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James Madison University (JMU) invites nominations and applications for the position of Assistant / Associate Vice President for HR, Training and Performance. 

James Madison University

Founded in 1908, James Madison University is a public university located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. JMU is fast becoming one of the nation’s leading lights in higher education because students enjoy unusually engaged relationships with world-class faculty who are here because they want to pursue knowledge and make teaching their No. 1 priority.

As an R2 institution, JMU is committed to creating and sustaining an environment where faculty can invest deeply in their identities as teachers, scholars and creatives. As teacher-scholars, faculty embrace discovery and exploration across disciplines and borders in support of real-world impact.

JMU offers our faculty and staff the flexibility to grow and evolve across a career, and understands that student-centered teaching, research and service are core to our educational mission. They can be integrated and should be celebrated. As JMU grows into the R2 space, the mission and vision remain the same, but opportunities expand as JMU reimagines the ways the work supports teaching, scholarship, creative activity and service.

Teaching: JMU values many forms of teaching that intersect with–and are enhanced by–research, scholarship and creative activity. Inclusive high-impact pedagogies bolster student learning and critical thinking with respect to disciplinary content, as well as supplement skills development and workforce readiness.

Scholarship/Creative Activity: JMU involves students at all levels in scholarship and creative activity in collaboration with faculty and staff. All forms of research and creative activity are valued, including community-driven and interdisciplinary scholarship that responds to the needs of the community, commonwealth and beyond.

Service: JMU’s service contributes to the operation of the institution and the well-being of its people. Academic expertise is also shared with organizations and community partners beyond the university and contributes to the betterment of our disciplines and fields.

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university, engaged with ideas and the world. For JMU, engagement means:

• Engaged Learning: Developing deep, purposeful and reflective learning, while uniting campus and community in the pursuit, creation, application and dissemination of knowledge.
• Civic Engagement: Advancing the legacy of James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, by preparing individuals to be active and responsible participants in a representative democracy dedicated to the common good.
• Community Engagement: Fostering mutually beneficial and reciprocal partnerships, ranging from local to global, that connect learning to practice, address critical societal problems and improve quality of life.

Values

• Academic Quality
• Community
• Diversity
• Excellence
• Integrity
• Student Focus

Strategic Plan

In 2025, JMU launched a new strategic planning process, The Madison Promise, outlining its bold commitment to transformational education, pioneering research, and belonging.

BEING THE CHANGE®

Being the Change is not just a slogan; it’s a way of life at JMU. Anyone here will tell you that using one’s intellect, heart and action is what being a member of this community is all about.

JMU’s vision is to be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world. This vision signifies the foundation of our brand: Intellect + Action.

When Intellect engages with Action around the mission of preparing students to be enlightened citizens who lead meaningful lives, it catalyzes the essence of our brand: Being the Change. Being the Change is the rallying cry at the heart of the JMU educational experience and the common bond among our students, alumni, faculty and all members of our exceptional community.

The Role

Reporting to the Vice President for Administration and Finance, the Assistant / Associate Vice President for HR, Training and Performance, provides strategic leadership to the Human Resources and Talent Development departments, ensuring alignment with the university's mission and high standards of service and performance. The role also includes supporting the VP for Administration and Finance with special projects and serving on various university committees to drive policy, compensation, and engagement initiatives. Because of the collaborative nature of this role, the successful candidate is expected to be on-site at our Harrisonburg campus.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership, supervision, performance evaluation, coaching, guidance and encouragement to the Director for Human Resources (HR) and Director of Talent Development (TD).
• Provides leadership, supervision, performance evaluation, coaching, guidance and encouragement to an Administrative Assistant and a Policy and Compliance Specialist.
• Lead the implementation of collective bargaining agreements, including establishing institutional processes and timelines to ensure effective and compliant roll-out through strategic leadership and advising on collective bargaining obligations, contract interpretation, and employee relations in a unionized environment. Guide and support campus stakeholders through labor-relations change, ensuring consistent understanding and application of union agreements across academic and administrative units by fostering constructive labor-management relationships and engagement strategies development that promotes communication, trust, and collaboration as collective bargaining relationships are established. Ensure institutional compliance with collective bargaining agreements and applicable federal, state, and local labor laws, working closely with legal counsel as needed. Direct or support contract negotiations and administration, as appropriate, including preparation for bargaining, coordinating institutional responses, and ensuring alignment with university priorities.
• Provides support and assistance to the VP for Administration and Finance, coordinating special projects as needed.
• Provides strategic guidance to the Human Resources Director, ensuring the department’s strong commitment to the university and divisional mission, as well as a high level of customer service, performance, and effectiveness. The Human Resources department oversees recruitment, onboarding, benefits administration, classification, compensation, employee relations, and compliance with applicable laws and policies for all university employees. The Human Resources team is comprised of four A&P faculty members, 26 classified staff, two wage employees, one graduate assistant, and one student employee.
• Provides strategic guidance to the Talent Development Director, ensuring the department’s strong commitment to the university and divisional mission as well as a high level of customer service, performance, and effectiveness. The Talent Development department, created in 2004, designs, develops, and delivers professional development opportunities for A&P faculty, classified staff, and wage employees. The work of the team is based on a competency model that includes eight competencies important for success at JMU. The Talent Development team is comprised of two A&P faculty members, two classified staff, one wage employee, one graduate assistant, one intern, and three student employees.
• Serves as the chair of the University Policy Committee (UPC), the JMU Compensation Advisory Council (CAC), chair of the A&F Engagement Council, a member of the Institute for the Stewardship of the Natural World (ISNW), the University Planning Team (UPT) and the Reengineering Madison Steering Committee.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Human Resources or a related field coupled with proven leadership experience in supervising and guiding human resources management, talent development, or a related field.
• Experience within a college or university system, a closely related field or an organization of equal or greater complexity and understanding higher education administration and governance structures.
• In-depth knowledge of HR practices, policies, and procedures and talent development strategies and programs.
• Demonstrated, significant leadership experience in labor relations and collective bargaining, preferably within a higher education or public-sector environment with strong knowledge of employment and labor laws applicable to unionized workplaces. Proven ability to advise executive leadership and work collaboratively with academic and administrative stakeholders with demonstrated skill in change management, stakeholder engagement, and conflict resolution during periods of organizational transition.
• Candidates must possess a fundamental understanding of all relevant laws, regulations, and practices to ensure compliance with governing agencies.
• The successful candidate will provide evidence of effective leadership to include operating in a culture of teamwork including trust, respect, and dignity. Candidates must possess a proven ability to create an environment where others are motivated to achieve shared goals.
• Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with superiors, subordinates, and colleagues.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to coordinate special projects and initiatives.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a high level of customer service.
• Ability to effectively manage and guide departments to align with organizational missions and goals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to review and improve programs and processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field preferred.
• Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR are preferred.
• Experience supporting or implementing collective bargaining and labor-relations practices in a newly unionized or transitioning organization, including developing policies, procedures, training, and labor-management structures from the ground up.
• Experience managing or overseeing multiple bargaining units or employee groups.
• Experience partnering with legal counsel on labor-relations strategy and compliance.

The rank of the position will be determined based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Application Process

While applications and nominations will be accepted until a successful candidate has been appointed, interested parties are encouraged to submit their materials by July 24, 2026, to receive optimal consideration.

Nominations and application materials, which should include a letter indicating the applicant’s interest, experience and qualifications for the position, and resume, must be submitted electronically to:

Buffkin/Baker

jmuavphr@buffkinbaker.com

Martin Baker, Managing Partner

Sharon Hansen, Senior Associate

To learn more about this opportunity, please view the full Leadership Profile.