Associate Vice President for Human Resources

Bennington College invites applications for an Associate Vice President for Human Resources. Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration the Associate Vice President for Human Resources (AVP-HR) provides strategic and operational leadership for human resources in a largely unionized faculty and staff environment. The AVP-HR is a transformative people and culture leader who advances an inclusive equitable and engaged campus community. The role is responsible for shaping the HR service delivery model strengthening employee and labor relations driving data-informed decision-making and leading training development and change management initiatives that align with the Colleges mission and strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership People and Culture:

• Serve as a thought partner to Cabinet members in cultivating a positive collaborative and inclusive workplace culture.
• Lead initiatives that advance employee engagement organizational effectiveness and workforce development.
• Provide forward-looking leadership on workforce planning talent management and succession planning.

Employee and Labor Relations:

• Oversee employee relations to ensure fair consistent and timely resolution of workplace issues.
• Serve as lead administrator for collective bargaining agreements; manage contract interpretation grievance procedures disciplinary actions and negotiations.
• Foster constructive labor-management relationships that support institutional goals while respecting collective bargaining rights.

Service Delivery Model & Operations:

• Design and implement an HR service delivery model that emphasizes responsiveness accountability and excellence in customer service.
• Lead staff in providing services to include recruitment onboarding benefits compensation and compliance programs with a focus on continuous improvement and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with all federal state and local employment laws and regulations.

Data Analytics and Decision Support:

• Develop and leverage HR data and analytics to inform policy identify trends and support evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide regular reports and dashboards on workforce metrics retention and other key indicators.

Training Development and Change Management:

• Build and lead a robust training and development program for supervisors and managers to strengthen leadership compliance and professional growth.
• Champion change management strategies that help the College adapt to evolving challenges in higher education.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and organizational agility.

Supervision and Team Development:

• Lead mentor and develop HR staff to build a high-performing collaborative team.
• Foster professional development opportunities and model a culture of excellence inclusion and accountability.

Bennington serves a diverse student population inclusive of members of ethnically/racially minoritized international LGBTQIA and disability communities as well as diverse gender identities socioeconomic backgrounds religions and political beliefs. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse and intersecting backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building a community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness. Each individual (faculty staff and students) will be accountable for upholding these values. The Colleges approach to pluralism and inclusivityboth as fields of inquiry and practiceis to prioritize flexible thought and to invite the examination of access value power and privilege through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest backgrounds experience and accomplishment to apply.

This position requires successful completion and acceptable results of a background check.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in human resources business organizational development or related field required; Masters degree preferred.
• Ten plus years of progressive HR leadership experience with at least five years in a senior-level role.
• Demonstrated expertise in labor relations within a unionized environment.
• Strong knowledge of HR best practices employment law; higher education experience preferred.
• Proven success in change management organizational development and culture building.
• Experience using HR data and analytics to drive decisions.
• Exceptional communication conflict management and leadership skills.
• SHRM certification preferred.

Core Competencies

• Strategic and systems thinker with a track record of transformational leadership.
• Skilled negotiator and relationship-builder across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Commitment to diversity belonging fairness and inclusion in all aspects of HR practice.
• Ability to lead through complexity and change with resilience and vision.
• Strong service orientation with a focus on continuous process improvement.

The College

Bennington College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes medical dental vision life and long-term disability insurance retirement and tuition benefits including Tuition Exchange scholarships. The College also offers an on-site fitness center as well as generous time off benefits.