People & Talent Business Partner

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities

• Fosters and builds trusted advisor relationships with assigned business leaders.

• Manages complex People & Talent projects and practices cross-organizationally, including competency model, talent assessment, succession planning, employee engagement, career development, talent management, talent development, change management, and performance management.

• Analyzes trends and metrics in partnership with the People & Talent team to develop solutions, programs, and policies.

• Works closely with business leaders to improve working relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention.

• Partners with business leaders to manage culture and enhance employee experience.

• Facilitates group learning activities and ad hoc leadership discussions to build leadership competencies.

• Provides guidance and input on restructures, workforce planning, talent selection, and leadership acquisition.

• Identifies employee and leadership development gaps and collaborates with the People & Talent Learning Team to identify plans to close gaps.

• Participates in operational and strategic business department meetings with senior leadership.

• Conducts effective, confidential, thorough, and objective investigations to manage and resolve employee relations issues.

• Maintains in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of people, reducing legal risk, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

• Leads people initiatives to ensure clear understanding, articulation of, and application of initiative.

• Represents business group priorities and initiatives to People & Talent leadership to ensure solid understanding of business group challenges and deliverables.

• Contributes to the continuous improvement of People & Talent processes, policies, and procedures.

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

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Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of employment law and other state and federal compliance regulations.
• Comprehensive understanding of People & Talent policies, processes, and procedures and ability to apply them to people situations.
• Ability to make recommendations to effectively resolve problems or issues using sound judgment and problem-solving skills consistent with university philosophy and within applicable legal parameters.
• Ability to objectively and effectively coach employees and people leaders through complex, difficult, and emotional issues within a diverse organization.
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across departments and with all levels of individuals.
• Self-starter who takes initiative, is inquisitive, seeks out information, self-engages, and achieves results based on established goals.
• Clear, effective communicator with exceptional and persuasive oral and written communication skills.
• Superior interpersonal skills and professional presence with significant capacity to engage, inspire, develop, and influence.
• Demonstrated results in innovation and the ability to inspire creative thinking, new ideas, new ways of accomplishing tasks, and creating results.
• Strong business acumen.
• Excellent organizational skills, along with the ability to set and meet goals and priorities.
• Proven track record of making and implementing tough decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to apply Excel and other data management and analysis tools in researching and analyzing various types of data.
• Consistently exhibits Leadership Principles and Cultural Beliefs.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business, Interdisciplinary Studies, or a related field.

Experience

• 7 years of related experience, with at least three years of direct client group and leader support as a generalist or business partner.
• Experience working with HRIS systems, Applicant Tracking Systems, and Performance Management Systems.
• Experience and broad knowledge of agile operations and project management.

Experience in lieu of education

Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of project management.
• Broad understanding of Change Management methodologies.
• Human Resources Certification (PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP).

Travel

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.