Director of Staff Affairs (Hybrid)
Apply NowCompany: Virginia Jobs
Location: Charlottesville, VA 22903
Description:
Are you passionate about shaping an exceptional workplace culture? Do you excel in a leadership role where you can make a lasting impact on staff experience, development, and recognition? The College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (A&S) at the University of Virginia is seeking a creative and strategic leader to serve as Director of Staff Affairs.
About the Role
As the Director of Staff Affairs, you will play a pivotal role in creating a "destination team"-a place where staff feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. You will work closely with senior leadership to create and implement a dynamic vision for staff experience, professional development, and recognition. You will also lead efforts to standardize and enhance staff-related processes, ensuring a fair, consistent, and engaging work environment.
This is a high-impact leadership position that offers the opportunity to shape the future of staff affairs at A&S, driving initiatives that enhance staff engagement, retention, and growth. You will report to the Associate Dean and Chief of Staff and collaborate closely with the UVA HR Business Partners.
Key Responsibilities
We're seeking a leader with a passion for people operations, strategic leadership, and workplace culture. The ideal candidate will bring:
This role is a chance to make a meaningful difference in the professional lives of A&S staff. You'll be part of a prestigious academic institution that values innovation, inclusivity, and excellence. You'll work with talented colleagues and senior leaders who are committed to fostering an environment where staff can thrive and excel.
If you're a strategic leader who wants to build a supportive, inspiring, and high-performing workplace, we invite you to apply.
Qualifications:
Salary and title are commensurate with education and experience. This is an Exempt level, benefited position. For information on the benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
Preference will be given to applications received by March 31, 2025. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
To Apply:
Apply here. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs.' Complete an application online with the following documents:
CV
Cover letter
Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.
References will be completed via UVA's standardized process Skill Survey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.
For questions about the application process, please contact Melanie Sponaugle, Academic Recruiter, at unw5dq@virginia.edu.
For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/.
The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.
About the Role
As the Director of Staff Affairs, you will play a pivotal role in creating a "destination team"-a place where staff feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. You will work closely with senior leadership to create and implement a dynamic vision for staff experience, professional development, and recognition. You will also lead efforts to standardize and enhance staff-related processes, ensuring a fair, consistent, and engaging work environment.
This is a high-impact leadership position that offers the opportunity to shape the future of staff affairs at A&S, driving initiatives that enhance staff engagement, retention, and growth. You will report to the Associate Dean and Chief of Staff and collaborate closely with the UVA HR Business Partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Create a Thriving Workplace: Develop programs, policies, and initiatives that foster a positive, engaging, and equitable work culture for staff in A&S.
- Champion Professional Growth: Lead efforts in professional development, mentoring, and career advancement to empower staff and support their long-term success.
- Manage & Optimize School Process: Oversee staff-related processes, including authorizing staff hiring, promotions, and job changes, and operationalizing annual activities, such as performance evaluation, within A&S.
- Strengthen Partnerships: Work closely with A&S teams and HR Business Partners to ensure staff support aligns with A&S's values and objectives.
- Enhance Communication & Transparency: Keep staff informed and engaged by clearly communicating policies, programs, and initiatives that directly affect their experience in A&S.
- Utilize Data to Drive Impact: Use data and staff feedback to make informed decisions that enhance the overall staff experience and guide leadership actions.
- Advance Rewards and Recognition : Develop and administer rewards and recognition programs to honor staff achievements and contributions to the school's success
We're seeking a leader with a passion for people operations, strategic leadership, and workplace culture. The ideal candidate will bring:
- Innovative Thinking & Strong Execution - A creative problem-solver who not only generates ideas to enhance staff experience but also has the drive and skills to implement them effectively. This role requires both big-picture strategic thinking and hands-on execution to turn ideas into impactful programs and policies.
- Leadership & Relationship-Building Skills - Ability to inspire trust, foster collaboration, and cultivate a supportive work environment.
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement - A commitment to refining processes, enhancing staff engagement, and driving meaningful change.
- Strategic & Analytical Thinking - Ability to assess challenges, develop solutions, and leverage data for decision-making.
- Strong Communication & Change Management Abilities - Skilled in translating complex policies into clear, accessible messaging.
- Confidentiality & Professionalism - A high level of confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive staff matters.
This role is a chance to make a meaningful difference in the professional lives of A&S staff. You'll be part of a prestigious academic institution that values innovation, inclusivity, and excellence. You'll work with talented colleagues and senior leaders who are committed to fostering an environment where staff can thrive and excel.
If you're a strategic leader who wants to build a supportive, inspiring, and high-performing workplace, we invite you to apply.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, or related discipline required
- 8 or more years of related experience required. Four additional years of relevant level experience may substitute for a degree.
- Ten or more years relevant experience strongly preferred, with at least 5 years in a leadership position.
- Experience overseeing, people operations, or personnel programs at complex organizations strongly preferred.
- Experience in higher education preferred.
Salary and title are commensurate with education and experience. This is an Exempt level, benefited position. For information on the benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
Preference will be given to applications received by March 31, 2025. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
To Apply:
Apply here. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs.' Complete an application online with the following documents:
CV
Cover letter
Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.
References will be completed via UVA's standardized process Skill Survey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.
For questions about the application process, please contact Melanie Sponaugle, Academic Recruiter, at unw5dq@virginia.edu.
For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/.
The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.