Job Summary
As the Director, Talent Relations, you'll play a central role in strengthening the employee experience, advancing organizational effectiveness, and ensuring fair people practices across the organization. Serving as a trusted advisor to Office of University Development (OUD) leaders and a support to all staff, this role involves guiding complex employee matters, compensation practices, and organizational design decisions that help teams perform at their highest level. Success in this position means balancing a people-centered approach with policy integrity and legal compliance.
Working closely with the Talent Acquisition and Learning & Engagement teams, you'll help ensure alignment and understanding across the full employee lifecycle. As an active member of the People and Culture Leadership Team, you'll contribute your expertise to a holistic people strategy, including the design and implementation of annual and long-term strategic planning. This position reports to the Senior Executive Director, People and Culture.
Work Mode: This is a hybrid position, with three days per week in the office.
Exciting News: We Moved!
Join our team at our brand-new location, Michigan House! You'll find us at 2301 Commonwealth Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
For a full and detailed job description, please click here.
Responsibilities*
- Be a trusted advisor and partner to leaders, providing counsel on organizational design, role clarity, communication, and team effectiveness.
- Partner with the Learning & Engagement team to identify skill gaps and leadership development needs.
- Use HR data and people analytics to inform strategic decision-making, while identifying patterns and risks through data analysis and recommending solutions.
- Lead complex employee relations matters, including investigations, performance concerns, policy interpretation, and conflict resolution, ensuring fair, and legally compliant application of policies.
- Maintain working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, mitigate risk while preserving a culture of trust.
- Provide input and advice to the OUD Compensation Working Group related to overall compensation philosophy, job architecture, and salary structure design.
- Collaborate with the Talent Acquisition team on workforce planning and hiring strategy understanding.
- Hire and onboard staff; foster professional growth through coaching, feedback, and career development; manage performance, recognizing achievements and addressing issues.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
- 7+ years of progressive and diverse experience in multiple areas of HR, including employee relations and compensation.
- Demonstrated people management experience.
- Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders using coaching.
- Demonstrated experience using people analytics and workforce data to inform strategy.
- Knowledge of employment law and risk mitigation practices.
- Previous experience with organizational design.
- Judgment and discretion with sensitive matters.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future.
Benefits include:
- Generous time off
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.