Workplace Experience Strategist-Faculty Relations

Recruitment Period
05/14/2026 - Until Filled

Status
Full-Time, 40 hours/week

Salary
Annual Minimum Salary-$88,800-Annual Maximum Salary-$142,100

Hiring Rate: $42.69-$55.53

This position is an elevated HR Strategic Partner Role.

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Pro‑rated based on hours/week.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) does not sponsor employment visas. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and for the duration of their employment with PNWU. Employment eligibility will be verified in accordance with federal law.

About PNWU
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) was founded in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) non‑profit medical institution aimed at increasing access to health care in medically underserved areas of the Pacific Northwest. The University offers the degrees of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Master of Biomedical Sciences, and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, enrolling over 550 students annually. Interprofessional education partnerships add another 100 students. The campus includes 300 employees with academic programming spread over a five‑state region.

PNWU is located in Yakima, WA, approximately 140 miles from Seattle, 170 miles from Portland, and 200 miles from Spokane. Yakima is a wonderful place to live, work and play. For more information, visit https://www.visityakima.com/.

General Summary
PNWU serves rural and medically underserved communities, and a capable, engaged workforce is essential. The Workplace Experience Strategist, Faculty Relations serves as the primary HR partner for PNWU’s faculty workforce. The role oversees the full faculty employment lifecycle—including recruitment, onboarding, classification, performance, development, recognition, and off‑boarding—and works to ensure consistency, equity, and sound practice across programs. Over time, the Strategist will grow into a stronger partner in workforce planning, classification, and compensation practice, supervisor development, and policy design.

Essential Job Functions
Faculty Employment Lifecycle

Coordinate and administer faculty appointment, reappointment, and promotion processes in alignment with policy, including routing, documentation, and equity review.

Manage the end‑to‑end faculty search and hiring process, including job description development, posting, search committee support, offer letter generation, and onboarding coordination.

Maintain accurate faculty personnel files, appointment records, and the Faculty Information System.

Support the Provost’s review and equitable signing of new faculty contracts; develop and maintain a contract equity tracking process across programs.

Track and maintain affiliate faculty, adjunct appointments, and startup fund utilization.

Support transitions into emeritus status and other end‑of‑appointment processes.

Support disability accommodations and protected leave processes in partnership with benefits and leadership, ensuring consistency and compliance.

Ensure compliance with federal, Washington State, and local employment laws (e.g., FMLA, ADA, WFLA, wage and hour), escalating complex matters appropriately.

Policy, Partnership, and Employee Relations

Serve as the primary HR partner for approximately 100 faculty across multiple departments and programs.

Serve as a trusted advisor to faculty, Deans, and program leadership on HR policies, employment questions, and the Faculty Handbook.

Partner with Deans and supervisors on faculty employee relations matters, grievances, and performance concerns; coach leaders to address issues early and respectfully.

Maintain a working relationship with the Faculty Senate, attend meetings as appropriate, and serve as the HR liaison to shared governance.

Lead or support policy development and revision related to faculty affairs, including the Faculty Startup Funds Policy, Academic Leadership Standardization, and Faculty Search and Hiring Guidelines.

Apply policies and practices equitably across programs, roles, and levels; acknowledge mistakes and correct course transparently.

Exercise independent judgement in resolving routine and moderately complex employee relations matters.

Credentialing and Accreditation

Administer the faculty credentialing process for new hires and manage periodic review of existing faculty credentials on the appropriate reappointment cycle.

Maintain credential documentation required for program accreditation across all five PNWU programs; plan ahead for accreditation cycles.

Develop and implement the Faculty Credentialing Procedure in coordination with program leadership and the Provost.

Faculty Development and Induction

Design and facilitate a structured induction program for clinician‑educators entering academic roles.

Coordinate ongoing faculty development programming in partnership with program leadership and faculty subject matter experts.

Connect faculty development offerings to accreditation standards, institutional values, and career progression frameworks; evaluate outcomes.

Recognition and Engagement

Plan and execute Faculty Awards Ceremony and other faculty recognition events.

Support faculty engagement initiatives within the broader HRWE workplace experience strategy.

Workforce Insight and Planning

Compile and analyze faculty workforce data to support planning, compensation equity analysis, and accreditation reporting.

Track promotion cycle timelines and provide reporting to the Provost and ELT; surface workforce risks and capability gaps before they become urgent.

Translate faculty workforce data into clear insight that helps academic leaders make sound, mission‑aligned decisions.

Contribute to multi‑year faculty workforce planning in partnership with the Provost, Deans, and the VP of HRWE; deepen contribution over time.

Professional Practice and Growth

Bring initiative, ownership, and follow‑through to all work.

Actively seek and apply feedback; adjust when intent and impact do not align.

Engage in a structured development plan to build strategic HR fluency, including workforce planning, organizational design, and advising senior academic leaders.

Contribute to the credibility and steadiness of the HRWE team; hold self and peers accountable with professionalism, candor, and care.

Performs other related duties as assigned and based on departmental need.

Requirements
Education

Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.

Preferred: Master’s Degree in Human Resources, Higher Education, or a related field.

Experience

Required: 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in HR, academic affairs, or faculty affairs in higher education, with demonstrated experience managing concurrent HR processes and partnering with supervisors or faculty leaders on employee relations or hiring matters.

Preferred: Experience in a health sciences or professional school environment; experience supporting or working with a faculty governance body; familiarity with clinician‑educator development frameworks (AAMC, ACGME, or equivalent); experience contributing to workforce planning, organizational design, or policy development.

Desired Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Demonstrated knowledge of employment law and HR best practices for faculty in higher education; experience with credentialing, accreditation documentation, or faculty records management; strong relationship‑building skills across faculty, administration, and governance structures; emotional intelligence and self‑awareness; willingness to grow into a more strategic partnership role; commitment to equity, transparency, and values‑driven HR practice; commitment to continuous learning and professional growth; strong organization and planning skills; clear, concise, and respectful communication; problem‑solving skills; proficiency with HRIS, faculty information systems, and institutional databases; and SHRM-CP or PHR certification required or within one year of hire. SHRM-SCP or SPHR preferred or encouraged.

Application Materials

A letter of introduction outlining background and qualifications.

Detailed resume.

Contact information for three professional references.

The job announcement above is not the full job description but represents the job responsibilities and requirements. A full job description can be provided upon request.

Benefits

Health Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

403b with Roth Option

Paid Holidays

PNWU offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees first of the month following the date of hire and competitive salary.

PNWU is a drug‑free workplace, equal opportunity employer, and educational institution. For information about life in Yakima visit our PNWU page.

To request this publication in an alternative format, or to apply in an alternative format, please call Human Resources, 509.452.5100.

PNEW offers the required EEO statement:

PNWU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strongly encourage diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other protected status.

#J-18808-Ljbffr