Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

POSITION SUMMARY:  This position serves as the Director of Human Resources for the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) with responsibility for oversight of the College’s HR-related processes. It serves as the college-level contact on matters related to human resources issues. This position is based out of the CAES Finance and Administration Office and reports to the College’s Senior Director of Finance and Administration. It advises and counsels the Dean and Director of the College, Associate Deans, as well as Department and Unit Heads, and college faculty, staff, and students as needed. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is diverse and complex in nature. It employs approximately 3,000 faculty and staff and enrolls over 2,000 students. This position is based in Athens and works with faculty, staff, and students on the campuses located in Athens, Griffin, and Tifton and with College personnel throughout the state, including Extension offices in each of Georgia’s 159 counties. 

 SUPERVISOR:  CAES Director of Finance and Administration 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Employee Relations (40%) 

1. Manage employee and faculty relations issues within the College. Coordinates as necessary with UGA Faculty/Staff Relations, Office of Legal Affairs, EOO. Ensure appropriate documentation of disciplinary actions. 
2. Confer and advise college administration, Dean/Assoc. Deans, faculty, and staff regarding human resources policies, procedures, and practices.  
3. Provide mediation and facilitated conversations to address conflict situations as necessary throughout the State of Georgia for both faculty and staff issues. 
4. Effectively communicates new policies and processes as needed to a diffused audience. 

 Strategic Initiatives (35%) 

1. Implement a supervisor training program for all new and/or current supervisors to ensure knowledge of applicable laws/policies, performance management, and communications skills. Conduct periodic training sessions for supervisors and administrators to ensure the program remains relevant.  
2. Supports the effective development and review of onboarding and exit processes for faculty and staff throughout the State.  Ensures sufficient knowledge of CAES/UGA policies and processes, benefits options, promotion and tenure processes, etc.  Creates Exit Interview processes to analyze turnover and to ensure the safeguarding of CAES/UGA assets.  Analyzes metrics to address turnover and retention.  
3. Analyze and update the employee awards program to reflect current workforce and College priorities. Monitor implementation and sustainability of the awards program. 
4. Function as a member of CAES Finance and Administration senior leadership team. 
5. Active participant in University Human Resources key initiatives to ensure CAES representation in policy and systems development. 
6. Supports the CAES Extension Office’s efforts to address and comply with civil rights review processes for county programming and USDA-NIFA-funded research.  Support the development and implementation of ‘Limited English Proficiency’ policy and processes. HR team may support the delivery of on-site program data review, analyze data to standards, communicate and provide coaching about results for all 159 counties. May function as key author for USDA-NIFA audit response.  

 Supervise two professional employees (20%) 

1. Hire, mentor, and provide performance feedback and development support to two Human Resources Generalists, both of which are Exempt Professional roles.  Ensures College strategic vision initiatives are effectively communicated to impact the accomplishment of their roles. 
2. Provides input to personnel transactions including hiring, compensation, employment contract renewal, performance management, training and development, and other HR-related functions. 
3. Promote clear communications between CAES HR and Finance and Administration to ensure seamless support of operations. 

Other responsibilities within the purpose and scope of the role. To include, but not limited to any of the following  (5%) 

1. Support Statewide Extension Civil Rights reviews according to the USDA-NIFA plan. 
2. Actively participate in employee events, including awards ceremonies, luncheons, farm days, etc. 
3. Participate actively in UGA campus planning committees and events. 
4. Participate as a member of search committees, including Ex Officio. 

QUALIFICATIONS:  

1. Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate field of study.  Master’s degree preferred.   
2. Minimum 8-10 years’ experience in Human Resources, Employee Relations, or HR Generalist required.  
3. Knowledge of Human Resources administration’s principles, concepts, and procedures. Effective knowledge of Federal and State laws and applicable organizational policies. 
4. Able to produce and maintain complex reports and records.  
5. Candidate should possess strong interpersonal, leadership, customer service, planning, and decision-making skills. Necessitates effective verbal and written skills, including conflict resolution and the ability to conduct in-person training. 
6. Candidate will exhibit the ability to uphold a strict commitment to confidentiality at all times. 
7. Demonstrate ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with faculty, staff, and the public. 
8. Experience preferred with HR data systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Smartsheet, recruiting, training development, and presentations.  

PHYSICAL CAPACITIES: 

1. Light Office Work. Normal office environment. Continual computer use. 
2. Present training material to large audiences in person and via videoconferencing. 
3. Travel throughout the State of GA to conduct training and employee relations meetings. 
4. Multi-task amid regular interruptions. 

 ADDITIONAL SCHEDULE INFORMATION:
Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm. Additional hours may be required to accomplish work objectives. 

Office located in Athens, GA. Occasional travel to extended campuses and county extension offices may be required for training and addressing employee relations matters. 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:  Review of applications will begin in January 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Complete applications submitted in UGAJobs (https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/348058) by December 31, 2023, will be assured of full consideration. Inquiries about the position should be directed to Dr. Kris Braman, chair of the search committee (kbraman@uga.edu). Please submit with your application a 1) cover letter, 2) current resume or CV, and 3) name and contact information of three professional references. 

 The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.  

Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).