Vice President for People and Culture

Description

The University of Montana (UM) is seeking a visionary executive to lead a new Division of People and Culture that will distinguish UM as an employer of choice in the Northwest. An experienced professional with a creative mindset will find this an exciting opportunity to build a strategic division critical to the success of the institution. This important role will provide leadership for one of the five Priorities for Action of the University: Embody the Principle of “Mission First, People Always.” 

Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President for People and Culture will act as the President’s partner in cultivating a culture of employee excellence, engagement, and leadership. The Vice President will provide regular counsel to the President, will serve on the Executive Team, and will develop a new vision for the employee culture at the University of Montana and its three campus affiliates, University of Montana Western, Helena College and Montana Technological University. This work will include establishing new direction, policies, and vision for the sector.

The Vice President for People and Culture will lead human resource transformation efforts and supervise the Associate Vice President of Human Resource Services. The VP will also oversee the transition of existing units into the People and Culture sector, including Title IX/Equal Opportunity, the Office of Organizational Learning and Development, the Women’s Leadership Initiative, and key Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

The University of Montana is committed to offering an inclusive and supportive workplace that is accessible to all. Given its location and the history of its land, UM has many focused initiatives to support Native and Indigenous employees and students and works to support the Indigenous communities in the region. The person in this position will help promote the unique place-based identity of UM and will help implement components of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan that apply to employees. The VP will also be responsible for overseeing UM’s affirmative action plan.

President Bodnar’s vision for UM, centered on the concept of “inclusive prosperity,” is both bold and inspired. The Vice President for People and Culture, along with the rest of the Executive Team, will be a vital partner in translating this vision into action.

Essential Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to the President of the University
• Provide effective leadership and vision for the People and Culture sector
• Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership team and regularly contribute HR analyses and data to inform decisions that impact employees
• Establish and maintain a strong, strategic working relationship with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources
• Offer innovative guidance for the division and advance a culture of proactive support for UM employees and measurement of the quality of service
• Help establish a new focus on employee relations that offers a one-stop center for employees confronting personnel or management conflicts and challenges
• Build robust support for employee retention at UM including expansion of performance reviews, succession planning, campus culture, employee engagement and brand, and manager support
• In partnership with other units, implement employee-related components of UM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan as well as its affirmative action plan
• Offer strategic leadership for the recruitment of talent to the University of Montana and help build out campus-wide supports for effective recruiting and onboarding practices
• Supervise the Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services, who oversees HR for the UM and affiliate campuses, as well as new units added to the division including Equal Opportunity/Title IX, the Office of Organizational Learning and Development, and the Women’s Leadership Initiative
• In partnership with UM Legal Counsel, ensure compliance with policies, laws, and collective bargaining agreements that impact recruitment, retention, separation, union affiliation, and other personnel matters
• Drive continuous improvement efforts within the sector that will standardize and simplify processes that impact employees
• In partnership with UM Information Technology, seek out new technological solutions to common system challenges
• Oversee trends in employee data and regularly scan the external environment for issues that may impact our workforce of 3,300 full- and part-time employees
• Grow the leadership capacity of the unit directors within People and Culture and oversee budgets for the division
• Implement other strategic priorities related to people and culture set by the President and Executive Team

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 7 years of leadership in human resources, labor relationships, EEO, and/or talent development in a complex organization
  • Experience in higher education is valuable but not required for this position
  • Those with experience in any complex organization are encouraged to apply
• Strong business skills in the strategic recruitment, support, development and advancement of people
• Extensive management experience and a track record of growing talented teams and supporting employees
• Understanding of effective policies and procedures to support a diverse and inclusive workplace
• Outstanding listening skills and willingness to challenge the status quo
• Expertise in talent recruitment and retention initiatives in a large organization
• Experience implementing change in a complex organization
• Knowledge of federal and state regulatory compliance requirements
• Excellent written, interpersonal and communication skills
• Prior work in organizational development and human resource management
• Creative problem-solving skills and evidence of innovative thinking
• Knowledge of technology and systems used to support people and culture work

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree
• Professional HR certifications
• Working knowledge of negotiation and implementation of union contracts
• Experience in establishing and implementing key performance indicators and systems of accountability for management teams and institutional efforts around people and culture
• Expertise in human resource transformation efforts

About UM

UM is a flagship public doctoral research institution that sits in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispell people. A research-intensive institution that grants associate to doctoral degrees, UM is committed to accessible and inclusive education as the foundation of social and economic prosperity. A viable democracy relies on citizens who are broadly educated and specifically skilled, and is enriched by diversity in thought, background, appearance and beliefs.

UM's long tradition of teaching excellence and experiential learning evidences our commitment to student success. The University ranks fifth among public universities in producing Rhodes Scholars, currently has the highest graduate student enrollment in its history, and, in the fall of 2021, welcomed the largest incoming freshman class in several years. UM is investing substantially in the on-campus experience. Over $100 million has been allocated to renovate campus facilities, including sustainability upgrades.

UM is an essential part of Missoula, a culturally vibrant college town characterized by scenic beauty, a socially engaged community, and a healthy economy. Our commitment to place-based, applied experiences ensures our students reap the benefits of a large flagship institution in an intimate setting. This setting attracts talent to the University of Montana community, where arts, culture and academics shape the formative years of a student population that is 40% first-generation. UM is part of a global community, and actively recruits and enrolls students from all over the world, as well as provides a range of opportunities for students to study abroad.

About Missoula

UM is located in Missoula, a vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains, wilderness and clear, cold rivers. The educational, medical, and cultural hub of the region, Missoula offers a rare blend of outdoor adventure, big-city culture, and exceptional quality of life. The vibrant downtown community embraces the state’s most sophisticated music and art scene and includes a new public library that houses the Families First Learning Lab, UM’s Spectrum science museum, and the UM Living Lab. Just east of Missoula is the KettleHouse Amphitheater, ranking No. 45 out of the top 50 amphitheaters worldwide by Pollstar.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
  • Video: Mission First, People Always
  • UM on YouTube
• City of Missoula
  • Video: There's This Place
  • Destination Missoula
  • Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce
• The State of Montana
  • Visit Montana

How to Apply

Priority Application Date: Thursday, November 3, 2022, by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials.

Please submit the following application materials** via the UM Jobs portal and by clicking "New Resume/CV" button.  Please do not apply through Indeed.com*.

• Letter of Interest – addressing the stated required skills for the position
• Detailed resumelisting education and describing work experience
• Three (3) professional references- Names and contact information

The position is expected to start in January, 2023.

Please direct nominations and inquiries to:

Kelly Webster, Chief of Staff & Associate Vice President for Strategic Planning and Implementation and search committee chair: kelly.webster@umontana.edu

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment.

In accordance with university policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations.

ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference. Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law.

References *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice will be provided to the applicant.

Employment Eligibility. All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).