Vice President of Human Resources

Quinnipiac University (QU) seeks an accomplished, ambitious, and collaborative leader to serve as its Vice President of Human Resources (VPHR) to shape a strategic vision that elevates the University's capacity to attract, support, and retain an outstanding workforce. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned human resources executive to modernize HR operations, strengthen organizational culture, and lead a forward looking people strategy aligned with QU’s next era of growth.

The Vice President of Human Resources will join Quinnipiac at a time of significant momentum, with the arrival of President Marie Hardin, Ph.D. in July 2025, and an inclusive Strategic Visioning process underway since the fall of 2025 to chart the path for the institution’s next era of growth and impact. Reporting to Mark Varholak, the Chief Financial Officer, and serving as a key member of the University Leadership Council, the VPHR is responsible for providing executive-level leadership and guidance in all areas of human resources, including payroll. The VPHR will work collaboratively across QU to continuously integrate high-quality services across all facets of the organization, facilitate change, and ensure that Quinnipiac's workforce is engaged, flexible, and resilient, enabling the University to continue differentiating itself in a competitive market. The VPHR serves as a trusted partner with organizational constituents, providing innovative and creative solutions and continuously building and maintaining relationships across the organization, emphasizing dynamic communication and collaboration.

The incoming leader will have the opportunity to build upon the strengths of a dedicated human resources and payroll team of 16 professionals and pursue initiatives supporting an employee base of approximately 1,300 faculty and staff, including approximately 300 unionized employees, making a lasting impact on the University. The successful candidate will be an innovative, highly driven executive and will possess broad human resources knowledge; expertise in strategic, collaborative, and consultative services; a sophisticated approach to organizational leadership; and demonstrated experience in workforce planning, market-driven compensation practices, succession planning, and advancing organizational and cultural change.

This leader will also bring experience leading human resources staff and programs in complex unionized environments and will demonstrate the core competencies and personal traits necessary for success, including emotional intelligence, sound judgment, strong problem-solving skills, diplomacy, personal confidence, and humility.

WittKieffer is supporting Quinnipiac University in this search. For greatest consideration, applicants should submit a resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile to WittKieffer's  candidate portal by May 6, 2026. You may also submit inquiries and nominations (handed confidentially) to the same portal.

Nominations, inquiries, and application materials can be directed to:

Sandra Chu and Sarah Palmer

Quinnipiac-VPHR@Wittkieffer.com

Quinnipiac University is a private, coeducational institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university currently has an enrollment of 9,700 students in more than 100 degree programs through its Schools of Business, Communications, Education, Computing & Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Nursing and the College of Arts & Sciences. Our 21 Division I teams have achieved remarkable success, boasting multiple conference titles. This includes a 2023 NCAA National Championship win in ice hockey, a three-time defending national champion women’s rugby team, and a trip to the Sweet 16 for our women’s basketball team. The Quinnipiac University Poll is nationally recognized as a leader in public opinion research, and the university is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review. The Wall Street Journal ranked Quinnipiac #51 among the best colleges in the nation, and second in Connecticut, for our exceptional graduation rate, salary impact, learning facilities, career preparation and learning opportunities. 

The university is in the midst of program expansion and renewal for both traditional and adult learners, the development of innovative strategic partnerships, and just opened a South Quad with three new buildings. 

As Quinnipiac grows, we remain guided by the core values that define our community and shape the experience of every student and employee. 

• We are fiercely committed to ensuring every Bobcat thrives. We are a lifelong partner for every learner. 
• We passionately care about our community. Everyone should feel welcome and valued. 
• We boldly shape our university's future. We will forge a path of impact together. 

These values are the foundation of who we are and reflect the Quinnipiac spirit found across our campuses. For more information, please visit qu.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X.

The role ensures compliance with employment laws, promotes an inclusive and engaged campus culture, and supports faculty and staff excellence across academic and administrative units. Key areas of accountability include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Strategic Leadership
• HR Transformation and Innovation
• Employee and Labor Relations
• HR Operations
• Payroll 
• Compensation and Benefits 
• Organizational Development

• A bachelor's degree is required, and an advanced degree or equivalent experience is preferred
• Senior-level human resources professional certification preferred

• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible senior-level human resources leadership experience, including supervisory experience, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex mission-driven unionized organization.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, rules, and regulations and experience with advancing HR strategy and understanding of broad functional areas of human resources inclusive of but not limited to talent acquisition, performance management, onboarding and retention, learning and development, labor relations, leave administration, policy governance, compensation and benefits, workforce planning, succession planning, HR technology and analytics, compliance, and risk management.
  
• Proven success spearheading HR-transformation initiatives, optimizing technology, streamlining business processes, and metrics-driven service enhancements that improve efficiency and user experience.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing compensation strategies; proven ability to design and manage market-based pay structures, job architecture, and career frameworks that support internal mobility and talent development; ability to build and enhance compensation infrastructure, including policies, tools, and scalable processes aligned with fiscal responsibility and data-informed practices.
• Evidence leading and developing high-performing HR teams within complex organizational structures while fostering cross-functional collaboration.
  
• Knowledge of payroll operations, compliance with relevant tax legislation, experience overseeing accurate and timely payroll processing for a large and diverse workforce and understanding of the practical application of tax regulations affecting employee compensation within the higher education environment are preferred.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds

WittKieffer is supporting Quinnipiac University in this search. For greatest consideration, applicants should submit a resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile to WittKieffer's candidate portal by May 6, 2026. You may also submit inquiries and nominations (handed confidentially) to the same portal.

Nominations, inquiries, and application materials can be directed to:

Sandra Chu and Sarah Palmer

Quinnipiac-VPHR@Wittkieffer.com