Director of Faculty Affairs & Human Resources

Job Title: MGMT 4, HR GENERALIST
Reports to: Dean, School of Science
Effort: 100%
Department: SoS Office of the Dean

Position Overview

Director of Faculty Affairs & Human Resources serves as a strategic partner to the Dean for the School of Science (SoS) and works in close collaboration and partnership with the SoS Assistant Deans. Directs a wide range of faculty affairs and human resource activity for the School of Science. Provides operational oversight and serves as senior counsel to the SoS and its DLCI leadership in all areas of faculty affairs and human resources including recruitment and retention programs, onboarding, wage and salary administration, job classification, reappointments and promotions, performance development & management, employee relations, organizational development, workforce and succession planning, and diversity initiatives. In partnership with the SoS Assistant Deans, initiates and implements ongoing assessment of faculty affairs and human resource programs and procedures and develops and/or refines human resource policy and practice for faculty and staff within the School of Science. Ensures integrity of human resource operations across the School. Provides support and analysis for both short-term and long-term faculty affairs and human resource planning activities for the SoS and its DLCIs. Provides leadership for staff in the SoS DLCIs who bear responsibility for faculty affairs and human resource-related decisions and operations. Ensures HR compliance with applicable MIT policies, federal and state employment regulations.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions**)

  • Serves as a strategic partner to the Dean for the School of Science. Works in close collaboration and partnership with the Assistant Dean for HR and Administration, directing a wide range of faculty affairs and human resource activity on behalf of the Dean for the School of Science. Acts as an integral part of the Dean’s administrative leadership team.
  • Oversees operations and serves as senior counsel to the School of Science and its DLCI leadership for its human capital (faculty + staff), including recruitment and retention, onboarding, wage and salary administration, job classification, faculty reappointments and promotions, performance development & management, progressive discipline, organizational development, workforce and succession planning, rewards and recognition.
  • Oversees and manages Dean’s Office level review and disposition of HR transactions submitted by SoS DLCIs.
  • Works in close collaboration with the Assistant Dean for DEI on diversity and inclusion initiatives, community outreach and inclusive programming for the School of Science. Works creatively with the SoS leadership to develop initiatives for diversifying the makeup of employees for the School of Science. Monitors progress toward affirmative action goals, performs analyses and makes recommendations. Recommends strategies to integrate diversity and goal attainment into ongoing SoS planning and activities. 
  • In partnership with the Assistant Dean for Human Resources and Administration, initiates and implements ongoing assessment of faculty affairs and human resource programs and procedures and develops and/or refines policies and practices within the School of Science. Initiates and coordinates process redesigns and improvements for the faculty affairs and HR functions. Ensures integrity of faculty affairs and HR operations across the School. Provides guidance and interpretation of MIT policies and procedures.
  • Provides support and analyses for both short-term and long-term faculty affairs and human resource planning activities for the School of Science and its DLCIs. Provides leadership for staff in the SoS DLCIs who bear responsibility for faculty affairs and HR-related decisions and operations.
  • Works with SoS leadership to identify training and development opportunities in support of broader talent management strategies. Directs and manages the implementation of school-wide training plans. 
  • Serves as an advisor and resource to the Dean’s Office and SoS DLCIs on recruitment and retention strategies; communicates search process to staff responsible for making hiring decisions; in connection with the SoS DEI team reviews and approves search plans, and search results.
  • Oversees Performance Management and Development activities including the Annual Salary Review (except Faculty Annual Salary Review). Oversees and manages other wage and salary administration activities for the SoS, including equity and market reviews.
  • Leads, facilitates or serves on various MIT and/or SoS level committees and projects. Serves on the search committees and develops and executes comprehensive change management and communication strategies. Acts a liaison with Institute offices such as the Provost’s Office, central HR, International Scholars Office, Labor Relations, the Ombuds Office, Office of the General Counsel, and other schools.
  • Oversees complex faculty appointments, promotions and tenure reviews and works closely with the Dean’s finance team to manage financial commitments associated with faculty appointments.
  • Reviews, selects and manages external vendors.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received

Supervision and direction received from the Assistant Dean for Human Resources and Administration.

Supervision Exercised

Direct supervision of two administrators and one support staff within the Dean’s office. Functional supervision of DAFs and staff in SoS DLCIs who have faculty affairs and human resource responsibilities. 

Qualifications and Skills

Bachelor’s Degree required (Master’s Degree and/or PHR or SPHR certification preferred); seven years of progressive experience as a human resource generalist or equivalent required, preferably in a higher education setting. MIT experience preferred. Excellent active listening, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills. Working knowledge of the principles and practices of strategic planning, development, and evaluation. Ability to provide collaborative leadership, generate creative solutions to complex problems, adapt to and work effectively with various individuals or groups in a variety of situations, understand formal and informal organizational structures and relationships and link long-range visions and concepts to daily work. Must be detail-oriented and at the same time be able to view larger policy concerns. The ability to implement new or interpret existing policies or procedures is critical. Must be able to prioritize multiple and often competing demands under deadline pressure. Proven good judgment, unimpeachable integrity, tact, and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential matters. Must be able to communicate intentions, ideas, and feelings openly and directly, and encourage others to do so as well. Knowledge of the operation and culture of academic departments is helpful.

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** To comply with regulations by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the principal duties in job descriptions must be essential to the job. To identify essential functions, focus on the purpose and the result of the duties rather than the manner in which they are performed. The following definition applies: a job function is essential if removal of that function would fundamentally change the job.

Postdoctoral Fellows

A three-year cohort-based fellowship sponsored by the Dean’s Office. Includes an academic leadership module for all fellows. Expected start date September 2025.

REQUIRED: PhD in scientific field (granted by August 2025), scientific excellence and an exceptional ability for innovation and cross disciplinary research. 

Job #28683; apply through AcademicJobsOnline.

We seek to assemble a diverse cohort of world-class scientists who are conducting research across disciplinary boundaries. In addition to their research, fellows in this cohort will participate in leadership, mentorship and professional development training. 

Appointments may be extended with funding from the department and/or PI, subject to MIT’s policies on postdoctoral appointments and timelines.

Candidates must submit:

  • a CV;
  • 2-page research proposal, describing how their research crosses disciplinary boundaries;  
  • statement of support and commitment from the MIT faculty who will mentor the research
  • (optional) one paragraph broader impacts description of how their appointment aligns with the MIT Values Statement;

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of School of Science faculty and must be submitted online. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2024. Current postdocs at MIT and international candidates are eligible to apply.

Stipend of $85,000, relocation allowance of $5,000, research allowance of $15,000, plus employee benefits such as health insurance.

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact potential mentors as early as possible. Find prospective mentors and learn more about the research conducted within the school. Contact sos-dean-pd-fellowship@mit.edu with questions.