• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $180,000 -$211,000

Position Summary

The Sr. Director will assess the effectiveness of the HR/FA request management and tracking system to maintain a streamlined and consistent workflow. By working with HR/FA team members within the Pod, the Senior Director will identify areas for improvement, address process inefficiencies, and guide the ongoing development of best practices, recommending enhancements where needed. The ideal candidate is energetic and customer-service oriented, with strong problem-solving skills, demonstrated project management experience, and a flair for creativity and innovation. Key to this role is the ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders across VP&S and CUIMC to develop solutions to challenges affecting efficiency and accuracy in fulfilling requests. A central responsibility of this position involves evaluating, developing, and overseeing core functions within the Pod, including onboarding, leave management, and visa processing. This role offers an exciting opportunity to build, enhance, and refine processes in a dynamic, rapidly expanding environment.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Ensure timely and accurate processing of requests through the development of reports and dashboards within the HR Request System.
• Identify gaps and inefficiencies in HR operational processes/systems and drive standardization and improvements.
• Develop and present recommendations for Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to the Executive Director(s).
• Collaborate with clients and key stakeholders to build department profiles, leveraging metrics and other tools to achieve HR/FA goals and objectives.
• Incorporate feedback into a continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of HR transactions, working with technical teams as needed.
• In partnership with the Executive Director(s), provide guidance to the HR Director(s) within the Pod to create Job Aids for that support operational effectiveness and continuity within the School HR/FA model.
• Review the use and effectiveness of electronic employee files with external vendors, making improvement recommendations to the Executive Director(s) as appropriate. 
• Supervise and manage the duties of the Pod HR/FA Director(s) and Managers, and make strategic recommendations for the HR/FA staff and operations to the Executive Director(s).
• Contribute to ad hoc projects that align with department’s goals and vision.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience.
• Minimum 7 years of Human Resources experience.
• Experience working in a large clinical department.
• Excellent customer service skills with an aptitude for diplomacy, building relationships, reaching consensus and collaborating, negotiation, and managing expectations. Experience using Visual Vault, HRCULES and PeopleSoft preferred.

Role specific competencies and skill requirements:

• Strategic HR and Technology: Utilizes HR technology to drive organizational strategy, employing data analytics tools to deliver strategic insights and benchmarks. Leads compensation initiatives with a focus on compliance and competitive positioning, applying expertise in collective bargaining and regulatory compliance to develop HR policies and solutions. Provides leadership across the employee lifecycle, engaging with leaders to support and sustain talent management programs and counsel on human capital decisions.
• Emotional Intelligence and Leadership: Demonstrates high self-awareness, self-control, social skills, and empathy, with political astuteness and accountability. Builds relationships and coach the Pod team by adapting interaction styles to others’ needs and responding thoughtfully to emotional cues. Projects enthusiasm and optimism as a high energy role model.
• Strategic Agility and Innovation: Anticipates obstacles to strategic initiatives and uses data-driven insights to craft innovative solutions. Holds self and others accountable for continuous learning and resource management, while proactively setting performance indicators and leading projects. Adapts well to shifting priorities, fostering creativity and resilience during times of change and guiding others through new processes.
• Communication and Collaboration: Employs various communication tools to capture stakeholder feedback and convey complex information clearly. Builds strong internal partnerships, aligning team efforts with business operations, strategy, and local objectives. Leads complex investigations to resolve issues, mitigate risks, and promotes a culture of psychological safety and collaboration through effective, consensus-driven discussions.
• Organizational Alignment and Innovation: Designs HR processes that align with Columbia's mission, educating diverse audiences and integrating HR strategies with business goals. Analyzes economic and industry trends to identify critical issues, supports executive leaders in strategic planning, and manages HR team performance through effective review cycles and evaluations. Champions innovation, diversity of thought, and mentorship, applying creative problem-solving to implement best practices and organizational improvements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Total HR Experience: 10-15 years of progressive experience in human resources strongly preferred, covering various HR functions such as talent management, employee/labor relations, organizational development, and performance management.
• Leadership and Strategic Experience: 5 to 7 years in a senior or leadership role, such as HR Director or equivalent, where the candidate has led teams, managed complex HR projects, and contributed to organizational strategy.
• Industry-Specific Experience: Healthcare and or Academic Medicine experience strongly preferred.
• Certifications: HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR or Labor Relations.
• Educational Background: While a Bachelor’s degree in HR or a related field is the minimum requirement, a Master’s degree (e.g., MBA, Master’s in HR, or Organizational Development) is strongly preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.