Associate Vice President of Human Resources CHRO (MnSCU Admin-7)

Working Title:

Institution:

Bargaining Unit / Union:

City:

FLSA:

Full Time / Part Time:

Employment Condition:

Salary Range:

Job Description

The Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer (AVP/CHRO) provides strategic leadership vision and direction for all human resources functions across the university. As a key member of the Presidents Cabinet the AVP/CHRO serves as the senior advisor on organizational strategy workforce planning labor relations and employee engagement. This role ensures that HR practices support the universitys mission values and long-term goals while fostering a collaborative inclusive and high-performing culture.

Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership and HR Vision

• Provide strategic leadership for all HR functions establishing short- and long-term goals aligned with the Universitys strategic plan and Minnesota State system priorities.
• Serve as a key advisor to the President Cabinet and senior leadership on workforce planning organizational development and personnel matters.
• Participate as a member of the Presidents Cabinet and Council of Administrators contributing to institutional decision-making and daily operations.
• Represent the University on system-level HR committees and contribute to the development and evaluation of system-wide HR policies and practices.
• Represent the university on internal committees ensuring alignment with institutional goals and shared governance principles.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to ensure HR operations are efficient innovative and responsive to campus needs.

2. Employee and Labor Relations Leadership

• Serve as the universitys chief labor relations authority overseeing contract administration grievance management arbitration preparation assistance and resolution of complex employee relations issues.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with union leadership and internal stakeholders to support a productive and respectful work environment.
• Participate in system-level negotiations teams and contract language review.
• Partner with Cabinet to lead campus meet and confer processes including agenda development and follow up and strike plan preparation; maintain strike plans.
• Hear complex grievances with the President and senior leaders and advice leadership on sensitive labor matters.

3. HR Operations Compliance and Risk Management

• Oversee all HR functional areas including classification and compensation recruitment and selection workforce planning performance management progressive discipline benefits and leave administration workers compensation unemployment HR systems management payroll staffing Affirmative Action and succession planning.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) policies Minnesota State system policies collective bargaining agreements and university policies and procedures.
• Direct the management retention and auditing of confidential personnel data ensuring accuracy security and timely reporting to internal and external agencies.
• Oversee day-to-day HR operations in partnership with the Assistant HR Director to ensure efficient compliant and customer-focused service delivery.

4. Organizational Culture Engagement and Development

• Lead initiatives that foster a collaborative inclusive and engaging workplace culture that supports employee satisfaction retention and development.
• Oversee professional development programming leadership and supervisory training and required employee training.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Vice President for Equity and Inclusive Excellence on campus climate survey analyze results and guide institutional action planning.
• Champion employee recognition initiatives and collaborate with Marketing to strengthen the universitys employment brand.
• Encourage innovation by challenging outdated processes and promoting continuous improvement across HR and campus operations.

5. Equity Inclusion and Affirmative Action Partnership

• Collaborate with the Department of Equity and Inclusive Excellence on policies procedures and initiatives related to workforce equity inclusion and Affirmative Action.
• Ensure HR practices support equitable hiring retention and advancement.
• Provide leadership on campus wellness initiatives that promote the well-being of all employees.

6. HR Office Leadership and Resource Management

• Supervise HR staff providing coaching performance evaluation and professional development to ensure effective service delivery.
• Manage the HR Office budget staffing and resource allocation to support strategic and operational priorities.
• Ensure timely and accurate HCM and payroll processing resolving pay-related issues in compliance with applicable laws and agreements.

7. Data Reporting and External Relations

• Provide accurate and timely HR data reports and analysis to support decision-making accreditation audit and legislative requests and system initiatives.
• Represent the university in external meetings hearings and committees serving as liaison to the system office state agencies and legal counsel on employment matters.
• Use data-driven insights to guide HR strategy culture initiatives and organizational development efforts.

8. Other responsibilities as designated by the VP for Finance & Administration/CFO and University President.

The Key Accountabilities Include:

• Strategic leadership of all human resource functions. Trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership on all matters related to the human resource health of the institution.
• Lead labor relations authority for the university; coordinate multiple university strike plans.
• Develop/maintain highly functioning human resource operations compliant with applicable laws and policies.
• Lead and coordinate organization culture initiatives for a collaborative inclusive and engaged workforce.
• Lead an effective and efficient human resource operation. Timely accurate and complete reporting to stakeholders.
• Coordinate on employment matters serving as a liaison to the system office state agencies and legal counsel and represent the university in meetings hearing and committees.
• Strategic contributing member of the Presidents cabinet
• Commitment to ongoing professional development continued learning and staying current on emerging trends best practices employment laws and human resources issues.
  

