Director of Human Resources

Nebraska Wesleyan University is seeking an accomplished and dynamic leader for the position of Director of Human Resources who is a strategic yet hands on HR leader providing management to the organization's Human Resource and Payroll functions. The Director of Human Resources will partner closely with executive leadership to improve operational efficiencies and enhance the employee experience while reporting to the Vice President of Finance and Administration. This individual will play a key role in shaping HR infrastructure, streamlining processes, and supporting organizational goals. Apply today!

Responsibilities:

• Administer HR strategies and initiatives, procedures, and programs in alignment with organizational goals.
• Oversee and manage HR policies, ensuring legal compliance and implementation consistent with the organization's mission.
• Resolve complex employee issues with discretion and professionalism.
• Oversight of FLSA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, IRS, and DOL regulations for HR functions.
• Complete job analysis, write job descriptions, determine exempt or nonexempt status, recommend salary range, and reclassify positions for new hires and internal movements, ensuring internal equity.
• Lead and support HR team in full-cycle payroll processing with a focus on accuracy and timeliness while providing expert-level support and guidance on payroll matters.
• Respond to employee relation issues such as employee complaints, harassment allegations, and civil rights complaints.
• Serve as a point of contact for employees regarding policies, benefits, and workplace concerns.
• Coach supervisors on performance management, feedback, and employee development.
• Serve as the primary internal expert and employee resource on medical benefits, plan options, and lead open enrollment strategy and execution with support from benefit broker group and HR Generalist.
• Ensure compliance with provisions of regulations such as the Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
• Support compensation process through market analysis and benchmarking.
• Manage the full-cycle recruitment process, including job descriptions, postings, interviewing processes through decentralized search committees, and onboarding of new employees.
• Conduct and participate in market salary studies; analyze external data to maintain competitive positioning. Examples include IPEDS, AAUP, CUPA, Common Data Set, and OSHA logs.
• Conduct employee training programs on a variety of topics, including health and safety, supervisor training, professional development, performance appraisal, and team building.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in human resources or business is required, master's degree preferred.
• Professional HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP) strongly preferred.
• Five to seven years of direct Human Resource Management experience and supervision experience required, preferably in an academic setting.
• Must have a working understanding of the guidelines, laws, policies and rules associated with human resources and academic functions of the university.
• Possess deep knowledge of FLSA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, IRS, and DOL regulations.
• Must be able to work independently and be able to make independent decisions and judgments that conform to the policies of the university.
• Must be familiar with payroll procedures, general accounting and or budgeting for HR functions and the relevant federal regulations.
• Must have knowledge of personnel management including relevant federal and state regulatory policies.
• Must be able to communicate new information and explain detailed information to a variety of constituents including employees, students, and community members using all forms of communication including interpersonal, written, and oral.
• Must have good analytical skills, conflict management, leadership, project management, technical, and organizational skills.
• Must have the ability to do research and ability to think analytically, be adaptable, flexible, and innovative.
• Must be able to prioritize tasks and meet scheduled deadlines.
• Must have high emotional intelligence to be able to react and adjust to various conversations.
• Must have strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills to be able to handle difficult conversations.
• Demonstrated computer skills using a variety Microsoft Office Products including Outlook, Word, Excel and other related software for job specific tasks.

Prior to employment, applicants will have to successfully complete a criminal background check. NWU offers a competitive wage and comprehensive benefits plan including Health, Life, Disability, Retirement, paid vacation and sick leave, and 100% tuition discount for employee and dependents after one year of service.

How to Apply:

To apply, please upload a cover letter, resume or curriculum vita, and the names of three professional references at the following URL: https://nebrwesleyan.applicantpro.com/jobs/. NWU encourages applicants to address how one or more of NWU's Core Values align with their personal values and characteristics and/or how they would contribute to them at NWU in their cover letter or a separate document. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Nebraska Wesleyan University provides equal educational and employment opportunities to qualified persons in all areas of university operation without regard to religion or creed, age, genetic information, gender identity and expression, sexual identity and orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, race, or national or ethnic origin, in compliance with state and federal laws, including but not limited to Title XII, Title IX, and the ADA. E-Verify, EOE.

Please visit the NWU website for more information about our institution: nebrwesleyan.edu