Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Job Description

Nevada State University invites applications for the position of Associate Vice President of Human Resources (AVP-HR). Reporting directly to the Vice President of Finance and Business Operations, the AVP-HR serves as a strategic and participative leader in the critical role of planning, developing, and implementing quality-based HR programs and services for the University. The person will provide oversight and tactical hands‑on support for HR functions including talent acquisition, employee onboarding, training and development, performance management, labor and employee relations, TitleIX, EEO/AA, ADAAA, compensation and classification, workforce planning, HRIS/records management, Conflict of Interest, and Disability Compliance matters for the campus community. The person in this position is responsible for the collaborative creation of HR policies, programs, and practices on campus. The AVP-HR oversees coordination with a centralized system office, the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), that processes payroll, benefits, leave, and employee assistance programs. The AVP-HR must stay abreast of federal, state, system, and local laws and industry best practices. The successful candidate will be a proven leader with experience in managing change in a team focused environment, sensing and responding to customer feedback, and a commitment to a strategic, integrated, analytical, and proactive approach to service delivery. The successful incumbent will foster a high‑quality, progressive, innovative work environment by providing strategic leadership to anticipate, identify, analyze, and balance institutional and employee needs, thinking critically regarding business efficiency and effectiveness, and emphasizing utilization of AI and other innovative technologies to responsibly and ethically drive efficiency and continuous improvement across HR functions.

About the institution

About the institution: Nevada State University, a four‑year Minority Serving public institution with a statewide mission, is dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning and committed to the advancement of a diverse and largely underserved student population. Designated a Hispanic Serving (HSI) and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Institution (AANAPI), Nevada State is a university where teaching and student support are valued above all else. Nevada State University continues to grow as an institution of higher education. In Fall2025, the enrollment surpassed8,400, with8,287 undergraduate students and117 graduate students. A majority of our students are first generation, racial/ethnic minorities, parents, and/or returning students, of which48% are Hispanic,10% are Asian/Pacific Islander,10% are Black/African American, and22% are White. We celebrate the storied backgrounds of our campus community. We operate with a shared commitment to represent and serve the diverse population of Nevada and to encourage the exchange of ideas that respects and honors the lived experiences of our students, staff, and faculty. We foster a culture of inclusive excellence so our members can live authentically, fully engage, and flourish. In order to strengthen the university and progress its mission, the university dedicates itself to intentional and ongoing reflection to meet the evolving needs of Nevada State University, the surrounding communities, and the State of Nevada. We seek applicants who are passionate about working with this promising student population and collaborating with faculty and staff across departments to make a lasting impact in developing our institution and our community. We encourage you to highlight your background in fostering an inclusive campus culture and supporting the success of students who are historically underrepresented in higher education.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides leadership to the HR team in talent acquisition, operations, employee relations, employee engagement and retention, and organizational development efforts.


• Oversees a team of six, including a Director of HR, Director of Title IX, Employee Relations and Training Coordinator, Benefits and Wellness Coordinator, Human Resource Generalist, and a Personnel Analyst.


• Creates an environment that is collaborative, customer service oriented, efficient, proactive, and continually focused on business process improvement.


• Provides counsel to the President and Executive Leadership Team members on all matters related to HR and in support of university-wide goals and objectives.


• Partners with the NSHE office and the other NSHE institutions to ensure alignment and integration as well as best practices of HR functions.


• Serves as Nevada State’s representative on NSHE’s HR Advisory Committee.


• Prepares, manages, and oversees HR budgets.


• Exhibits the highest professional standards and ethical principles and demonstrates commitment to the tenets of Nevada State’s mission and vision, adding strategic value to the University.


• Demonstrates dedication to supporting a rapidly growing, diverse workforce.

Recruiting and Employment

• Provides training on search processes and search committee responsibilities.


• Acts as a subject matter expert on and provides consultation to search committees and supervisors on position descriptions, vacancy announcements, etc.


• Facilitates the university search process and ensures searches are conducted in an equitable, accessible, and timely fashion.


• Consults on effective talent acquisition strategies including recruitment of diverse, top talent.

Performance Management and Professional Development

• Leads an annual employee evaluation process for administrative faculty and classified staff and works collaboratively with the Provost/Academic Affairs division for academic faculty annual evaluations.


• Provides training and professional development for supervisors to effectively manage ongoing feedback, disciplinary action, and effective evaluations.


• Oversees HR Learning and Development activities, programs, and platforms.


• Leads development and oversight of a Leadership Academy.


• Ensures new employee orientation and exit interviews are conducted.

Classification and Compensation

• Develops and aligns with a guiding institutional Compensation Philosophy.


• Provides strategic direction and oversight of the university's wage and salary programs including implementing and maintaining, within the scope of the NSHE salary schedules, a classification and compensation system that equitably compensates all employees.


• Ensures regulatory compliance and competitive salary levels necessary to attract and retain qualified staff.


• Leads evaluations of equity and reclassification reviews.

Employee Relations

• Works closely with university leadership and employees to improve employee relations, build morale, resolve conflicts, and increase productivity and retention.


• Develops employee relations strategies and programs that minimize and mediate workplace disputes and foster a positive work environment.


• Owns a robust employee relations process and verifies employee relations matters are handled confidentially, impartially, and in accordance with all relevant laws, rules, regulations, and policies and practices.


• Collaborates with university General Counsel regarding employment issues and related regulations.


• Administers, oversees, and manages all aspects of Nevada State’s EEO/AA functions.