Salary Range: $105407.00 - $169114.00; Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters degree or other advanced degree from an accredited institution in human resources labor relations employment law business administration organizational leadership or related field.
• Ten (10) years of professional human resource experience in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated supervisory or managerial experience in human resources.
• Demonstrated experience and competence in interpreting applying and ensuring compliance with federal and state employment laws and organizational policies.
• Experience with labor relations and collective bargaining agreement administration.
• Demonstrated organizational leadership and management skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusiveness in leadership and decision-making.
• Excellent writing speaking and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to successfully pass a criminal background check and be authorized to review criminal history records information.

Preferred Qualification

• Professional HR certifications such as Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
• Demonstrated knowledge across multiple HR functions to include labor relations workforce planning compensation and classification recruitment leave management benefits administration employee relations performance management training and development HRIS workers compensation unemployment insurance and affirmative action.
• Experience in public sector human resources.
• Experience working in human resources in a medium or large organization with complex operations.
• Experience interpreting policy and labor agreements handling complaint resolution and grievance processes.
• Experience in mediation or conflict resolution.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining constructive business relationships with union representatives.
• Experience in higher education.
• Ability to work effectively and collegially within a large complex university system and to negotiate with a wide range of constituencies including multiple bargaining units.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic vision in complex organizations.
• Demonstrated success in budget planning and creative problem solving to advance organization initiatives.
• Demonstrated proficiency and ability to use technology to develop efficient business processes.
  

Other Requirements

1. Thesuccessfulcandidatemustbeabletolawfullyaccept employmentintheUnitedStatesby the day employment begins. The University regrets that we are unable to offer H1-B sponsorship at this time.

2. A complete online application will include the following:

• A cover letter that addresses the qualifications listed previously
• Current Curriculum Vitae / Resume
• Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)
• A list of professional references with contact information
  

Posting Information:

Application Deadline: Review begins immediately

Appointment Date: January 4 2027

Primary Location: Winona MN

Type of Appointment: Administrator/At Will

Telework (Yes/No) No

About Winona State University

Founded in 1858 Winona State University is a regional public university and the oldest member of the Minnesota State system. Offering more than 200 majors and programs Winona State has the #1 Student Success Rate in the Minnesota State System with 96.97 percent of WSU graduates being hired in a field related to their degree. U.S. News recognized Winona State as having top-ranking undergraduate programs in nursing engineering psychology business and computer science. With campuses in both Winona and Rochester Winona State offers the best of both worlds. Widely known for its stunning natural setting the Winona campus is nestled between picturesque bluffs and the Mississippi River - meaning rock climbing paddle-boarding hiking and kayaking are within a mile of campus. WSUs Rochester campus is located in Minnesotas third largest city - a dynamic hub for industry arts and culture and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. Winona State Universitys mission is to enhance the intellectual social cultural and economic vitality of the people and communities we serve: a community of learners improving our world. For more information visit .

Notice: In accordance with Minnesota State policy employees driving on university business who use a rental or state vehicle shall be required to conform to Minnesota States vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check. The Winona State University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available for your review. This report is required by federal law and contains policy statements and crime statistics for the University. The policy statements address the schools policies procedures and programs concerning safety and security. Three years worth of statistics are included for certain types of crimes that were reported to have occurred on-campus or in other University affiliated locations. This report is available online at You may also request a paper copy from University Security by emailing .

Winona State University is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race sex color creed religion age national origin disability protected veteran status marital status status with regard to public assistance sexual orientation gender identity gender expression or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer we actively seek and encourage applications from women minorities persons with disabilities and individuals with protected veteran status.

The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. A community of learners improving our world!

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications and is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable bargaining unit agreement or personnel plan.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State we take your well-being and work-life balance seriously. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that features low-cost medical and dental insurance with affordable deductibles employer-paid life insurance short- and long-term disability and pre-tax healthcare and dependent care accounts with a roll-over option. To further support your holistic health employees also have access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health legal and financial counseling. Detailed plan details rates and coverage choices can be reviewed directly via the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) website.

To support your life outside of work our package includes 12 paid holidays generous vacation and sick time and six weeks of Paid Parental Leave. We also help you secure your financial future with a robust Pension Plan 457(b) and 403(b) retirement accounts and various investment options. Furthermore we invest in your growth by providing dedicated professional development and tuition waivers for both you and your dependents. Please note that specific benefit eligibility and coverage levels may vary depending on the type of position employee classification and collective bargaining agreements.

Desired Start Date:

Position End Date:

Open Date:

Close Date:

Posting Contact Name:

Posting Contact Email: