Director, Human Resources Operations

Role Summary

The Director, Human Resources Operations is a key Human Resources leader who partners closely with the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to lead the execution of strategic and operational HR priorities across Howard University Hospital. This position provides leadership for key HR operations, workforce compliance, employee relations, employee relations support, organizational effectiveness, and process improvement initiatives while helping to drive a culture of accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement. The Director plays a critical role in supporting the Hospital's transformation by developing scalable HR infrastructure, strengthening operational controls, enhancing workforce practices, and ensuring the effective delivery of HR services in a highly unionized academic healthcare environment.

What You’ll Do

• Directs all HR Operations functions, ensuring the effective administration of personnel actions, employee records, transactions, audits, and regulatory compliance.
• Directs all HR Operations functions, ensuring the effective administration of personnel actions, employee records, transactions, audits, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversees Employee Health operations and collaborates with clinical and operational leaders to ensure compliance with occupational health, licensure, vaccination, fitness-for-duty, and regulatory requirements.
• Establishes, documents, and continuously improves HR standard operating procedures (SOPs), policies, and operational workflows to support organizational turnaround and process standardization initiatives.
• Conducts and oversees complex employee relations investigations involving policy violations, workplace misconduct, harassment, discrimination, and labor-related concerns, ensuring fair, timely, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Partners with labor relations leadership and operational leaders to ensure consistent application of collective bargaining agreements and effective management within a highly unionized environment.
• Leads HR compliance efforts, including personnel file audits, documentation standards, Joint Commission readiness, regulatory inspections, and corrective action plans.
• Serves as a key leader in organizational culture transformation initiatives by promoting accountability, service excellence, employee engagement, leadership effectiveness and a Just Culture philosophy.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Organizational Development, Public Administration, or a related field required
• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Labor Relations, or related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, including leadership responsibility for HR operations, employee relations, compliance, leave administration, and policy development.
• Healthcare experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of management experience leading HR teams and multiple functional areas.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP preferred.
• Labor Relations, Employee Relations, or Healthcare HR certifications desirable.
• Experience working in a highly unionized environment required.
• Experience leading organizational change, workforce transformation, and culture improvement initiatives preferred.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing SOPs, policies, compliance programs, and operational controls.
• Experience managing sensitive, high-risk employee investigations required.

What We Offer

• A mission-driven environment rooted in over 150 years of excellence, service, and advocacy for the communities we serve
• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans including health, disability, vacation, sick leave, and 403(b) retirement plan
• Ability to influence leaders through change while balancing operational excellence with exceptional customer service

About Howard University Hospital

Howard University Hospital (HUH) is the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically Black university. With a legacy dating back to 1862 — when it operated as Freedmen’s Hospital, providing care and refuge to those who had been denied it elsewhere — HUH has grown into one of the most comprehensive healthcare facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and is a designated DC Level 1 Trauma Center. Today, HUH continues its proud tradition of delivering exemplary, patient-centered, and culturally responsive care to the community, while providing exceptional learning and professional development opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Position Details

• Department: Human Resources
• Reports To: Chief Human Resources Officer
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Schedule: Full-Time | Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Pay & Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary range: $145,000 – $175,000 annually , commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Compliance Statements

• Culture of Care: Howard University Hospital supports a Just Culture that promotes accountability, learning, and patient safety.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: Howard University Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law.
• Reasonable Accommodation: Howard University Hospital is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Department at View email address on click.appcast.io .
• Pay Transparency: Salary ranges listed in job postings reflect the expected compensation range for the position and are provided in accordance with applicable pay transparency laws. Final compensation is determined based on experience, education, internal equity, and other relevant factors.
• Disclaimer: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position.