Virginia Tech
Senior Director for Strategy and Operations
🇺🇸 Blacksburg, VA
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $165K - $200K
💻 Human Resources
🗓️ November 6th, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
Virginia Tech is hiring a Senior Director for Strategy and Operations. The role involves leading HR strategic planning, managing key operational functions including project portfolio management, budget, and communications, and playing a central role in the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The Senior Director will lead a cross-functional team and collaborate closely with university leadership to advance HR initiatives and operational excellence.
Highlights
- Lead HR strategic plan development and execution in partnership with CHRO and senior leadership.
- Manage a team of process improvement specialists, project coordinators, and a project manager.
- Oversee project portfolio management, continuous improvement efforts, and ERP system implementation focusing on HR and Finance modules.
- Supervise budget, financial operations, space management, and communications within the HR division.
- Required qualifications include HR leadership experience, bachelor’s degree, strategic project management success, and strong communication and consensus-building skills.
- Preferred qualifications include professional HR certifications (PHR/SPHR or SHRM), advanced degrees, experience in HR talent portfolios, change management certification, and familiarity with HR IT systems.
- Salary range is $165,000 to $200,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
- The position reports to the Vice President for Human Resources/CHRO and supports university-wide HR transformation initiatives.
- Involves collaboration with multiple departments and campus stakeholders to ensure alignment with the "OneHR" model.
- Exempt appointment with a 40-hour work week and requires a criminal conviction check.
Senior Director for Strategy and Operations Full Description
Job Description
Virginia Tech is seeking a dynamic HR leader with demonstrated expertise in strategy, operations, and change leadership. Reporting to the Vice President for Human Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), the Senior Director will play a pivotal role in advancing the university’s HR strategic plan while overseeing key operational functions and project portfolio management across the division.
The Senior Director will lead a team that includes process improvement specialists, project coordinators, and a project manager. As part of the senior HR leadership team, this leader will also oversee budget and financial operations, space management, and communications. Over time, the portfolio may expand to include additional functions such as learning & development and recruitment, offering opportunities for continued leadership growth.
Over the past seven years, Human Resources at Virginia Tech has transformed—implementing seven new systems, launching centers of excellence, and establishing a successful business partner model. Building on this foundation, the Senior Director will help elevate a strong HR organization to the next level by strengthening strategic planning, project portfolio management, and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the CHRO and senior HR leadership team to develop and execute the HR strategic plan. Translate strategy into a prioritized project portfolio, drive accountability, and ensure timely, effective delivery with measurable impact.
• HR Leadership: Manage and develop professionals across strategic and operational areas, including process improvement, project coordination, finance, and communications. Build trusted relationships within HR and across campus to ensure alignment, secure stakeholder buy-in, and champion the “OneHR” model.
• Project & Process Management: Oversee HR strategic projects and continuous improvement efforts. Collaborate with process specialists, project coordinators, and project managers to advance HR and IT-related initiatives.
• ERP Implementation: Serve as a key HR leader in the selection and implementation of Virginia Tech’s new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, focusing on HR and Finance modules over a 3–5 year period. Provide strategic oversight and alignment for HR’s role, ensuring priorities, resources, and business processes are fully represented and integrated. Partner closely with functional and technical HR leads to coordinate change management, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
The Senior Director will lead a team that includes process improvement specialists, project coordinators, and a project manager. As part of the senior HR leadership team, this leader will also oversee budget and financial operations, space management, and communications. Over time, the portfolio may expand to include additional functions such as learning & development and recruitment, offering opportunities for continued leadership growth.
Over the past seven years, Human Resources at Virginia Tech has transformed—implementing seven new systems, launching centers of excellence, and establishing a successful business partner model. Building on this foundation, the Senior Director will help elevate a strong HR organization to the next level by strengthening strategic planning, project portfolio management, and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the CHRO and senior HR leadership team to develop and execute the HR strategic plan. Translate strategy into a prioritized project portfolio, drive accountability, and ensure timely, effective delivery with measurable impact.
• HR Leadership: Manage and develop professionals across strategic and operational areas, including process improvement, project coordination, finance, and communications. Build trusted relationships within HR and across campus to ensure alignment, secure stakeholder buy-in, and champion the “OneHR” model.
• Project & Process Management: Oversee HR strategic projects and continuous improvement efforts. Collaborate with process specialists, project coordinators, and project managers to advance HR and IT-related initiatives.
• ERP Implementation: Serve as a key HR leader in the selection and implementation of Virginia Tech’s new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, focusing on HR and Finance modules over a 3–5 year period. Provide strategic oversight and alignment for HR’s role, ensuring priorities, resources, and business processes are fully represented and integrated. Partner closely with functional and technical HR leads to coordinate change management, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
Required Qualifications
• Demonstrated HR leadership experience with a proven ability to drive change in complex organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field.
• Proven success leading strategic projects in HR or a related discipline.
• Substantial leadership experience in business, healthcare, government, or higher education at a comparable scale and complexity.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and consensus-building skills, with an innovative and collaborative leadership style.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field.
• Proven success leading strategic projects in HR or a related discipline.
• Substantial leadership experience in business, healthcare, government, or higher education at a comparable scale and complexity.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and consensus-building skills, with an innovative and collaborative leadership style.
Preferred Qualifications
• Professional HR certification (PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SCP).
• Advanced degree in human resources or a related field.
• Experience as an HR practitioner and/or leadership in the HR talent portfolio (learning and development, recruitment, etc.).
• Certification in Change Management (Prosci or related).
• Demonstrated experience with multiple HR-related IT systems.
• Advanced degree in human resources or a related field.
• Experience as an HR practitioner and/or leadership in the HR talent portfolio (learning and development, recruitment, etc.).
• Certification in Change Management (Prosci or related).
• Demonstrated experience with multiple HR-related IT systems.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
Commensurate with experience with a salary range of $165,000-$200,000 per year
Hours per week
40
Review Date
December 3, 2025
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Marisela Garza at garza87@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
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