Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, Virginia Tech is a top 25 public research institution. Under the leadership of a dynamic President, the University is growing in Blacksburg as well as expanding its presence across the Commonwealth, most notably the Health Science and Technology campus in Roanoke and the Innovation campus in the DC metropolitan area.
The Advancement Division at Virginia Tech is a growing and dynamic organization, with more than 340 (centralized and embedded) alumni engagement, fundraising, communications and marketing, and operations professionals working together under an aligned work plan and shared mission and values to achieve common goals that further the university’s vision. The Advancement Division brings together individuals with a range of backgrounds, talents, and passions, fostering collaboration, professional growth, and innovation. In fiscal year 2024, the three-year average of Virginia Tech’s new gifts and commitments rose to an all-time high of nearly $239.8M. In addition, the university is currently in its most ambitious campaign ever. Boundless Impact: The Campaign for Virginia Tech, has a goal to raise $1.872 billion and engage 120,000 alumni and friends worldwide by 2027.
Virginia Tech is seeking an accomplished human resources and talent management professional to serve in the role of Director for Human Resources within the Advancement Division. The position will report jointly to the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources within the Division of Human Resources and the Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Advancement.
The director will align and execute unit-based HR strategy with the university’s mission and strategy, working as part of the larger HR organization. The role will provide leadership, guidance, and resources for all talent-related activities including acquisition, development, management, and engagement. Responsibilities include oversight of hiring and onboarding activities, training programs, performance management and employee relations, workforce planning and staffing, engagement and inclusion, recruiting, retention planning, and succession planning.
This individual will serve as the key strategy collaborator with leaders of the Advancement division and will be a member of the senior leadership team. The director will manage a team of HR professionals to support this work and provide exceptional customer service. By fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, the director will play a pivotal role in strategically shaping the division’s workforce to achieve its ambitious goals and contribute to the university’s overall success.
To carry out these responsibilities, this person must be proactive, a strategic thinker, understand the critical importance of planning and program delivery, be able to successfully balance competing values, and align recommendations and actions with the short and long-term strategies of the university and the Advancement division.
Success in this position will rely on awareness of the culture and environment of Advancement, the university, and human resources. This will be enabled by developing strong relationships across campus and fostering respectful communications and collaborations within a diverse community. Given the joint reporting relationship, this person must manage potentially conflicting interests, possess strong organizational skills, plan and schedule individual work and team work, set priorities, and manage multiple projects and deadlines.