Vice President of Talent and Chief Human Resources Officer

JOB TITLE

Vice President of Talent and Chief Human Resources Officer

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

President's Division

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

Job Description Summary

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) invites applications for the Vice President of Talent and Chief Human Resources Officer (VP & CHRO). Reporting to the President and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the VP & CHRO provides strategic leadership and oversight of all human resources functions to support organizational effectiveness and a high-performing, people-centered culture.

This role is responsible for shaping and executing HR strategy across talent acquisition, employee and labor relations, learning and leadership development, succession planning, total rewards, payroll and benefits, Title IX/equal opportunity, HR policy, compliance, HRIS, and organizational climate initiatives. The VP & CHRO will serve as WPI’s chief talent strategist and a key advisor to senior leadership and the Board, ensuring the university attracts, develops, and retains top talent while advancing service excellence, innovation, and employee engagement aligned with WPI’s mission and values.

Leading a team of HR professionals, the VP & CHRO will drive continuous improvement in HR operations—enhancing technology, optimizing service delivery, and implementing data-driven decision-making to elevate the employee experience. This is a highly strategic, visible role for an innovative HR executive who is passionate about building thriving workplaces and shaping the future of talent at a world-class institution.

For full application instructions and the executive search profile, please see the link below.

Job Description

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred in human resources, business, organizational development, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive human resources leadership experience, with at least 5 years managing HR professionals and leading teams through other leaders, and at least 5 years in higher education.
• Deep knowledge of the higher education landscape, academic culture and relevant HR policies and regulations.
• Thorough understanding and experience in all aspects of human resources operations, employee relations and team building, human capital development.
• Proven track record developing and implementing comprehensive HR strategies that align with institutional priorities and drive organizational excellence at complex institutions with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Deep experience and demonstrated success in leading strategic approach to talent acquisition and employee total rewards.
• Experience in facilitating the development of high-performing leadership teams.
• Budgetary expertise and experience to help allocate human capital resources efficiently and effectively.
• Strong expertise with HR technology systems, HRIS platforms, and data analytics, with an ability to leverage insights for strategic decision-making and operational excellence. Experience with ERP system implementation or optimization is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success in labor relations, including negotiating collective bargaining agreements and building productive relationships with union leadership.
• Strong leadership and expertise in effective issues management.
• Deep understanding of federal, state, and local regulations, employment law and compliance requirements, with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with legal counsel and other professional advisors.
• Successful experience partnering with senior leadership teams and other campus leaders and serving as trusted advisor on complex organizational and people matters.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to represent the institution effectively at the executive level and communicate clearly with diverse constituencies.
  
  

Essential Leadership Characteristics

• Strategic and highly motivated leader who drives operational excellence in human resources.
• Exceptional leadership capability for building and empowering their own team and ensuring high performance, engagement and accountability.
• Collaborative and principled leader who excels at building partnerships across campus and with external stakeholders, with a demonstrated ability to lead through influence and consensus-building.
• Results-oriented professional with a data-driven approach to decision-making, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, and proven budget management capabilities.
• Process engineer and change management expert with demonstrated experience collecting and synthesizing data and input from stakeholders, identifying opportunities for improvement, proposing creative and pragmatic solutions, and thoughtfully designing process rollouts.
• Executive presence appropriate for cabinet-level leadership and high-stakes representation of the institution, with ability to interface with all organizational levels with tact and diplomacy.
• Strong listening and communication skills that ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency.
• Presence that earns trust, confidence, and respect, and cultivates and enhances meaningful relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Ability to lead by influence and example while being seen as an approachable partner with high energy and motivation to excel in a fast-paced environment.
• Solution and outcome-drive.
• Demonstrated ability to develop long-term strategies that align with institutional priorities while managing immediate operational needs effectively.
• Highest standards of personal and professional integrity, emotional intelligence, and ethical leadership, with ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with demonstrated ability to lead innovation and organizational transformation while maintaining focus on compliance and best practices.
• Empathic and calm customer-centric orientation with commitment to delivering high-quality service and creating positive employee experiences throughout the organization.
• Demonstrate an effective and wise blending of patience, persistence, compassion, and urgency.
• Highly motivated to support and engage employees to enhance the employee’s well-being and professional development.
  
  

To Apply

For full application instructions and to view the executive search profile, please click here. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Candidates should submit a resume and a two- to three-page letter of interest that addresses the opportunities and challenges outlined in this profile.

All inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications should be directed in confidence to: Kathryn Keyes at kkeyes@wpi.edu

Compensation: $275,000 - $350,000 per year

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

Compensation at WPI

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.