Vice President for Human Resources – SUNY Downstate Medical Center – Brooklyn, NY

Are you looking to take your career to new heights with a leader in healthcare? SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation’s leading metropolitan medical centers. As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, we serve a large population that is among the most diverse in the world. We are also highly-ranked by Castle Connolly Medical, a healthcare rating company for consumers, among the top 5 leading U.S. medical schools for training doctors.

Bargaining Unit:

Job Summary:

The Department of Human Resources at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and University Hospital of Brooklyn is seeking a full-time Vice President for Human Resources.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, the Vice President for Human Resources (VP for HR) has responsibility for Human Resources Operations, Labor Relations, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• S/he/they is responsible for directing policy, planning and operations for these areas.
• S/he/they will develop and implement standards and internal controls as necessary to ensure the effective management of human resource matters for the campus.
• The VP for HR serves on the President’s Executive Management Council (Cabinet) as the senior institutional officer responsible for human resource policy formulation and for overall planning, organization, direction, and evaluation of human resources activities at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.
• The VP for HR directly oversees the administration of employee relations, labor contract interpretation, benefits programs, classification and compensation, performance management, recruitment and employment, faculty and staff appointments, and organizational training and development.
• The VP for HR consults with the Chief Diversity Officer for Equal Employment Opportunity and serves as the senior representative communicating directly with the various bargaining units on the campus.
• This position is responsible for management, oversight, and implementation of relevant human resources policies and procedures promulgated by The State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees, NYS Joint Commission on Public Ethics, NYS Policies, and SUNY Policies.
• S/he/they serves as Downstate’s primary contact point for the HR leadership at SUNY central offices and at the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations.
• Direct reports include: Assistant Vice President for Labor Relations; Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Operations, and Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Compliance, Records Management, and Talent Acquisition and Director of the Employee Assistance Program.

Critical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Formulate SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s human resources policy with appropriate references to SUNY, NYS Civil Service, and Research Foundation policy and guidelines with recognition of Federal and State laws, including regulatory agency mandates.
• Direct department staff to implement policies and procedures efficiently, with particular focus on use of improved technology.
• Educate Downstate’s Officers and Administrators about their human resource management obligations and provide policy interpretation and implementation guidance.
• Establish and direct the necessary human resource services and provide the necessary human resource professional and support staff to ensure the timely, accurate, and consistent implementation of human resource policies and practices.
• Directly and through human resource professional staff, assist Downstate managers in the consistent and responsive recruitment, selection, performance management, evaluation, rewarding, development, and management of staff members.
• Provide direct consultation and assistance to Downstate managers on union contract provisions affecting staff. Identify and institute comprehensive system-based audit mechanisms for the evaluation of human resource practices throughout Downstate to identify workforce needs and trends, satisfy institutional and regulatory reporting obligations and to establish controls to support correction and change.
• Participate, with Associate Counsel, in preparation and presentation of institutional responses to NYS Division of Human Rights, DOH, OPMC, State Attorney General’s Office, and other investigatory agencies.

Required Qualifications:

• 7+ years of proven leadership in HR operations and HR management experience in an academic setting with specific relevant experience at a leadership level in a hospital or medical setting.
• A graduate-level degree (e.g., Ph.D., J.D., MBA, MPA, etc.) in a related field.
• Effective working knowledge of federal, state, labor and employment laws, and regulations to include Occupational Safety and Health Administration and worker’s compensation reporting requirements.
• Human resource management experience in an organization with unionized employees. Strong service orientation.
• Solid understanding of HR operations models, tools, and programs.
• Prior experience in the leveraging of technology to support human resource management tasks. Strong professional development skills.
• Must be an articulate and persuasive communicator and problem solver.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in public sector organizations a plus.

Work Schedule:

Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm

Salary Grade/Rank:

Salary Range:

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Executive Order:

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at [email protected].

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

Women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities and members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact Human Resources at 718-270-3025.