Executive Director, Human Resources for Perelman School of Medicine - University of Pennsylvania

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 with the most recent award from Forbes who named 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.








Posted Job Title

Executive Director, Human Resources for Perelman School of Medicine





Job Profile Title

Executive Director A, Human Resources, School/ Center





Job Description Summary

Job Summary: Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Finance and Administration, the Executive Director of Human Resources at the Perelman School of Medicine plays a pivotal role in overseeing all aspects of human resources operations and initiatives within the Perelman School of Medicine. With nearly 7000 employees (some located internationally and outside the tri-state area) and more than 75 departments, centers and institutes, this leadership position is responsible for developing and implementing HR strategies aligned with the School and University's mission, vision, and strategic objectives. The Executive Director has five direct reports and a dotted line into the Vice President of University HR. This position collaborates with university leadership, faculty, and staff to foster a positive organizational culture, promote diversity and inclusion, and ensure compliance with relevant policies and regulations. This role requires a seasoned professional with a deep understanding of HR best practices, higher education dynamics, healthcare and academic medical research and a commitment to advancing the university's goals through effective HR management.





Job Description


Key Responsibilities:


Strategic Leadership:



+ Work in collaboration with PSOM leadership and University to develop and implement HR strategies and initiatives that support the School’s mission, vision, and strategic objectives.


+ Collaborate with senior leadership to align HR priorities with institutional goals and foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity.


+ Oversee and implement the delivery of a wide range of HR services for the School including staff engagement, staff recruitment and onboarding, staff relations and performance management, compensation, staff professional development, policy development and interpretation, and conflict management. Provide leadership and direction to implement programs and services that ensure a diverse, inclusive, and high performing workforce. Drive process improvement, accountabilities, and operational efficiencies.


+ Work collaboratively with respective PSOM administrative offices on HR issues impacting faculty and post-docs.


+ Build strong working relationships with Finance, General Counsel, University HR, practice plan HR, and UPHS HR. Collaborate and coordinate as needed


+ Create and monitor key HR performance metrics and dashboards


+ Learn and effectively utilize the enterprise HR system (Workday). Work collaboratively with PSOM offices, departments, and University to identify opportunities to streamline HR processes and improve data management and reporting capabilities.



Talent Acquisition and Management:



+ Oversee recruitment and retention efforts to attract and retain top talent.


+ Develop and implement effective onboarding, professional development, career ladders, and performance management programs to support employee growth, retention, and success.


+ Provide training programs that support the latest needs of the institution and its employees.



Employee Relations:



+ Serve as a trusted advisor to management and employees on HR-related issues, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and grievance procedures.


+ Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, as well as university policies and procedures.



Organizational Planning, Training, and Development



+ Anticipate, develop, and facilitate organizational planning efforts including performance management, talent management, succession planning, DEI, and professional development to support strategic objectives.


+ Through strategic workforce planning, provide leaders with data driven insights to design organizational models, roles, and success profiles to fulfill the business needs.


+ Manage organizational change efforts including suggesting revisions and creation of improved organizational structure, clarifying roles and responsibilities, defining selection criteria for key positions, conducting gap analysis and job redesign/job-sharing, and promoting consistency across job descriptions and conducts skills assessments as needed.


+ Drive a culture of high performance through annual employee goal setting and regular employee goal review process.


+ Train and consult with supervisors in best practices in performance management.


+ Actively promote and, as necessary, develop new cross-organization programs to support professional development for staff.


+ Organizes and coordinates schoolwide committees to distribute updated information, manage procedural changes, and implement new policies. Handles related staff communications



Compensation



+ Oversee the School’s reclass process for staff, including allocation and monitoring of available funding


+ Evaluate and authorize salary levels for new staff positions.



Budget and Resource Management:



+ Manage the ~$2 million HR budget effectively, allocating resources to maximize impact and achieve strategic objectives while ensuring fiscal responsibility.


+ Oversee 12 full-time staff providing a wide range of HR services


+ Identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and resource reallocation within the HR function.




+ Other duties as assigned





Qualifications:



+ Master's degree and 7 to 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.


+ SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification highly desirable.


+ Minimum of 8-10 years of experience, with at least 5 years in an HR leadership role, preferably within higher education.


+ In-depth knowledge of HR best practices, employment laws, and regulations applicable to higher education institutions.


+ Strong leadership, emotional intelligence, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholder groups.


+ Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of HR management.


+ Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans and drive results.


+ Proficiency in resolving challenges spanning all organizational levels, with a demonstrated commitment to fostering respect throughout the process.


+ Thorough understanding of employee relations, disciplinary procedures, EEO/AA compliance and related processes.


+ Serves as trusted advisor to Penn Medicine leadership.


+ Experience with Workday and other HR technologies preferred.







Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine





Pay Range

$90,860.00 - $225,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.










Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.




University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

+ Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

+ Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

+ Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

+ Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

+ Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

+ University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

+ Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

+ Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

+ Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

+ Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.




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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.