Director, HR/FA

Job title: Director, HR/FA

About the Role The Director, HR/FA will optimize processes to support the school’s organizational goals, shaping HR strategies across talent acquisition, employee/labor relations, professional development, compensation, and performance management. S/he will lead a team, operate a ticketing system for workflow management, and ensure compliance with institutional policies and applicable laws.

What You'll Do

• Oversee the HR/FA team to meet defined deliverables, ensure quality customer service, timely information delivery, and regulatory compliance; support professional development and performance.
• Talent Acquisition/Recruitment: set workflows aligned with department goals and University guidelines; manage recruitment via Columbia's job site and external sites; train staff; oversee pre-boarding/on-boarding, I-9, background checks; develop SLAs; ensure timely processing; troubleshoot and escalate issues; maintain electronic employee files with outside vendor.
• Faculty Appointments, Reappointments & Promotions: supervise onboarding with Office of Faculty Affairs; oversee reappointment processes to meet deadlines.
• Compensation: conduct market/internal equity analyses; develop compensation plans; coordinate with finance to manage salary rosters and ensure fair allocations within budget.
• Employee Engagement: lead initiatives to foster a culture aligned with values and mission.
• Employee & Labor Relations: respond to issues, escalate as needed; maintain relations with union delegates and CUIMC Labor Relations; provide guidance on wage/hours/working conditions; policy interpretation.

What We're Looking For

• Enthusiasm for customer service, problem-resolution, and creative, innovative thinking; strong project management experience.
• Ability to direct and/or advise on employee and labor relations, progressive discipline, compensation, and policy interpretation.
• Experience leading HR/FA teams, training, SLAs, and HR operations; strong collaboration with internal/external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of employment laws and regulations and ability to ensure compliance; proficiency with HR ticketing systems.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience in academia or working with faculty affairs; experience with union relations; familiarity with I-9, background checks, and onboarding best practices; experience with electronic personnel files management.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $140,000 - $155,000 per year; 35 hours per week; USD; includes standard university benefits and professional development opportunities.