and consistency of client service by strengthening the University's confidence in Human Resources.

  • Build a high-performing community of HR professionals who share common standards, embrace continuous learning, and deliver integrated solutions.

  • Advance the CHRO's vision for an innovative, data-informed, and client-centered HR organization.

  • Foster trusted partnerships with leaders that strengthen organizational effectiveness and advance Penn's mission.

Job Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Human Resources

Pay Range

$170,000.00 - $250,000.00 Annual Rate

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

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