Director of Workplace Experience and Employee Relations
Job no: 537279
Work type: Administrative & Professional
Senior management: VP of Human Resources
Department: VP for Human Resources
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Categories: Executive / Director / Management, Human Resources, Legal / Compliance, Other
Job Description
Virginia Tech is seeking a transformational leader to provide strategic leadership for the university's employee relations function. This leader serves as a trusted advisor to university leaders and embedded HR directors on workplace effectiveness, employee experience, organizational health, and workforce risk.
The Director leads a proactive, consultative, and data-informed employee relations operation that supports leaders and employees through partnership, coaching, training, analytics, and resolution of complex workplace issues. The position is responsible for advancing a culture of trust, accountability, engagement, inclusion, consistency, and organizational effectiveness while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and university policies.
The Director develops enterprise-wide strategies that strengthen leadership capability, improve employee experience, identify emerging workforce trends, and prevent workplace issues before they escalate.
This position reports to the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources and leads the Employee Relations team. The position is also key in building trusted partnerships with campus stakeholders such as the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education, University Legal Counsel, Office of the Ombuds, Faculty Affairs, University Police Department, Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance, and others.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Management, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
• Significant progressive experience in Employee Relations, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Organizational Effectiveness, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders.
• Experience leading complex workplace investigations and employee relations matters.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and human resource practices.
• Experience developing and delivering training programs.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
Preferred Qualifications
• Master's degree in a related field and/or a juris doctorate (J.D.)
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar certification.
• Experience in higher education or other large complex organizations.
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives.
• Experience with workforce analytics and data interpretation.
• Experience developing employee experience, engagement, or organizational effectiveness strategies.
• Experience building consultative HR service models.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
Commensurate with experience with a salary range of $140,000-$160,000
Hours per week
40+ Work schedule varies; primarily Monday through Friday.
Review Date
August 31, 2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
Advertised: August 10, 2026
Applications close:
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