Director of Client Services

Job Summary

The Director, Client Services will oversee a dynamic team of HR Partners (HRPs) to serve our Athletics department at the university. This individual will co-define the talent strategy for the client group and enable their HR Partners to function as effective thought partners and key advisors to units on organizational and workforce strategies. This is a hands-on role that will work across the HR function to ensure the team of HR Partners is equipped with current data, analytics, policy, and industry knowledge to effectively serve the client. The Director, Client Services will apply leading HR practices and deep domain knowledge to ensure their team is equipped with tools and strategic guidance needed to transform business strategies and goals into talent solutions that improve the employee experience and achieve business goals. This role will help enable USC’s mission and vision while championing USC’s culture and values.

Preferred Qualifications

• The ideal candidate for the position of Director, Client Services has the following qualifications:
• Advanced degree in business administration, organizational design and development, psychology, human resources, industrial relations, or related field.
• Twelve or more years of experience in one or more of the following fields: human resources, human capital management, HR employee and labor relations or talent management.
• Experience in higher education and/or serving in a consultative role directly advising business leaders.
• Six or more years of experience leading teams in a management or leadership role.
• Knowledge of industry trends and leading practices in HR client service methodologies including serving as a data-driven problem solver, influencing at all levels, and serving as a trusted coach and independent voice.
• Proven experience creating business and action plans transforming the HR Partner role from a tactical to strategic HR service provider.
• Ability to interface with all levels of the organization, influence decision makers and set and manage expectations.
• Developed client-relationship management skills, along with demonstrated experience in developing consultative relationships with leaders.
• Ability to successfully work in a consensus decision-making environment.
• Developed team-based management style with the ability to drive change while maintaining an ethical, equitable, consistent, and team-focused work environment.
• Ability to mentor and develop staff by outlining goals, objectives, implementing support (e.g., teaching) and performance measures and encouraging continuous learning, realignment, and training.
• Ability to enhance and apply strategic initiatives in daily operations, providing guidance and support, as necessary.
• Experience in a unionized environment.
• Familiarity with NCAA and Big 10 Conference regulations.
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP), Organization Development Certified Professional Program (ODCP), Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional/Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP), Professional in Human Resources/Senior Professional in Human Resources (PHR/SPHR) or other similar certifications.

Job Responsibilities

• The candidate for the position of Director, Client Services will be responsible for:
• Understanding and applying human resources leading practices and key data to contribute to the client unit’s near and long-term strategies and goals. Possessing an understanding of the strategic role of HR Partners in enabling a unit’s strategy and goals. Applying a deep knowledge of HR client services, employee relations, talent management, compensation, learning and development, organizational development, and design, change management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion to guide the HR client services team in providing strategic direction to units.
• Demonstrating credibility and workforce strategy and analytics expertise in all interactions with client unit leadership. Demonstrating a broad understanding of units’ business needs and delivering forward-thinking, world-class HR support for those needs. Understanding the value in and driving the use of people analytics to enable data-driven decision making.
• Defining the HR and people strategy for the client unit they oversee based on leading industry practices and talent/organizational data. Equipping HR team with tools necessary to function as an outstanding strategic advisor. Working with HR centers of expertise to establish a plan to transform the in-unit HR role from a tactical to strategic HR service provider including the design/implementation of assessments, gap analysis, up-skilling/learning initiatives, and communications plans for units. Emphasizing the importance of service excellence by interweaving it into project details, measurements and development and training of the team. Interacting regularly with stakeholders to collect feedback and ascertain ways to continually improve client services delivered. Creating HR systems and business processes with stakeholders and customers in mind. Meeting deliverables according to planned deadlines.
• Working closely with HR Partners to ensure stakeholder buy-in for processes and strategies. Effectively communicating and presenting to stakeholders of various levels in the organization. Engaging with HR leaders to stay up to date on areas of expertise, changes in policy, etc. Consistently communicating with direct reports as well as HR customers to understand existing challenges and areas of opportunity. Gathering structured feedback from HR customers to enhance programs and ensure consistency in approach. Providing feedback to the HR Solution Center regarding transactional services and knowledge content provided for purposes of continuous improvement.
• Maintaining regular touchpoints with centers of expertise to ensure HR Partners are equipped with relevant and current data, analytics, policy, and industry knowledge to effectively serve their clients. Providing innovative guidance and recommendations to unit leaders based on HR leading practices and data. Continuously upgrading knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to keep abreast of regulation/policy changes.
• Overseeing a team of designated HR Partners and providing strategic direction and leadership. Partnering with HR customers, unit leaders, and HR Partners to define learning, career mobility opportunities and develop succession plans. Employing high ethical and equitable management standards, creating a high performing, and engaged team. Continuing to develop objectivity and critical-thinking skills to make sound judgments based on keen analysis, leading practices, and an understanding of desired outcomes. When necessary, escalating HR issues in a timely manner.
• Integrating USC’s unifying values including integrity and accountability throughout all organizational and HR practices. Developing credible relationships from demonstrated ethical judgment, behavior, and practiced confidentiality. Promoting an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold principles of the USC culture and values including Code of Ethics.
• Disseminating unit, university and HR strategies to the unit HR team and discussing key elements and individual responsibilities to deliver on the strategies. Establishing near and long-term HR strategies and goals within the HR community and related units to achieve desired outcomes. Analyzing current and anticipated conditions and limitations that may affect ability to achieve strategic outcomes. Reassigning staff responsibility as needed to avoid challenges or roadblocks to success. Demonstrating, through words, actions, and ideas, alignment to USC’s strategic plan and the HR organization’s strategic plan. Enabling the university to fulfill its academic and people missions through enhanced HR service.
• Performing other related responsibilities as requested and when necessary. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Required Documents and Additional Information

Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.

The annual base salary range for this position is $160,000 - $180,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer