Description
Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President for Human Resources
Syracuse University
Syracuse University “Syracuse” is a private research university in Syracuse, New York, and a major academic and civic institution in Central New York. The University employs more than 7,400 faculty and staff across its schools, colleges, and administrative units. Syracuse is entering an important period of academic investment and operational renewal as the regional labor market becomes increasingly competitive and complex.
Syracuse seeks an accomplished, mission-driven executive to serve as its next Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President for Human Resources (“CPO/SVPHR”). Reporting directly to Chancellor Mike Haynie and serving as a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, the CPO/SVPHR will serve as the University’s chief architect of human capital strategy and organizational culture. The leader will have responsibility for talent acquisition and development, total rewards and compensation strategy, labor and employee relations, organizational development and change management, HR technology and data analytics, and the advancement of a high-performance culture where faculty and staff can do their best work and thrive.
This is a builder’s role for a forward-looking people leader who is willing to take on complex issues directly and lead meaningful change. A key priority will be elevating Syracuse’s labor and employee relations operations, including collective bargaining, grievance resolution, and productive relationships with union leadership. The CPO/SVPHR will also bring a progressive approach to talent in a competitive Central New York labor market, connecting recruiting, development, succession, retention, and total rewards into a coherent strategy that strengthens Syracuse’s ability to attract and retain exceptional faculty and staff.
The CPO/SVPHR will lead through a combination of influence, sound judgment, purposeful relationship-building, and deep functional expertise. The leader will reinforce a solutions-oriented HR culture, assessing systems, processes, service delivery, rewards strategies, and employee development and retention opportunities, while removing unnecessary complexity and duplication. Technology, data, and the responsible application of AI will be important enablers of this work. The successful candidate will be a pragmatic, solutions-oriented partner who can work effectively across a decentralized institution to find a path forward, balance decisiveness with empathy, and build a more connected employee experience across faculty and staff.
Syracuse and Central New York are experiencing significant economic momentum, with growth across healthcare, advanced manufacturing, technology, and higher education. Major investment in the region is expected to increase competition for skilled talent in the years ahead, making contemporary workforce strategy, a compelling employee value proposition, and a responsive HR function increasingly important to the University’s continued success.
Syracuse University has retained Korn Ferry to assist with this search. All nominations, inquiries, and application materials should be submitted in confidence to Korn Ferry. The search will continue until the position is filled. Applications should include a detailed curriculum vitae and a letter of interest highlighting the applicant’s relevant leadership experience. To ensure full consideration, inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically in confidence, by October 23rd, to:
The expected base salary range for this position is $415,000-$500,000. Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
