Job Details

The Assistant Dean of Human Resources for the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) is responsible for the strategic and operational direction of the human resource function within the college. This role directs the CNS Human Resource office and provides leadership to administrative support staff throughout CNS, the largest academic unit on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus. The Assistant Dean establishes and maintains collaborative working relationships with campus partners and has primary responsibility for developing, leading, and managing initiatives of strategic importance while maintaining a productive, compliant and positive workplace.

Essential Functions

• Identifies and creates immediate and long-term strategic plans for the CNS Human Resources function. Sets priorities and manages complex projects to continuously improve and advance the human resource function within the college.
• Manages and effectively leads a matrixed human resource department while partnering with central offices to ensure alignment with the University, central HR, and CNS. 
• Ensures consistent and timely communication regarding HR priorities and related information. Keeps CNS staff and faculty abreast of best practices, emerging and changing policies and regulations, and other development opportunities in alignment with the goals and needs of CNS.
• Identifies immediate and long-term staffing plans. Optimizes the organizational structure, increases effectiveness and efficiency. In collaboration with CNS Finance, develops staffing projections based on upcoming retirements, leaves, staffing patterns, succession plans, etc. Prioritizes new positions based on the strategic goals of the college. Makes recommendations to senior leadership and provides cost/benefit estimates.
• Advises senior leaders, managers and administration on all classification and compensation policies, guidelines, and procedures.  Supports faculty and staff recruitment, promotion, and tenure processes.  
• Establishes, maintains, and refines programing in support of employee onboarding, new leader assimilation, and employee development.      
• Manages compliance within the college as it relates to regulations and collective bargaining provisions. Develops and counsels managers how to identify, address and resolve employee issues. Advises managers regarding documentation processes for performance and/or other issues. Provides guidance on progressive discipline processes.
• In partnership with Central HR and Labor Relations, assists managers with conducting meetings to resolve grievances or employee complaints. Participates in due process hearings and conducts investigations as needed.
• Ensures managers have the tools and information needed to properly supervise employees. Provides advice on how to communicate work expectations, establish performance goals, and conduct performance appraisals.
• Designs and oversees the employee exit process including the strategic analysis of exit interview data for faculty and staff. Assesses trends, creates retention strategies, and provides recommendations to leadership with the goal of improving the employment life cycle.
• Conducts research; creates and hosts training, education sessions, and workshops. Collaborates with Workplace Learning and Development and the CNS Director of Faculty Development Programs to implement faculty and staff training/workshops.
• Provides leadership and guidance to ensure and support uniform compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, campus policies, practices, and procedures.
• Manages personnel deadlines for the college; establishes academic year schedule for the College Personnel Committee (CPC) and serves as an on-going resource for its members.
• Safeguards and maintains confidential personnel records on behalf of CNS. Has signatory authority.

Other Functions

• Understands responsibilities with respect to DEI, Title IX, Clery, and other compliance requirements. 
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.
• Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
• Works in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

About the College of Natural Sciences

The College of Natural Sciences (CNS) includes 13 departments and 2 schools, serves 7,000 plus undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students, and has a presence in 18 buildings on Campus. In addition, CNS is responsible for five research and education farms and 13 extension offices throughout Massachusetts. At any one time, CNS maintains approximately 2,200 employee appointments. Appointment types include tenure system faculty, part-time and full-time lecturers, permanent and temporary staff members, post-doctoral research associates, research fellows, graduate teaching assistants, and student employees.