Job Description

The University System of Maryland (USM) seeks an accomplished and strategic leader to assume the critically important role of Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources to serve as the System’s Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). This is an exceptional opportunity for an innovative and forward-thinking executive to serve as an agile enabler of USM’s success in realizing the goals in the System’s strategic plan Vision 2030.

The University System of Maryland comprises 12 institutions, three regional higher educational centers, and a system office. It confers nearly eight in every ten bachelor’s degrees awarded in Maryland. It serves more than 170,000 students worldwide, with an operating budget of more than $7 billion and a collective employee base of over 40,000.

Reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, the CHRO provides primary oversight of USM labor, collective bargaining, and human resource functions. Serving as the enterprise leader for USM’s human resources strategy, this executive will bring an expansive current knowledge and future vision of leveraging human resources best practices to advance the institution and serve as a premier public employer. The CHRO collaborates with and directly engages with many key constituencies across the USM system, possesses a high degree of political acumen, instills confidence, and advances change across the organization.

The successful leader will be a highly driven executive with a demonstrated record of leading change, an innovative mindset, a strong vision for equity and inclusion, and collaborative management and communication skills. In addition, the CHRO will be skilled in influencing and encouraging constituents, colleagues, and leaders to promote ideas and advance change where authority may reside with others. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required, as is significant and progressively responsible leadership experience in human resources, labor relations, law, or policy, including management and supervisory experience, in a large, complex, and highly matrixed unionized environment. A master’s degree in human resources, business administration, law, or a related field, professional certification in the field of human resources, and prior experience in higher education are preferred.

The System’s Chief Human Resources Officer will be presented with the opportunity to achieve the following professional and personal accomplishments:

• Serve as a senior leader of one of the most respected systems of higher education in the country, whose reputation and resources have made it a national role model for the delivery of high-quality, affordable education.
• Assume accountability for developing competencies and functional expertise in the USM human resources organization.
• Work directly with a diverse and outstanding mix of USM campuses, presidents, and senior leaders who are each aligned with the achievement of the USM’s and the state’s collective goals.
• Regularly engage with and update the USM Board of Regents on matters such as collective bargaining, the appointment and compensation of senior leadership positions, and important trends and issues with the USM’s workforce.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile, which can be found at

WittKieffer is assisting the University System of Maryland in this search, which will remain open until an appointment is made. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

All nominations and inquiries can be directed to Sarah Palmer and Luis Bertot at: USM_CHRO@wittkieffer.com

The USM is an equal opportunity employer as to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, disability and other legally protected characteristics.

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