Executive HR Advisor (Administrator III, Range 1) - San Francisco Bay Region Network

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Network Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), the Executive HR Advisor (EHRA) for SFSU is the on-site HR advisor and day-to-day relationship owner for SFSU, serving as the primary point of HR leadership for the campus President, Provost, vice presidents, deans, and campus community.

This position ensures that SFSU leaders have responsive, contextual, and in-person HR support while operating within the SFBRN HR organization to seamlessly connect campus stakeholders to Network HR Operations, Centers of Excellence (CoE), and Recruiting resources as needed.

The EHRA is the senior HR presence on SFSU and may serve on the President’s cabinet at the President’s discretion. The EHRA’s core mandate is a dual one of advancing the consistency and integrity of the Network’s shared HR model, while keeping SFSU needs front and center through timely access to expert HR guidance, strong service delivery, and clear escalation pathways.

Key Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary, on-site HR advisor to the SFSU President, Provost, vice presidents, and deans, providing responsive, contextual, and expert HR guidance that is grounded in the campus’s culture, leadership priorities, and strategic goals.
• Advises the SFSU President directly on HR matters of institutional significance including campus workforce strategy, organizational design, senior personnel decisions, employee relations concerns, and HR risk outside the SFBRN, serving as a trusted executive partner with the depth of knowledge and judgment that campus leadership demands.
• Serves as the senior escalation point for HR matters at SFSU, exercising independent judgment on complex or high-stakes situations and escalating to the Network CHRO on matters requiring Network-level resolution.
• Coordinates with Faculty Affairs leadership at SFSU to support the consistent application of HR programs, policies, and compliance frameworks across all employee groups, navigating the intersection of staff and faculty governance structures with care and institutional awareness.
• Owns accountability and responsibility for HR customer support outcomes at SFSU across all HR process areas including recruitment, new hire onboarding, employee development and training, performance management, career and succession planning, compensation, payroll, employee data administration, benefits, employee separation, compliance, employee and labor relations, workforce planning and analytics, and time and attendance management.
• Provides clear and authoritative guidance on HR policies, applicable CSU Administrative Manual (ICSUAM) provisions, MOU and CBA requirements, and state and federal employment law, enabling informed decision-making.
• Forecasts staffing needs by division and college at SFSU, partners on organizational restructuring, and tracks turnover and retention metrics to inform workforce planning decisions, translating campus intelligence into Network-level workforce strategy.
• Serves as a key consultant and partner throughout the recruitment process at SFSU, advising campus leadership and hiring managers on job selection criteria, candidate evaluation, offer execution, and pre-hire due diligence in close collaboration with the Director of Recruiting.
• Leads new hire onboarding activities at SFSU, ensuring a seamless and positive new employee experience by coordinating with Network HR Operations and CoE teams, conducting or supporting orientation, and driving new hire activity completion.
• Leads the exit interview process at SFSU, gathering and synthesizing feedback to identify campus-specific retention trends and surface recommendations to the President and Network CHRO.
• Advises campus leadership on voluntary and involuntary separation processes, including separation terms, documentation standards, and reduction in workforce matters, partnering with Network HR Operations and the Employee and Labor Relations team for execution and compliance.
• Partners with campus leadership to support career and succession planning activities, including talent reviews and succession plan development, connecting campus needs with Network CoE expertise.
• Maintains HR communications to SFSU leaders, managers, and employees, ensuring they are timely, accurate, contextually relevant, and reflective of both campus priorities and Network-wide HR standards.
• Represents SFSU perspectives and needs within the SFBRN HR organization, providing campus intelligence to the Network CHRO and Network HR functional leaders that informs program design, service delivery priorities, and continuous improvement.
• Participates in Network HR planning and leadership forums, contributing the campus-facing perspective to Network-level strategy and program development.
• Champions equity, diversity, and inclusion as a core organizational value, integrating these principles into all programs, policies, and leadership practices.
• Models and stewards the Network’s core values innovation, employee fulfillment, teamwork, and respect.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in human resources, preferably in higher education.
• Experience working with faculty affairs and understanding staff and faculty governance structures.
• Proven ability to advise on and implement HR policies and procedures, including compliance with state and federal laws.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain trusted advisory relationships with campus managers, supervisors, and HR stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Experience with HRIS systems and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of labor relations, employee relations, and compliance with union agreements.
• Experience with performance management, succession planning, and talent development.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.