• Ensures campus-wide compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies related to EEO/AA, and ADAAA.


• Serve as the faculty/staff ADA Officer.


• Conducts investigations and responds to complaints which may include complaints under TitleVII, TitleIX, ADA, and all other federal and state regulations.


• Collects and analyzes data, writes comprehensive reports, and maintains files and records confidentially.


• Conducts investigations and resolves employee relations issues and complaints, ensuring the maintenance of records, and engaging with General Counsel for review, as needed.

Policy Development, Process Improvement, and Change Management

• Evaluates and revises HR department procedures to streamline and/or to automate processes, improve customer service, reduce paper flow, and improve HR data management.


• Plans, develops, organizes, executes, and evaluates the organization’s HR strategic vision, with a commitment to accountability, service excellence, and improved employee experience.


• Acts as an internal consultant for the development of policies and procedures, periodically assessing the congruency of current processes with current HR management best practices and within the current scope of NSHE policies.


• Provides guidance and input on department restructuring, workforce planning, and succession planning.


• Participates in strategic executive planning and decision making for the HR function of the institution.


• Oversees a robust employee relations process, including matters involving a collective bargaining unit, and verifies that employee relations matters are handled confidentially, impartially, and in accordance with all relevant laws, rules, regulations, policies, and practices.


• Ensure relevant training is developed for employees and/or supervisors.


• Administers, oversees, and manages all aspects of NSU's EEO/AA and TitleIX functions, ensuring campus-wide compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies related to EEO/AA, ADAAA, and TitleIX.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, psychology, business, or a related field


• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources administration, including at least five (5) years as a supervisor of professional HR staff.


• Thorough knowledge of the Human Resources field including federal, state, and local laws and regulations


• Eligibility to work in the United States without sponsorship (Nevada State does not sponsor employment‑related visas).


• Experience successfully leading human resource organizations.


• A track record of high‑level, productive employee relations skills.


• Previous experience in and comprehensive knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of human resources administration, including, but not limited to, compensation and benefits, classification, performance management, employee relations, investigations, and all applicable human resources‑related federal laws.


• Experience working with collective bargaining units, including contract administration, grievance processes, and labor relations matters.


• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to implement best practices in human resources.


• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with all campus stakeholders.


• Demonstrated skills in respectful, sensitive communication with people at various levels of an organization who are diverse in their cultures, language groups, ethnicities, and abilities.


• Ability to apply an innovative and strategic mindset, with a commitment to advancing the university’s mission, vision, and values.


• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and public speaking.


• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, staff, students and others.


• Demonstrated ability to responsibly adopt AI and other innovative technologies to drive efficiency and continuous improvement across HR functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in human resources, psychology, business, or a related field and/or human resources credential (SHRM or HRCI) plus ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in HR administration including at least seven (7) years as a supervisor of professional HR staff.


• Experience in higher education, public sector or state or local government strongly preferred.


• Knowledge, interpretation, and application of State of Nevada and NSHE regulations, TitleVII, TitleIX, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, HIPPA, EEOC, and the Civil Rights Act.

Salary & Benefits

Budgeted salary for this position is $175,000.00.

• 19.25% retirement match


• 24 annual leave days


• beginning balance of 30 sick leave days


• 12 paid holidays


• educational benefits


• three health insurance plans that can be supplemented with flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts.

This Posting is Open Until Filled. The posting will remain open until filled, with the first review of applications to begin on Tuesday, August11,2026. Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply by August10 for full consideration.

Exempt Status

Exempt Yes Full-Time Equivalent100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please upload the following documents: Detailed resume listing relevant qualifications and experience; Cover Letter indicating why you are a good fit for the position and Nevada State University; Names and contact information of three references (you will be notified before references are contacted). Applications that do not include the required uploaded documents may not be considered.

Posting Close Date

Applicants should fully describe their qualifications and experience with specific reference to each of the minimum and preferred qualifications in their cover letter. The search committee will use this information during the initial review of application materials. References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process. This position may require a criminal background check to be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire. As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job‑related tasks. Nevada State University does not currently sponsor Visas, all applicants must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

EEO/Title IX

NSHE is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service‑connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). EEO/Title IX Steven Kenney Associate Vice President of Human Resources Title IX Coordinator 1300 Nevada State Drive Rogers Student Center #325 Henderson, NV Nevada State University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that it operates. Non‑discrimination on the basis of sex is mandated by TitleIX of the Education Amendments of1972 (20U.S.C. §§1681 et seq.) and the corresponding implementation regulations (34C.F.R.Part106). The University’s commitment to nondiscrimination in its education programs and activities extends to applicants for admission and employment. Inquiries concerning the application of these provisions may be referred to: Steven Kenney, Title IX Coordinator, Nevada State University, 1300 Nevada State Drive, Henderson, NV 89002, Telephone: , Email: ; to The Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. ; Telephone: FAX: ; TDD: ; Email: ; or to both. Information pertaining to the University’s grievance procedures and grievance process, including how to report or file a complaint of sex discrimination, how to report or file a formal complaint of sexual harassment, and how the University will respond can be found here. If you need any accommodations to complete an application, please contact Human Resources at . Information regarding security, personal safety, fire safety, and crime statistics can be found at Nevada State University’s Campus Emergency page. NSHE Employees are required to participate in a mandatory retirement plan in lieu of Social Security. As a result, employment at NSHE may impact your Social Security benefits. Additional information is available at SSA1945. Job postings are specific to the Nevada System of Higher Education.