Associate Director, Human Resources

Associate Director, Human ResourcesThe Human Resources team for Business Affairs is responsible for providing strategic HR guidance and consulting for the staff, management and leadership within the Business Affairs organization. Financial Management Services (FMS) is a part of the Stanford University Business Affairs organization, whose vision is "to work together to make administration seamless and efficient to enable and support teaching, learning, and research." The Business Affairs HR team seeks an experienced Associate Director, Human Resources who is both a trusted advisor and a hands-on program leader, partnering with the FMS senior leadership team, including the Senior Associate Vice President (SAVP) of Finance and the SAVP's direct reports, to turn workforce strategy into HR programs that work. Working side by side with FMS leaders, the Associate Director advises on people matters, ensures compliance with university HR policies, refines processes, and leads programs and HR initiatives across organizational design, career architecture, talent development, and compensation. FMS is navigating significant workforce transformation, driven by evolving work processes, including AI adoption. The ideal candidate brings depth across the HR disciplines, strong talent management experience (recruiting, performance management, talent development, workforce and succession planning), experience designing and launching people programs such as career frameworks, organizational design and workforce plans, and the credibility to influence senior stakeholders. This role operates with a high degree of independence and supervises an HR Business Partner who manages day-to-day operations for FMS.Core duties:Serve as the trusted HR advisor and thought partner to the FMS SAVP and leadership team, building a deep understanding of the organization's objectives, issues, needs, and key success factors.Partner with FMS leadership to translate the workforce plan into HR frameworks and programs, and track its success.Serve as subject matter expert and project/team lead for strategic HR initiatives, programs, processes, and policies.Lead implementation of HR programs and processes in FMS.Provide expert specialized HR knowledge to managers and senior leadership, and provide specialized knowledge, research, data analytics, and reporting to support and inform decision-making.Partner with UHR functions and Centers of Excellence on initiatives and services, or to solve problems. Suggest efficiencies and process improvement opportunities.Provide guidance and mentorship to junior HR team members as needed.Maintain consistency with, support, and promote Stanford HR policies, procedures, and requirements, and applicable laws.Minimum Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree and 10 years of relevant human resources experience or combination of education and relevant experience.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Technical competencies: Strong HCM/ATS experience and proficiency with business applications, Microsoft Office suite, Google suite, etc. Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive issues with professionalism, confidentiality, and care. Experience leading an HR initiative/program.Trust and Accountability: Understands the link between own job responsibilities and overall organizational goals and needs. Accepts responsibility for all outcomes of own work. Looks beyond the requirements of own job to offer suggestions for improvements of overall organizational operations. Takes ownership of job responsibilities, seeks and integrates feedback, and communicates proactively when assistance is needed or issues to expected timelines arise. Cooperates and works to gain support and commitment from others when performing tasks. Develops trusting relationships with others within and outside of the team through strong communication, collaboration and accountability. Demonstrates behaviors that are consistent with standards for professional and ethical conduct.Operational and Organizational Insights: Considers organization's capabilities, mission, vision, values, and strategic goals and objectives in work efforts. Knows capabilities, capacities and constraints of the organization. Reviews external information and news to learn about political and social issues that might affect the organization. Knows both when and how to effectively escalate issues that warrant immediate attention. Understands relevant policies and procedures and their integration in work activities. Utilizes network to collaborate on issues requiring specific influence or expertise. Analyzes data to make sound decisions and explores opportunities to integrate technology into HR processes and services.Customer Focus: Works to gain insights into customer needs. Balancing the needs of customer expectations and delivering on solutions. Establishes and maintains effective customer relationships. Reliably resolves customer issues and requests fully and quickly. Leverages customer point-of-view when identifying priorities and presenting solutions. Sets expectations for delivery and quality with customers. Articulates impacts to customers completely and in a timely fashion.Communication: Always demonstrates empathetic, attentive listening. Asks thought-provoking questions to peers and superiors to clarify and align understanding. Regularly checks for understanding. Takes action based on understanding. Expertly demonstrates understanding of audience by custom-tailoring messaging and style. Engages audience effectively. Adjusts style and messaging on the fly if necessary. Helpful and timely when providing information.Collaborative Problem Solving: Effectively and reliably solves problems. Consistently delivers high-quality work products on time in the field of service, while effectively solving problems and developing new technical skills for personal and team benefit. Demonstrates proficiency in solving problems requiring a developed understanding of disciplines, using judgment to provide solutions of moderate scope and complexity. Actively contributes to team goals by providing ideas, participating in team activities, and resolving conflicts positively and constructively. Coordinates efforts with stakeholders early and often to ensure awareness, share information, and provide updates until completion. Builds effective networks across teams and departments, identifying when to escalate issues to senior professionals.Courage: Draws sound, fact-based conclusions, particularly when under pressure or faced with ambiguity. Demonstrates ability to influence others when appropriate. Anticipates impact to projects and/or work when there is a shift in strategic direction. Remains calm and focused, maintaining composure, when things are uncertain. Develops scenarios or options in response to uncertain conditions to anticipate possible outcomes. Shifts gears when presented with new information, priorities, and/or direction. Works to achieve task or project outcomes even when the complete picture or scope is unknown.Exhibiting Leadership: Evaluating the organization's readiness for change through surveys, interviews, and assessments. Making informed decisions based on data, analysis, and consultation with relevant stakeholders. Offering coaching and support to managers and leaders to help them effectively lead their teams through change. Providing support and resources to help employees adapt to change and overcome resistance.Certificates and Licenses Required: SHRM-CP / PHR or specialized certification preferred (e.g., compensation, employee & labor relations, project management).Job Info:Pay Range Represents the job market pay range and may be adjusted depending on the geographic work location. $165,000-$180,000Pay Frequency AnnuallyFixed Term NStanford Schools and Units Office of Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial OfficerFull time or Part time Full TimeRegular or Temporary RegularJob Category Human Resources ServicesPosting Date 10/29/2026, 08:07 PMGrade The grade level indicates the position's classification within the organization's pay scale and responsibility structure. KJob Identification 201578