The School of Medicine HR function is at an inflection point. We have built a solid foundation — a talented team, strong institutional relationships, and deep operational knowledge. Now we are ready to take it to the next level.
This is not a maintenance role. We are looking for a true leader who is energized by building, elevating, and transforming. You will partner directly with the HR Director to shape a lean, high-performing HR team that operates with discipline, speed, and strategic influence across one of the most complex academic medical environments in central Missouri.
You are the right person if: you thrive in ambiguity, hold yourself and others to a high standard, and get genuine satisfaction from developing people, eliminating waste, and driving results – all at the same time.
Reporting directly to the HR Director, the Associate HR Director serves as the operational and developmental engine of the SOM HR team. This leader owns day-to-day execution, leads priority HR projects with limited supervision, and ensures the team is consistently moving toward a higher standard of service, efficiency, and impact. Success in this role means the HR Director can focus on enterprise-level strategy, confident that operations and team development are in expert hands.
This role navigates substantial organizational complexity across the UM System, MU campus, and MU Health Care — requiring political savvy, relationship depth, and the ability to align stakeholders across distinct governance structures.
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Operational lead, coach, mentor, and accountability partner for HR Partners (HRPs) and HR staff
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Co-create and implement standard work for the HR team — establishing clear expectations, routines, and performance disciplines
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Identify individual development needs and build tailored growth plans that accelerate capability and career readiness
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Foster a team culture of continuous improvement, shared accountability, and proactive client service
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Own and drive priority HR initiatives from design through execution with limited supervision
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Build project plans, manage timelines, engage stakeholders, and deliver results on complex, cross-functional work
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Serve as the HR Director’s deputy on special projects, committees, and institutional task forces
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Translate strategic direction into concrete, sequenced action plans with clear owners and milestones
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Conduct ongoing assessment of HR workflows, identifying waste, bottlenecks, and inconsistencies
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Design and implement process improvements that increase throughput, reduce error, and improve the experience for faculty, staff, and leaders
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Apply lean principles to build scalable, repeatable HR operations across SOM units
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Develop documentation, toolkits, and job aids that standardize best practices across the team
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Operate fluently across the UM System, MU campus, and MU Health Care — understanding the distinct priorities, governance structures, and stakeholder dynamics of each
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Build and maintain relationships with UM System HR Centers of Expertise (Recruitment, L&OD, Benefits, etc.) to align SOM needs with system resources
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Identify when to escalate, when to partner, and when to act — moving with appropriate speed across a matrixed environment
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Represent the SOM HR function with credibility and influence at all levels of the organization
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Support HRPs with department leaders on workforce planning, organizational design, and people strategy
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Provide expert consultation on employee relations, performance management, and change management
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Serve as a trusted, candid advisor to leaders — willing to deliver difficult feedback and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics with professionalism
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Ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of HR services across assigned SOM departments
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Monitor compliance with university policy and applicable employment law; proactively address risk
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Oversee onboarding, orientation, and off-boarding processes to ensure a seamless employee lifecycle experience
