Senior HR Partner

Job Description
50% - Principal Liaison for KU Lawrence/Edwards (KULE) with the Office of Research Leaders HR Partners and HR Centers of Excellence

• Serves as the HR primary point of contact for all leaders and HR Partners within the designated area (KULE). Ensures they are visibleand accessibleto leaders and HR Partners.
• Provides advice and counsel on a wide range of HR matters issues policies and programs.
• Provides consultation and advice to managers supervisors and HR Partners on workplace issues and conflicts.
• Serves as a liaison for leaders and HR Partners into services provided by HR.
• Serves as the primary conduit for disseminating HR related updates information policy changes and programs to assigned unit(s) and HR Partners.
• Serves as a liaison with Central HR bringing forward ideas and recommendations in regard to areas of improvement on HR challenges impacting the unit. Identifying and working on efficiencies in conjunction with Central HR to improve delivery of services as needed.

30% - Employment Lifecycle Support Employees Supervisors and Leadership (KULE)
Based on the needs of the unit and its employees the Senior HR Partner may participate in any of the following activities to ensure that the university provides the best possible people support at the individual and leadership level.

• Recruiting Hiring and Onboarding
  • Works with leadership on developing a strategic hiring plan to meet unit and university goals following university processes and deadlines for requests.
  • Works with leadership on development and navigation reorganization efforts as arises with One KU One Research model.
  • Serves as a liaison with budget and finance resources within the unit(s) to ensure compliance with HR policies and practices.
  • Provides advice and guidance on job descriptions and leverages available job description templates.
  • Sets compensation within the University salary framework and collaborates and consults with HR for compensation requests that exceed guidelines as defined.
  • Assists search committees with the recruitment process as needed and provides training guidance and oversight to search committees.
  • Works with unit(s) leader to generate the terms of employment offer.
  • Engages with new hires andassigned supervisors to develop coordinate and oversee unit(s)-specific new employee onboarding and orientation including system access compliance training and benefits elections follow-up.
  • Serves asan ongoing resource for employees during their transition into the organization.
• Employee Relations & Workforce Development
  • Serves as a resource to leaders and HR Partners addressing workplace concerns and issues within the unit(s).
  • Provides oversight andguidance to the day-to-day application of performance management policies and procedures within unit(s) including appropriate documentationsuch as disciplinary actions and performance improvement plans.
  • Offers guidance to supervisors for appropriately utilizing performance management tools including performance coaching setting goals and the annual performance review process.
  • Provides guidance on collective bargaining agreement obligations including those related to employee discipline and working conditions in alignment with Central HR.
  • Provides coaching to unit(s)supervisors on addressing employee relations matters at levels consistent with established protocol.
  • Supportsleaders on navigation of employeerelations activities including conducting fact-finding conversations and reviewing disciplinary documentation.
  • Supports leaders and employees in the offboarding process.
  • Provides guidance and ensures compliance with state and federal laws andregulations (e.g. timeand leave).
  • Engages in unit(s) succession planning in collaboration with the unit(s) leader(s).
  • Provide unit(s)leader(s) guidance and advice on organizational design
  • Identifies training needs within the unit and collaborates with HR to facilitate training.
• Culture Engagement and Retention
  • Assesses levels of employee engagement and designs unit(s)-specific programs and efforts to support high levels of employee engagement and retention.
  • Communicates and promotes engagement and recognition programs and activities including engagement surveys and results and identifies and implements best practices.
  • Monitors engagement and morale and helps inform broader unit(s) strategies and programs.
  • Reinforces and supports programs and communications from HR.
  • Participates in the off-boarding and exit interview processes.
• HR Compliance
  • Ensures unit(s) comply with University HR policies and practices.
  • Works to support HR with timely compliance of time and leave activities.
  • Enhances unit(s) compliance with federal state Kansas Board of Regents and local employment laws and regulations.
  • Provides guidance on data collection required for HR transactions. Assists with transactional HR actions as applicable through the employee lifecycle as appropriate.
  • Works to support HR communication efforts with supported unit(s). Aids with deadlines has an understanding of the application of new policies procedures and processes.
  • Works with unit(s) to comply with University requirements including mandatory employee trainings.

15% - Staff Supervision

• Provides oversight of and direction to HR Partners within the area of assigned responsibility.
• Works with HR Partners to address issues or concerns that are raised.
• Promotes professional developmentopportunities for HR Partners.
• May be responsible for the direction and supervision of HR Partner support staff.

