University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
Executive Director, HR Business Partnership & Client Services
Job Profile Title
Executive Director B, Human Resources
Job Description Summary
The University of Pennsylvania is seeking an inaugural Executive Director, HR Business Partnership & Client Services to help shape the next chapter of Human Resources at Penn. Recognizing that the effectiveness of Human Resources depends on the quality, consistency, and strength of its partnerships across the institution, Penn has created this leadership role to strengthen how Human Resources partners with the University.
Reporting directly to the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), the Executive Director will partner closely with the CHRO to advance the Division's strategic priorities by leading the evolution of Penn's HR Business Partnership model and client services organization. As a member of the Human Resources Senior Leadership Team, the Executive Director will build enterprise capability across Penn's HR community and foster a consistent, consultative approach to HR service delivery. This role will help ensure that Human Resources is recognized not only for operational excellence, but also for the strategic value it creates across the University.
Job Description
The Executive Director provides leadership for Penn's HR Business Partnership model and client services organization, translating the CHRO's strategic vision into a cohesive, high-performing operating model that delivers consistent, responsive, and consultative HR support across the University. This role also serves as the senior HR Business Partner for the Executive Vice President’s portfolio, establishing standards for service delivery and operational excellence, and providing strategic counsel on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, leadership, employee and labor relations, and organizational change. This role will ultimately strengthen how Human Resources partners with the University, developing organizational capability that enables Penn’s mission.
Shape Penn's HR Business Partnership Model
The Executive Director will lead the continued evolution of Penn's HR Business Partnership model by:
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Partnering with the CHRO to implement and continuously strengthen Penn's enterprise HR Business Partnership model.
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Building a high-performing community of HR Business Partners through coaching, professional development, and shared leading practices.
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Serving as the senior HR Business Partner for the Executive Vice President’s portfolio, providing strategic counsel on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, leadership, employee and labor relations, and organizational change.
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Strengthening Human Resources' reputation by promoting consultative, data-informed, and client-centered practices throughout the HR organization.
Advance Client Services Excellence
The Executive Director will shape an integrated client services model that delivers a consistent, responsive, and exceptional experience for leaders, managers, and employees across Penn by:
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Providing leadership for Penn's client services organization, including the continued evolution of the HR Solution Center.
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Establishing service standards, governance, and performance expectations that promote consistency, accountability, and operational excellence.
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Integrating the work of HR Business Partners, Centers of Excellence, and operational teams to deliver integrated HR solutions.
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Championing innovation and operational excellence by simplifying processes, leveraging technology, and identifying opportunities to enhance the client experience.
Promoting a culture in which service excellence is viewed not simply as responsiveness, but as the delivery of strategic value to the University community.
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Build Organizational Capability
Penn's ability to achieve its mission depends on strong leadership, effective organizations, and an engaged workforce. The Executive Director will help build that capability by:
Required Experience
The successful candidate will bring a record of executive HR leadership in complex organizations and a demonstrated ability to build trusted partnerships, lead organizational change, and advance enterprise HR performance.
Specifically, candidates should possess:
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A Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field and at least ten years of progressively responsible HR leadership experience, including leadership of enterprise HR Business Partner, client services, shared services, or comparable strategic HR functions (or equivalent combination of education and experience is required).
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Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives to address organizational effectiveness, workforce strategy, leadership, and complex employee issues.
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Experience leading and developing high-performing HR teams within large, highly matrixed, and decentralized organizations.
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Broad knowledge of Human Resources disciplines, with the ability to integrate strategic priorities with effective service delivery and workforce solutions.
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Demonstrated success leading organizational change, building organizational capability, and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups.
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Strong business acumen, executive presence, and the ability to influence, build consensus, and navigate complexity with sound judgment.
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Experience leveraging workforce analytics, operational metrics, and data-informed insights to improve organizational effectiveness and decision-making.
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Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills, with the ability to establish credibility and trust across all levels of the organization.
Preferred Experience
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SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or comparable professional certification.
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Experience within higher education, academic medicine, healthcare, or another large, mission-driven, decentralized organization.
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Experience leading HR transformation, organizational effectiveness, or enterprise service delivery initiatives.
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Familiarity with Workday and modern HR technologies that support workforce analytics, employee experience, and service delivery.
Leadership Expectations
The Executive Director will be an authentic, collaborative, and values-driven leader who builds trust through partnership, develops others, and leads with humility, curiosity, and accountability.
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:
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Lead through influence in a highly decentralized environment.
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Build strong relationships across diverse academic and administrative constituencies.
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Balance strategic thinking with operational execution.
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Foster collaboration across teams while creating shared accountability for results.
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Navigate complexity with sound judgment, transparency, and resilience.
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Develop leaders and cultivate high-performing, engaged teams.
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Champion inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement.
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Model Penn's values through integrity, respect, service, and a deep commitment to the University's mission.
Measures of Success
Within the first several years, the Executive Director will be expected to:
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Establish a cohesive, highly effective HR Business Partnership model that is recognized across the EVP portfolio and University for strategic consultation, consistency, and collaboration.
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Strengthen the University's confidence in Human Resources by improving the quality, responsiveness, and consistency of client service.
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Build a high-performing community of HR professionals who share common standards, embrace continuous learning, and deliver integrated solutions.
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Advance the CHRO's vision for an innovative, data-informed, and client-centered HR organization.
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Foster trusted partnerships with leaders that strengthen organizational effectiveness and advance Penn's mission.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
Human Resources
Pay Range
$170,000.00 - $250,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
