Assistant Director of Personnel

  • California Polytechnic State University
  • San Luis Obispo, California
  • Mar 13, 2024
Clerical and Administrative Support Human Resources and Personnel

Job Description

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Special Advisor to the Provost and with a dotted line report to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, the Assistant Director of Personnel is responsible for the strategic management and oversight of all personnel functions for the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs divisional (non-college) units. The position provides personnel policy analysis and strategic consultations and serves as the Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) for the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs associated (non-college) divisional units, overseeing human resource functions such as labor and employee relations, performance management, strategy and process for talent acquisition and recruitment, employee onboarding, position classifications, personnel change actions, and professional development programs to support Academic Affairs’ mission and organizational goals.

This position plays a vital role in partnering with college HRBPs, Academic Affairs divisional (non-college) unit administrators, and the Office of the Provost to develop personnel and organizational strategies, structure, policy, and programs that align with divisional and unit goals and further our commitment to recruit and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce. This position manages a broad range of complex, confidential and sensitive personnel matters and provides their expertise and recommendations to the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs divisional (non-college) unit administrators.

Department Summary

The provost and executive vice president (provost and EVP) for Academic Affairs is the chief academic officer of the university, is the most senior among the vice presidents, and reports directly to the president. The provost and EVP serves as acting president in the absence of the president. As the highest ranking academic, the provost and EVP is responsible for developing and implementing academic plans and policies, which will enable the university community to achieve the highest levels of academic excellence. The provost and EVP serves on the President’s Cabinet and works collaboratively with the leaders of other university divisions to promote academic excellence, execute the university strategic plan, and determine where resources should be strategically allocated and invested. The college deans, Academic Affairs’ division leadership, the vice president for Research, Economic Development, and Graduate Education (R-EDGE), the vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) report to the provost and EVP. The vice president for University Personnel and the associate vice provost for Academic Personnel have a dotted line report to the provost and EVP. The provost and EVP also represents the campus within the CSU and to external constituencies as designated by the president. The Office of the Provost staff supports the vision of the provost and EVP, the university, and the Learn by Doing experience.

Key Qualifications
  • Mastery of standard Human Resources principles, practices and techniques, including the areas of performance management, employee relations, employee and organizational development, talent acquisition, disability leaves and accommodation.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively perform work of a highly sensitive and confidential nature which requires access to information which directly relates to collective bargaining negotiations or management strategies.
  • Demonstrated ability to negotiate challenging situations and conflicts. Demonstrated practical application of facilitation, advising, coaching, mediation, conflict resolution, and negotiation; ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
  • Demonstrated skill in modeling a culture of open and honest communication, respect, inclusion, integrity, balance, authenticity, high achievement, and professionalism.
  • Demonstrated experience working with and implementing diversity related policies, programs and initiatives; demonstrated skill in leading efforts to create a diverse, engaged and highly effective workforce.
  • Proven success in establishing and implementing objectives and plans to accomplish program and service goals. Understanding and practical application of program development, training, and coordination skills. Ability to research, plan, evaluate, and implement programs and services. Ability to develop, organize, coordinate, and assess comprehensive programmatic events, new employee onboarding programs, training sessions, and learning opportunities.
  • Strong analytical and research skills; demonstrated ability to interpret, communicate and consistently apply a wide variety of complex policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not exist and to develop well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations. Experience extracting, interpreting, compiling, and presenting qualitative and quantitative data for a variety of audiences, and effectively communicate results of analyses.
  • Excellent customer service skills, including ability to represent the division in a professional and conscientious manner. Demonstrated ability to maintain high quality/standards of work, leadership, ethics, commitment, and professional responsibility and judgment.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate and independently carry out multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines. Demonstrated skill coordinating several personnel functions and determining the relative importance of each.
  • Proven leadership and management skills and experience working collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communications within a diverse population, strong listening and interpretive skills, and the ability to deal positively with unexpected developments and diverse perspectives in and outside the University.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent computer skills and proficiency with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, online systems, and Internet as well as online calendaring and email. Capacity to learn and adapt quickly to new technology, software, situations, methods and procedures; general interest in making full and efficient use of information technology and resources.
  • Knowledge of workforce planning, project management, and change management principles. Experience using metrics to analyze, explain and persuade organizational change.
  • Thorough knowledge of or ability to quickly learn CSU classification standards, collective bargaining contracts, and principles of labor relations. Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure, policies, and procedures.

Education and Experience
  • Bachelor’s Degree and five (5) years of progressively responsible human resources experience. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $100,000 - $115,000 annually. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu .

Diversity Statement

At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an equal opportunity employer.

Supplemental Information

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff positions (i.e. H-1B visas).

Advertised: Mar 12 2024 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:

Closing Date/Time:

Job Address

San Luis Obispo, California 93405 United States View Map