Chief Human Resources Officer
University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX - United States
The University of Texas at Dallas seeks an accomplished and visionary leader to serve in the essential role of Chief Human Resources Officer. This is an exceptional opportunity for a people-centered executive to leverage and advance the strengths of a high-performing, human resources organization and to shape a future that builds institutional capacity and elevates and enhances the workplace experience for all employees.
One of nine prestigious, academic universities and five health institutions within The University of Texas System, the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is a growing, public R1 university with more than 30,000 students and 140 academic degree programs. Known for its top-ranked STEM, management, liberal arts, and social sciences programs and for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, UT Dallas is ranked #1 Top-Value Public University in Texas by Forbes and #3 Best Public University in Texas by U.S. News & World Report. These accomplishments are all the more impressive given the relative youth of UT Dallas, which in academic year 2020 celebrated its 50-year anniversary as a component of The University of Texas System. The University’s roots date back to 1961 when the three founders of Texas Instruments, Eugene McDermott, J. Erik Jonsson and Cecil Green, founded the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest to help develop scientific and technical talent for the growing North Texas technology sector. This entrepreneurial approach to higher education is part of UT Dallas’ DNA and is what makes it a truly unique and dynamic institution.
Reporting to the Vice President and Chief of Staff, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is a member of the President’s Executive Leadership Team and serves as a strategic partner to institutional leadership and colleagues at all levels to position the University’s workforce to meet its current and future needs. The CHRO will champion the understanding that the recruitment and retention of outstanding people is the key to achieving the University’s goals and will identify, recommend, and advance initiatives that allow UT Dallas’s employee base of approximately 4,000 professionals to do their best work.
Leading a dedicated, award-winning, and innovative team of 38 staff, the CHRO will formulate and recommend strategic human resource policies and objectives that ensure integration of the University’s values and mission; provide guidance to drive business strategy and value; build organizational strategic alignment to support execution of institutional goals and strategic plan; stay informed on workforce trends and business environment changes; and focus on shared responsibility for managing and leading talent and culture while building workforce capability.
The Chief Human Resources Officer will join UT Dallas at a time of momentum, growth, and dynamism as it continues to build a future as bright as its beginnings. With an ambitious strategic plan encompassing core themes and initiatives focused on the recruitment and retention of the best and brightest employees, becoming a distinguished employer of choice, and advancing a workplace experience, the CHRO will find a community that values the strategic role that human resources plays and genuine support, advocacy, and investment from institutional leadership. The new CHRO will be a thought leader on strategic human resources management and engaged in the national dialogue on topics such as the future of work, enhancing workplace culture, and developing human capital excellence at every level of the organization.
The successful candidate will possess experience leading high-performing teams and managing organizational change within a complex enterprise and will embody UT Dallas’ values of service excellence, innovation, and community partnerships. Additionally, this leader will bring broad and contemporary knowledge of all areas of human resources, an appreciation for the role of a university within a public state system of higher education, and a reputation for being both service and employee centered. At least ten (10) years of progressive human resources or business administration experience at the Director level or above in a complex environment is required, as is a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Prior experience in a public institution of higher education, an advanced degree, and senior-level human resources professional certification (SPHR or SHRM-SCP) are preferred.
The Chief Human Resources Officer at the University of Texas at Dallas will be presented with the opportunity to achieve the following professional and personal goals:
- Serve as a senior leader at a dynamic and growing public-research university located in one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan regions.
- Act as the principal steward for the University’s human capital, providing strategic leadership to build UT Dallas’ reputation as an employer of choice and to advance innovative strategies that attract, develop, and support the talent necessary to advance the University’s mission.
- Partner with a dedicated, supportive, and empowering Vice President and Chief of Staff, executive leaders, faculty, and staff.
- Lead a talented and values-driven human resources team poised for continued success and impact across the University.
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. WittKieffer is assisting the University of Texas at Dallas in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by September 10, 2024, and submitted to WittKieffer’s candidate portal using the buttons below.
All nominations and inquiries can be directed to Sarah Palmer and Luis Bertot at:
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action
The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. The University prohibits unlawful discrimination against a person because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. The University of Texas at Dallas is an equal opportunity/affirmative action university.
The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.