Human Resources Manager

Job Description

The Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) was formed in 2021 with the aspiration to become the nations preeminent academic organization at the nexus of interdisciplinary research technology policy and talent development to advance national security. The Institute grew from the Hume Center which was launched in 2010 thanks to an endowment from Ted and Karyn Hume.

VTNSI is a national leader in advancing security and resilience through innovative and applied research empowering the next generation of experts and building strategic alliances to address evolving national security challenges. We bring together exceptional interdisciplinary faculty unique research infrastructure and deep partnerships with industry and government sponsors to execute impactful research and development.

The Human Resources Manager serves as a key member of the Virginia Tech National Security Institutes (VTNSI) administrative team providing embedded HR leadership within a complex research-driven environment. This role leads and administers human resources operations across the institute while proactively translating evolving research and programmatic needs into HR actions. The position provides both operational and consultative HR support across recruitment employee relations performance management compensation training HRIS/data management and compliance by exercising a high level of judgment confidentiality and autonomy.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff VTNSI with a functional reporting line to the HR director in the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) the position will be responsible for:

Partnering with institute leadership stakeholder groups and ORI HR to develop and execute workforce planning strategies aligned with sponsored project-based and operational staffing models and organizational priorities.
Leading talent acquisition and recruitment efforts by advising on workforce planning position design classification and compensation analysis and sourcing strategies while overseeing the full recruitment lifecycle to ensure a compliant and positive candidate experience in evolving competitive talent markets.
Managing HR operations and employee lifecycle activities including onboarding offboarding employment changes records management and data integrity by ensuring accurate audit-ready defensible compliant and efficient processes.
Developing analyzing and using workforce data metrics reports and data-driven insight to support operational planning organizational decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.
Serving as the institutes lead HR contact on employee relations policy interpretation organizational design workforce decisions and change management coordinating with ORI HR director to address complex personnel matters and ensuring alignment with university policies and strategic HR initiatives.
Identifying and delivering HR-related training guidance and resources for leaders managers and employees on HR policies processes talent development employee relations compliance requirements and workplace best practices.
Applying analytical and consultative skills to conduct and defend complex classification and compensation analyses synthesize information from multiple sources research and evaluate HR-related requests and develop well-supported business justifications and recommendations for decision-making.
Developing and facilitating HR-related training materials and presentations for managers and employees across a complex organization.
Supervising HR staff by overseeing transactional HR processes fostering professional development improving service-delivery and driving operational effectiveness and process improvement initiatives.
Interpreting applying and effectively communicating university state and federal HR policies procedures and employment regulations while accurately advising leaders managers and employees on policy-related matters and ensuring consistent compliance across the institute.
Maintaining strong collaborative partnerships with institute leadership and ORI HR while ensuring accountability for institute-level HR outcomes and compliance with university state and federal policies guidelines and practices.

Required Qualifications

Masters degree in Human Resources Business Administration Management or a related field or a bachelors degree with significant progressively responsible professional HR experience.
Demonstrated progressive human resources experience supporting HR functional areas including recruitment onboarding/offboarding classification and compensation analyses performance management employee relations and training.
Demonstrated ability to interpret apply and advise on complex university state and federal employment policies procedures and regulations with a high degree of accuracy judgment discretion and professionalism.
Experience advising managers and organizational leadership on HR-related matters including workforce planning organizational effectiveness talent strategy and policy interpretation.
Strong knowledge of HR systems data management practices and personnel processes with demonstrated ability to maintain data integrity analyze workforce information and support operational and strategic decision-making.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment while exercising sound judgment and maintaining attention to detail.
Strong analytical problem-solving and organizational skills including the ability to identify process improvement opportunities and implement effective operational solutions.
Excellent interpersonal communication and relationship management skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with faculty staff leadership and administrative partners across a complex organization.
Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality customer service professionalism and inclusive workplace practices.
Due to the nature of work conducted by the organization the successful candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident).

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in a higher education or research environment.
Experience supervising or leading HR support staff and coordinating operational workflows.
Experience developing or analyzing HR reports metrics or workforce data to support decision-making.
Professional HR certification such as PHR SPHR SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$ Salary Commensurate with Experience

Hours per week

40 hours per week

Review Date

6/22/2026

Additional Information

This position is hybrid with a required weekly on-site presence in Blacksburg VA.

Due to the nature of work conducted by the organization the successful candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident).

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its mottoUt Prosim(That I May Serve) Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world Virginia Tech is aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eightundergraduate colleges aschool of medicine aveterinary medicinecollegeGraduate School andHonors College.The university has a significant presence across Virginia including Blacksburg the greater Washington D.C. area the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke sites in Newport News and Richmond and numerousExtension officesandresearch institutes.A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.