Vice President Human Resources

The University of Washington (UW) seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its next Vice President for Human Resources (VPHR). The VPHR will play a pivotal role in ensuring the University of Washington remains a leader in workforce innovation, employee experience, and operational excellence across both its academic and healthcare enterprises.

The VPHR is the senior HR leader at the University of Washington, responsible for setting the strategic vision for human resources and ensuring alignment with UW's academic and healthcare missions. Reporting to the President and serving as a key member of the President's Cabinet, the VPHR leads a team of approximately 250 HR professionals with a biennium budget of $60 million, supporting a workforce of over 56,000 employees across UW's three campuses and UW Medicine. UW employees fall into one of several employment programs, each with its own unique set of workplace rules and employee benefits. Over 28,000 staff and academic personnel are represented by 10 unions with 19 unique union contracts, soon to be 21 unique contracts with additional bargaining units being certified.

The VPHR oversees all aspects of human resources, including talent strategy, labor and employee relations, HR policy, total rewards, organizational effectiveness, and HR technology. The role requires an exceptional leader capable of balancing the diverse needs of a leading research university and a major academic medical center. The VPHR also serves on the Information & Technology Governance Committee and is the business owner for Workday HCM, ensuring HR technology supports institutional objectives. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of HR at one of the world's premier public universities.

You can read more about Human Resources at the University of Washington here.

Rebecca Kennedy and Courtney Wilk-Mandel are leading this search with Angelo Alexander and Cara Meyers. 

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact uwhrsearch@imsearch.com. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.

The base salary range for this position will be $375,000 to $460,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.