Chief Human Resources Officer – Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resources

The University of California, Berkeley, one of the world's preeminent teaching and research universities, invites nominations and applications for the position of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) / Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources (AVC-HR).  The CHRO will be a thought partner to senior leaders of the University and have executive leadership and day-to-day management of all functions of central human resources including AA/EEO, employee and labor relations, HR systems, learning and development, organizational effectiveness, strategy and operations, talent acquisition, total rewards, and workforce metrics.

UC BERKELEY

Since 1868, Berkeley has added unparalleled intellectual, economic, and social value in California, the United States, and internationally.  Berkeley's culture of openness, freedom, and acceptance allow faculty, staff and students to reimagine possibilities in the world. Berkeley is committed to hiring and developing staff who want to work in an environment where the brightest minds from across the globe come together to explore, ask questions and improve the world.

As the world's leading public university, Berkeley offers more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate courses in approximately 300 degree programs and it ranks among the top five Ph.D.-granting institutions in the United States. Berkeley alumni, faculty members, and researchers include 104 Nobel laureates, 25 Turing Awards winners, and 13 Fields Medalists. They have also won 9 Wolf Prizes, 45 MacArthur Fellowships, 20 Academy Awards, 14 Pulitzer Prizes, and 207 Olympic medals.

 Under the visionary leadership of Chancellor Carol Christ and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Paul Alivisatos, Berkeley has embarked on a comprehensive strategic planning process.  The ten-year plan will, “push the boundaries of knowledge, challenge convention, and expand opportunity to create the leaders of tomorrow.”  To do this, Berkeley will invest heavily in the student experience, make new commitments within the research and academic spheres, and strive to make Berkeley a more welcoming and supportive place for people of all backgrounds. 

To see the plan go to: https://strategicplan.berkeley.edu/

THE POSITION

The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) will support the campus in achieving the goals of the strategic plan.  This position plays a pivotal role as both a strategic partner to Berkeley’s leadership team and an advocate and champion for the staff workforce at Berkeley.  The CHRO will contribute towards building an equitable culture of excellence. 

 Diversity, equity, and inclusion are guiding values and fundamental commitments at Berkeley.  The University is dedicated to serving its public mission by achieving greater diversity in all its forms and by ensuring that employees of all backgrounds are welcomed and well-served by the campus.  The CHRO will be a crucial and collaborative partner in the continuing efforts to improve the campus environment with regard to respect, inclusion, access, and equity.

 Berkeley has over 24,000 employees, of whom approximately 10,000 have academic titles and 14,000 have staff titles.   There are fifteen different bargaining units on campus representing approximately 8500 academic and staff employees.  Academic titles are managed by the Academic Personnel Office. 

 Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Administration, the CHRO is a strategic leader who recommends, develops, implements, administers, interprets, coordinates, and evaluates Human Resources strategies, policies, laws, programs, and procedures pertaining to staff.  The CHRO oversees all central HR functions including AA/EEO, Benefits, Compensation, HR Information Systems, HR Policy, Labor and Employee Relations, Learning and Development, Organizational Effectiveness, Strategy and Operations, Talent Acquisition and Transition Services for staff. In addition, Central HR oversees labor contracts for staff positions, partners with the Academic Personnel Office for overseeing academic labor contracts, and participates in negotiations at the UC systemwide and campus levels.

 The CHRO meets regularly with the campus’ regional HR managers representing six service regions and with the HR Network who are HR professionals across campus working in Central HR, departments and schools, and the service regions. These meetings provide an opportunity to create a common understanding of HR strategies, programs and policies.

 The CHRO also plays an important role as the representative for the campus to the University of California Office of the President and as a member of the system-wide group, Human Resources Leadership Council.   The UC System has embarked on a transformative project to implement a single payroll, benefits, human resources, and academic personnel solution for all UC employees, UC Path.  This system is a powerful tool in the continuing commitment to optimize efficiency and transparency at Berkeley and across the system.

 The CHRO is recognized as an effective and influential leader who:

  • Serves as a visible and effective advocate for Berkeley’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Develops campus policies and authorizes their implementation.
  • Provides advice, guidance, and assistance on personnel matters and workforce management strategy to senior leaders, including the Deans, Vice Chancellors, and the Chancellor.
  • Establishes the direction, policies, and procedures of Central Human Resources.
  • Represents the campus in campus-wide and system-wide meetings and discussions.
  • Plans, designs, and implements Human Resources programs.
  • Champions and sponsors various staff development programs and organizations.
  • Manages through multiple Directors. 
  • Partners with other senior leaders on culture, wellness, and compliance.

UC Berkeley is looking for a visionary leader to lead the HR organization and advise executive leadership on staff related strategies, programs, and policies. As the functional owner of Central HR, the person will need to have expert ability to manage through subordinate managers. The successful candidate will possess expert skills in negotiation, political acumen, conflict resolution to advise and handle confidential, difficult, and/or sensitive situations. The ability to navigate complex and matrixed organizations and to implement and interpret broad personnel policies, applicable laws and regulations will be needed. The candidate should be collaborative and service-focused and be able to communicate effectively with diverse constituents. The CHRO should be a data driven decision maker who can translate workforce data into meaningful information for executive decision makers.

The candidate must have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Prior experience working with a unionized workforce is required as is significant number of years of progressively responsible experience in a senior HR position and/or leading a HR operation. Experience in the public sector and higher education is preferred, and an advanced degree or professional certifications in related area(s) are preferred. 

The position was posted in March, 2019. Application review began in May, 2019. The position is open until filled.

THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
The Search Committee members for the Chief Human Resources Officer / Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resources are:

Marc Fisher, Chair – Vice Chancellor, Administration
Heather Archer – Asst. Vice Provost, Academic Personnel
Oscar Dubón – Vice Chancellor, Equity & Inclusion
Ann Jeffrey – Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff, VC Administration
James Kao – Ex Officio, HR Advisor for Equitable Process
Therese Leone – Deputy Campus Counsel
Barbara Spackman – Chair Academic Senate and Professor Italian Studies and Comparative Literature
Steve Sutton – Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs
Suzanne Sutton – Asst. Dean, College of Chemistry
Valerie Ventre-Hutton – HR Service Delivery Manager, Professional Schools/University Extension

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The University of California, Berkeley has engaged Opus Partners (www.opuspartners.net) to support the recruitment of this position.  Jim Hess, Partner and Katie Dean, Associate Partner, are leading the search. Inquiries, applications, and nominations should be sent by email to Katie (katie.dean@opuspartners.net).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant see: http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:

http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct