Chief Human Resources Officer (San Diego)

Filing Deadline: Mon 7/7/2025

UC San Diego values equity, diversity, and inclusion. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Special Selection Applicants : Apply by 07/07/2025. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. The facilities include two healthcare campuses, East Campus Medical Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, and numerous outpatient clinics. UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest is a designated Level I Trauma Center and has the only Burn Center in the county. UC San Diego Health is ranked the top health care system in San Diego by U.S. News & World Report, which also ranked UC San Diego Health as among the nation’s best in 10 medical and surgical specialties, more than any hospital system in San Diego. The system has also achieved a hospital safety “A” rating from The Leapfrog Group.

For decades, UC San Diego Health Sciences, including the School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health have been advancing medicine through breakthrough discoveries – including pioneering firsts in surgery, imaging, cancer treatment and cardiovascular care. Health Sciences offers 20+ graduate degree programs including master’s and doctoral programs, employs 1700 faculty members and over 3000 postdocs, residents, fellows and students.

The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) reports to the Chief Executive Officer, UC San Diego Health and the Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences, and is a member of the Health Executive Team and the Health System Leadership team. The CHRO is the main architect for UC San Diego Health’s human resource strategy, and initiates and leads key human capital initiatives in support of UC San Diego Health’s operational and strategic priorities. Additionally, the CHRO works closely with the UCSD Campus CHRO on policies, processes, and coordination of activities.

The CHRO is responsible for providing all human resources leadership and services for over 25,000 employees, volunteers, and affiliates in both the Health system and Health Sciences including human capital strategy and planning, talent strategy development and implementation, full cycle talent acquisition, organizational development, development and execution of leadership development programs, compensation and classification, employee relations, workers compensation, disability accommodations and leaves, labor relations, and HR operations (includes HR transactions, HR generalist services and shared services operations). The Health organization is part of a broader ecosystem, requiring collaboration and coordination with campus and systemwide partners.

The CHRO develops organizational policies and authorizes their implementation. In addition, the CHRO will be expected to provide advice, guidance and assistance to senior leadership; establish the direction, policies and procedures of the Human Resources department; represent Human Resources in organization-wide and/or system-wide meetings and discussions; plans, design and implements the programs of the Human Resources department; and manage through multiple senior managers. The CHRO is recognized as an influential leader with decision making capabilities that will have a serious impact on the overall success of functional, division, or organization operations in a highly-matrixed, complicated academic medical center.

Key Responsibilities

• Operates at the intersection of healthcare delivery, academic mission, and administrative operations. This environment requires the CHRO to be strategic, collaborative, and adaptive to multiple stakeholder needs across clinical, research, and administrative domains.
• Develops and executes HR strategies aligned with the health system’s clinical, administrative, and research missions.
• Acts as a key advisor to executive leadership (e.g., CEO, VCHS, CAOs, etc.) on workforce issues.
• Leads comprehensive workforce planning efforts to address the needs of clinical staff, faculty, researchers, and administrative employees.
• Oversees talent acquisition, career development, and succession planning strategies, including belonging and inclusion initiatives.
• Oversees leader and employee communication strategies to inform on key HR topics.
• Develops strategies for complex labor relations and employee relations initiatives.
• Ensures development and consistent application of policies and processes across departments and entities within the matrix.
• Leads initiatives that foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture; including organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and training.
• Acts as a change agent for enterprise-wide HR transformation.
• Oversees HR systems (HRIS), policies, benefits, compensation, and performance management programs.
• Ensures compliance with federal and state laws, accreditation requirements, and institutional policies.
• Serves as a bridge between academic and clinical missions, UCSD Campus human resources, and UC systemwide departments.
• Leverages workforce analytics to inform strategy and measure impact.
• Directs the work of HR leaders to ensure alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
• Ensures the HR department structure is flexible and responsive to the differing needs of the clinical and academic organizations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten or more years of progressive human resources experience, including complex employee relations and labor relations experience in health system setting.
• Experience working for an academic medical center.
• Expert and broad knowledge of organization and system-wide personnel policies and applicablelaws and regulations.
• In-depth knowledge of specific functions in a university’s HR management information systems.
• Expert communication skills with a diversity of communication styles; demonstrates a high level of political acumen; communicates effectively orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions regarding hiring, evaluating, and development ofsubordinates.
• Excellent management skills that include collaboration, coaching and developing subordinates;ability to build relationships.
• In-depth understanding of the unit goals and ability to determine the best way of achieving unit goals.
• Demonstrated ability to handle extremely difficult or volatile situations / individuals effectively.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE

• Advanced Degree in business administration or a relevant field of study.
• Eight or more years of progressive senior HR leadership (director or higher level).
• Relevant human resources certifications.
• Experience within University of California system.
• Merger and acquisition experience – including due diligence.
• Technology: identification of needs, selection, and implementation.
• Design and structure of HR teams.
• Multi-location experience.
• Innovation and change management champion.
• Strategic employee engagement and culture work.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $169,100 – $400,300 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $80.99 – $191.71

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial c