<p>Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for People, Culture, and Belonging, the AVC collaborates across the university to embed experience-driven thinking into systems, culture, and strategy. This includes the application of AI-enabled solutions, journey mapping, employee listening, and human-centered design to enhance the daily realities of work.</p> <p>The role provides leadership across employee relations, organizational design, workforce optimization, recruiting and talent acquisition, policy governance, and USAC (University Staff Advisory Council)-driving operational excellence, data-informed decisions, and outcomes that advance Vanderbilt's vision and values.</p> <p>Key Functions and Expected Performance:</p> <ul> <li>Strategic Business Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to institutional leaders, aligning people strategies with Vanderbilt's long-term vision and future-focused organizational priorities. </li><li>Experience Design Leadership: Lead the continuous evolution of the employee experience through journey mapping, design thinking, and employee feedback, ensuring every touchpoint reflects the university's values. </li><li>Organizational Effectiveness: Oversee employee relations, organizational design, and workforce optimization with a focus on trust, agility, and accountability. </li><li>Inclusive Talent Acquisition: Guide inclusive recruiting and talent acquisition strategies to attract top talent and reinforce Vanderbilt's employee value proposition. </li><li>Operational Partnership: Radically collaborate with divisional leaders, enterprise-wide stakeholders, and operations teams to identify and implement improvements that elevate the employee experience and streamline delivery across people services. </li><li>Policy Governance Excellence: Deliver operational excellence in policy development and governance, balancing regulatory compliance with institutional values and employee-centered practices. </li><li>AI-Enabled Workforce Insights: Leverage AI, behavioral science, and people analytics to personalize employee experiences, identify trends, and support data-informed decision-making. </li><li>Employee Voice and Engagement: Provide strategic oversight of mechanisms such as the University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) and unions to foster radical collaboration, elevate staff voice, and deepen institutional connection through transparency and shared purpose. </li><li>Culture Guardianship: Foster a workplace culture rooted in belonging, psychological safety, and continuous growth-supporting development from onboarding through alumni status. </li><li>Strategic and Industry Impact: Actively contribute to Vanderbilt's bold strategic initiatives, industry thought leadership, and commitment to exceptional core operations through innovative people strategies. </li></ul> <p>Supervisory Relationships:</p> <p>This position does have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Vice Chancellor for People, Culture and Belonging</p> <p>Education and Certifications</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, relevant military experience, and relevant skills is required. </li><li>Master's degree strongly preferred. </li></ul> <p>Experience and Skills:</p> <ul> <li>12+ years of progressive HR or workforce strategy experience, with 7+ years in a senior leadership role. </li><li>Proven success in leading experience design, employee relations, policy, and organizational change initiatives. </li><li>Experience in complex, matrixed environments (e.g., higher ed, corporate, or public sector). </li><li>Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence with speed, agility, and scale. </li><li>Record of launching bold initiatives that advance institutional and workforce goals. </li><li>Industry thought leadership or advocacy experience preferred. </li><li>Strong emotional intelligence and communication skills. </li><li>Expertise in people analytics, HR tech, and applied AI for workforce and experience innovation. </li></ul>