What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Talent Acquisition and Employee Learning and Development position at William Paterson University?
Thank you for your interest in working at William Paterson University.
We invite you to join William Paterson University: a wonderful community to learn, work, grow, and thrive. William Paterson University has been named to Forbes’ prestigious “Best Employers by State” list for 2024, recognizing the institution as one of the best-ranked employers in New Jersey based on nationwide surveys. WP is one of four education institutions on the Garden State’s list this year. Here is the link to the article forbes-best-in-state-employers-new-jersey-2024. William Paterson University is among more than 40 companies and organizations that will be honored with a 2024 NJBIZ Empowering Women Award for their commitment to supporting and elevating women employees.
William Paterson University employs approximately 1000 full time employees in the state who work in a variety of positions ranging from professors to administrative assistants and administrators, physical plant operations, campus police, athletics coaches, academic advisors, and more. William Paterson University supports a remote friendly hybrid work schedule for this role. William Paterson also boasts a four-day summer work week from mid-May to mid-August (Fridays off), during which all employees participate in our award-winning Summer Learning series.
Spanning more than 400 wooded acres in suburban Wayne, New Jersey – just 20 miles from New York City – our campus is one of the most diverse in the nation and it ranks in the top 4 percent of colleges for social mobility. William Paterson is a strong proponent of employees growing their careers there. More than fifty percent of the University’s roles are filled by promotions from within. We’re not only committed to social mobility for our students, but also for our employees.
Your work as a member of our team is important to our students and to the progress of our University. What you do here matters, and we value every contribution.
The Director of Learning & Development and Talent Acquisition is a pivotal leadership role responsible for designing and executing an integrated talent management strategy. This position ensures the institution attracts, develops, and retains top-tier talent, aligning its workforce strategy with long-term organizational objectives. The Director will lead efforts to cultivate a robust learning culture, enhance the institution’s employer brand, and establish a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP). Through strategic collaboration with the Vice President of Human Resources and other leaders, this role drives workforce excellence, builds leadership capacity, and positions the institution as an employer of choice in higher education.
Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, this position supports the strategic and tactical aspects of a seamless, fully integrated University-wide search and selection process for internal and external searches for faculty, non-faculty professional staff, managers, and University leadership positions. This position also oversees civil service competitive and non-competitive search and selection at William Paterson University for both internal and external candidates.
This position works in collaboration with the University divisions, including the Budget Office and Academic Affairs, hiring managers, and search committee members for both internal and external talent acquisition. This position, together with a support staff, is dedicated to providing timely guidance and assistance to managers, employees, and applicants to ensure an equitable search and selection process that adheres to the University’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
This position also supports a culture dedicated to continuous process improvement, robust organizational effectiveness, and results oriented internal advancement and succession planning by providing consultative guidance to leaders in support of university organizational goals aby by collaborating with leaders who seek assistance with individual employee, team, and organizational performance. The position offers consultation and supports organizational development.
Key Responsibilities:
Talent Acquisition Strategy and Leadership:
- Develop and lead a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy to attract and retain top faculty, staff, and leadership talent aligned with institutional goals.
- Collaborate with department leaders to proactively forecast hiring needs and create tailored recruitment plans.
- Oversee end-to-end recruitment processes, ensuring they reflect the institution’s mission, culture, and values.
- Establish and nurture external recruitment partnerships and professional networks to maintain a strong talent pipeline.
- Use data-driven insights to continuously optimize sourcing, selection, and onboarding practices.
Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and Employer Branding
- Define and promote a compelling EVP that highlights the institution’s unique culture, career opportunities, and commitment to professional growth.
- Strategically position the institution as a preferred employer through targeted recruitment marketing, campus events, and digital outreach.
- Ensure consistent messaging and alignment of EVP across all candidate touchpoints, from job postings to onboarding.
- Partner with the VP of HR to align the EVP with the institution’s broader strategic goals and workforce priorities.
Learning and Development Leadership
- Lead the design and implementation of forward-thinking learning and development programs focused on leadership, skill-building, and career progression.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning by aligning development initiatives with strategic institutional priorities.
- Measure and analyze the impact of training programs using performance metrics, employee feedback, and organizational outcomes.
- Build partnerships across departments to ensure learning initiatives support evolving workforce needs.
Onboarding and Employee Engagement
- Oversee and enhance the institution’s onboarding experience, ensuring new hires are seamlessly integrated into the organization and positioned for long-term success.
- Drive initiatives to engage employees, promote career development opportunities, and strengthen retention.
- Ensure the onboarding process reinforces the EVP and institutional culture, enhancing the employee experience from day one.
Collaboration with HR Leadership
- Partner with the VP of HR to integrate recruitment, development, and retention strategies with broader HR and organizational objectives.
- Collaborate with department leaders on talent planning, succession strategies, and leadership pipeline development.
- Support the institution’s DEI initiatives by embedding inclusive practices into all aspects of recruitment and employee development.
Data-Driven Decision Making and Reporting
- Leverage data analytics to assess the effectiveness of recruitment, branding, and learning programs.
- Provide regular insights and recommendations to senior leadership on workforce trends, recruitment metrics, and development outcomes.
- Identify and address gaps in talent management processes to drive continuous improvement.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Lead efforts to ensure recruitment and development initiatives are inclusive, equitable, and reflective of the institution’s values.
- Implement strategies to promote diverse hiring practices and foster an inclusive workplace environment.
- Actively engage in creating policies and programs that enhance access and opportunity for all employees.
Compliance and Policy Oversight
- Ensure recruitment, learning, and development programs comply with institutional policies, employment laws, and regulatory guidelines.
- Stay informed on evolving trends, laws, and regulations to keep the institution at the forefront of HR best practices.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
Experience: 3-5 years in talent acquisition and/or learning & development in progressively responsible roles.
Skills:
- Proven ability to design and implement strategic recruitment and development programs.
- Ability to create an Employee Value Proposition and employer brand.
- Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Analytical acumen with experience using HRIS and ATS tools for data-driven decision-making.
- Deep commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Strategic Competencies:
Visionary Leadership: Proactively align workforce strategies with institutional priorities to support long-term success.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build strong relationships with leadership, faculty, and staff to achieve organizational goals.
Results-Driven: Leverage metrics and analytics to enhance recruitment outcomes, employee engagement, and development effectiveness.
Change Leadership: Drive innovation in talent acquisition and learning to meet the dynamic needs of a modern workforce.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build strong relationships with leadership, faculty, and staff to achieve organizational goals.
Results-Driven: Leverage metrics and analytics to enhance recruitment outcomes, employee engagement, and development effectiveness.
Change Leadership: Drive innovation in talent acquisition and learning to meet the dynamic needs of a modern workforce.
This role is instrumental in shaping the institution’s workforce strategy and cultivating an engaged, high-performing team. The Director will not only enhance operational efficiency but also ensure the institution remains competitive and aligned with the evolving landscape of higher education.
Invitation to apply
Interested candidates will be prompted to complete an application and submit a cover letter.
Submission of all documents listed is required for consideration.
Please upload all documentation where prompted to upload your resume.
General questions related to this application process, please contact talent@wpunj.edu.
General questions related to this application process, please contact talent@wpunj.edu.
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EEO Statement
William Paterson University is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race or ethnicity, sex/gender (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, civil union status, familial status, religion, national origin or citizenship, military service status, or any other category protected by law. William Paterson University does not discriminate on the basis of any category stated above or as prohibited by applicable law. Individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
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