Vice President, Human Resources & Chief Human Resources Officer

The University of Minnesota seeks an innovative and visionary leader for the position of Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). This is a system-wide leadership position located in Minneapolis. The position has been realigned as a direct report to newly appointed President Joan Gabel to reflect her personal emphasis on maximizing the impact of the human resources function, both central and distributed, on the University. The CHRO will provide strategic leadership and vision for an institution committed to being an employer-of-choice and renown for fostering a culture that is creative, inclusive and forward thinking.

In her personal charge to the CHRO Search Committee, President Gabel outlined her priorities for this leader:

As an active member and voice on the executive leadership team, the new CHRO will be a strategic doer, focused on cultivating and championing the University of Minnesota's greatest asset - its people. As institutional complexity has grown, the need for a C-Suite executive focused on the University's commitment to people is more important than ever. This individual will be deeply dedicated to employee well-being, while valuing this positive investment and its direct ties to the University's central mission. This individual will foster an equitable and inclusive workplace culture with a clear focus on campus climate and a sense of belonging. This commitment to diversity must translate and be implemented statewide, across all aspects of the system."

As a collaborative partner, this individual will have the diplomatic and operational acumen to move complex, leading institutions towards best practices with a creative mindset, viewing the progress of the University's model as an opportunity. They will leverage the arrival of a new University President and Provost, to create unique opportunities for strategic alliances, so that the full human resources portfolio, from data to incentives to programs and beyond, can be the most innovative across higher education, but in ways that also reflect the University of Minnesota's leading stewardship of resources and cost-effective sensibility.”


The successful candidate will possess personal and professional integrity, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to collaboration, innovation, flexibility and creativity. We invite candidates from diverse backgrounds to include those with progressively responsible human resources leadership within higher education, not-for-profit and for-profit industry, consulting or a combination of all or some of the above.

The successful candidate will possess a solid record as a collaborative leader, able to guide staff through institutional change. The CHRO will lead by example, with a strong orientation to mission and service. The incumbent will have a strong understanding of the academic mission and context operate with a “people” orientation, and possess exceptional communication and leadership skills. Additional information, including a leadership profile, is available at www.wittkieffer.com.

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. University of Minnesota's consultants, Jim King, John Thornburgh and Melissa Fincher, can be reached at UMNCHRO@wittkieffer.com. Review of applications will begin in early June and continue until the position is filled. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by August 20, 2019.

The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.