Elon University
Associate Vice President, Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
Elon University , located in Elon, North Carolina, and renowned as a national model for engaged and experiential learning, seeks an innovative and visionary leader to serve as Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). This is an exceptional opportunity for a people-centered leader to shape the future of a thriving institution and elevate and enhance the workplace experience for all its employees.
Founded in 1889, Elon University has maintained strong core values throughout its history: close working relationships among faculty, staff, and students, a culture that supports constant innovation, and a deep commitment to global and local engagement. Elon is a selective, mid-sized private university where students work closely with faculty who are dedicated to excellent teaching, mentoring, and scholarship. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and complemented by nationally accredited professional and graduate programs. Elon's success can be attributed to a stable team of strong leaders working within a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture in which new ideas are welcomed and frequently realized. Change is continual, rooted in the university's commitments to excellence, student success through engaged learning, the teacher-scholar model, wise use of resources, and rigorous planning and execution.
Today, Elon has just over 7,200 students - 6,402 undergraduates and 805 graduate students - from 48 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and 54 countries. Elon is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as in the nation for excellence in undergraduate teaching and for innovation. In addition, Elon is ranked among the best-run colleges in the country in 2024 and one of the "Best Value Colleges" by The Princeton Review. Elon sponsors 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports and is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.
Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, the CHRO is a member of Elon's senior staff and plays a central role in shaping and implementing effective human resource strategies that align with the university's goals and foster a positive work culture. The CHRO serves as a strategic and consultative partner with Elon's leadership and leads a dedicated and forward-thinking team of 23 human resources professionals serving an employee base of approximately 1,600 faculty and staff. The CHRO provides direction and strategy on issues involving talent acquisition and management; employee relations and engagement; organization and professional development; compensation and benefits administration; compliance and risk management; and human resources technology.
The successful candidate will possess experience in leading high-performing teams through organizational change within a complex enterprise, and a record of developing and implementing innovative HR strategies and initiatives that align with an organization's mission and values. The community will welcome a leader who actively contributes to Elon's shared responsibility of inclusive excellence and supports Elon's commitment to relationships, mentoring, and collaboration in a close-knit community. Additionally, this leader will bring broad and contemporary knowledge of all areas of human resources with a demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and a reputation for being both service- and employee-centered. Evidence of progressive human resources leadership roles and a bachelor's degree are required. An advanced degree and prior experience in higher education are strongly preferred.
WittKieffer is assisting Elon University in this search. A comprehensive leadership profile can be found on the WittKieffer website here . All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as two separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by September 15, 2024, by sending materials to the WittKieffer consulting team directly at .
Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon's principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one's identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.