5% - Other duties

• Other duties as they pertain to HR and the unit.
• Engage in on-going professional development and continuing education opportunities.

Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color ethnicity religion sex national origin age ancestry disability status as a veteran sexual orientation marital status parental status gender identity gender expression and genetic information in the universitys programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Room 1082 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence KSTTY.

Contact Information to Applicants
Brett Goedeke
HR Partner

• Bachelors degree in human resources or related field OR HS Diploma/GED and 4 years of experience in HR specialties (as identified in next bullet)
• 5 years of progressive increasing in responsibility experience in threeor moreHR specialties such asrecruiting and hiring compensation employee relations performance management organizational design training providing HR advice or counsel to leaders and employees etc.
• 2 years of managerial and/or leadership experience.
• 3 years experience as a Human Resources Business Partner.
• Experience with various HR systems and platforms (e.g. Applicant Tracking Systems HRIS)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience working collaborative within a team and independently.

• 7 or more years of progressive increasing in responsibility experienceproviding strategic and consultative HR services across the employee lifecycle labor relations employee discipline supervisor guidance conducting employee investigations training benefits or other HR specialties.
• 5 years ofexperience as a Human Resource Business Partner
• 3 years of executive-level managerial experience.
• Advanced degree in Human Resources Management or similar disciplines
• Experience working in a Higher Education environment or similar to the assigned unit(s)
• Experience working in a union environment
• HR Certification (e.g. SHRM-SCP SPHR)
• Knowledge of federal state and local employment laws and regulations as demonstrated by application materials and interview process.
• Experience with navigation and providing guidance for conflict resolutions.
• Experience in handling confidential matters.
• Experience in building collaborative relationships/partnerships.
• Previous experience handling multiple priorities with multiple stakeholders
• Experience with effective change management practices.
• Ability to facilitate difficult conversations.
• Highly organized and the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong customer-service orientation.

Position Overview
The University of Kansas Human Resources (HR) at the Lawrence campus is excited to recruit a Senior HR Partner (Sr. HRP) to serve the Office of Research and its designated research centers/institutes. The Sr. HRPs role is designed to carry out three important objectives: 1) ensure consistency in the delivery of HR policies and practices within assigned unit(s) 2) serve as a trusted Senior HR partner to unit leaders and 3) provide high-level oversight of a future team of HR Partners within their assigned area. The Senior HR Partner will report to the Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) of HR Partnerships with day-to-day oversight and direction from the Vice Chancellor of Research for KU Lawrence/Edwards campuses. They will be integrated into the unit with a deep understanding of the units unique culture and strategic mission vision goals and needs. The Senior HR Partner will be in-person at the Lawrence campus location but will also engage and collaborate with HR Partners assigned at the University of Kansas Medical Center to provide aligned communication and integration activities aligned with the One KU initiative.

The Sr HRP serves as an extension of Human Resource (HR) and is responsible for managing a broad range of human resources services in support of the Universitys mission. The Sr HRP serves as the primary HR liaison to the unit(s) in which the Sr HRP is assigned and is the primary point of contact to the HR Partners within the unit(s) that report to them. The Sr. HRP ensures compliance with University State Federal and uniformed guidance principles for sponsored research activities as it relates to employment matters and collective bargaining agreements.

The Sr HRP will need to have a strong understanding and communication with the Central Human Resources Team as they serve as the strategic HR resource to both HR Partners who report to them as well as to unit leaders they support. The Senior HRP will provide guidance on a wide range of HR matters including employee relations compensation organizational structure workforce planning recruitment employee retention and engagement culture and other essential HR functions while enhancing compliance with university policies Kansas Board of Regents Federal State and local laws and collective bargaining agreements (as applicable).

Note: Sr HR Partners are typically deployed into large units in which the breadth or complexity of HR matters cannot readily be addressed with a single HR Partner. This Sr HR Partner position will have HR Partner(s) reporting to them in addition to having specific areas of responsibility.

KUs main campus in Lawrence Kansas is located within a commutable distance between Kansas City and Topeka. KUs excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences perspectives and backgrounds of faculty staff students and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each others success. We foster a culture of care where each person is people feel a true sense of belonging we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.

Additional Candidate Instruction
A complete application packet will consist of a resume a cover letter detailing how you meet the required qualifications and 3 professional references.

First Review of applications will begin Monday October 20 2025 and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants has been obtained.#LI-HR1

Position Requirements
This position will work primarily on the Lawrence Campus but will be engaged with collaborative measures with the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City KS.