Director of Employee Engagement & Recognition
University of Illinois

Job Info

---

Director of Employee Engagement & Recognition

Employee Engagement & Recognition

Job Summary
The Director of Employee Engagement and Recognition will be responsible for collaborating with Illinois Human Resources (IHR) leadership and the HR Community at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to contribute to the overall employee engagement strategy, create a supportive and thorough orientation process, ensure employees have a positive, engaging and fulfilling experience, and maintain a workplace where every employee feels connected and valued. This role will play a pivotal part in enhancing employee morale, motivation, and satisfaction within our organization. They will be a critical partner in promoting a culture of appreciation, belonging, and connectedness.

Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership

• Direct and influence strategy to boost employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Maintain expertise in progressive employee engagement and recognition strategies to include benchmarking and best practices.
• Serve as a member of the IHR Leadership Team.
• Use the unique Illinois Value Proposition framework to shape the employee experience and drive high performance and engagement.

Planning and Design

• Create and implement strategies to improve employee engagement, satisfaction, and job passion while promoting a culture that embodies our values and commitments.
• Contribute to the IHR metric and KPI enhancements by utilizing relevant assessments to measure and analyze employee feedback and produce insights into factors contributing to employee experience.
• Conduct evidence-based and research-supported retention and engagement methods (e.g., stay interviews, exit interviews, pulse surveys).
• Work in partnership shared governance groups to implement all-employee events (e.g., All-Employee Expo, All-Employee Appreciation).
• Stay current with industry trends and bring new, innovative processes and best practices to IHR and campus.
• Apply annually or biennially to local, national, or international HR-related awards or conferences to bolster the work, credibility, and prestige of the university.

Collaboration and Facilitation

• Develop and maintain onboarding resources for new employees to help create a seamless transition to the university (e.g., orientation workshops, 30/60/90-day notices).
• Collaborate with HR and other departments to evaluate employee engagement and needs in an on-going manner.
• Support centralized continuous feedback and annual performance review processes in coordination with larger University of Illinois Urbana Champaign HR Community.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition to ensure relevant workplace experiences are communicated and reflective of true campus culture.

Project Management

• Oversee and refresh employee recognition programs, including but not limited to annual Service Awards, the Chancellor's Staff Excellence Award, and HR Community recognition efforts.
• Coordinate the selection of recipients to staff-specific development funding (e.g., Marjorie Beasley Scholarship).
• Partner with internal communications and marketing team ensuring effective channels to communicate, brand, and advance campus knowledge of offerings, programs, and awards.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in organizational development, industrial/organizational psychology, business administration, human resources, or a related field OR a bachelor's degree in organizational development, business administration, human resources, or a related field and a minimum of five years of experience in organizational development, talent management, or a related field.
• Proven experience (5+ years) in a leadership role focused on employee engagement, recognition, or related areas.
• Documented success (3+ years) of progressively responsible project leadership experience in a complex business, academic, research or government environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with multiple administrative or support functions within a complex organization.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders in a higher education setting.
• Experience performing and reporting analysis of business insights.
• Certification in Employee Engagement or related field (e.g., Certified Recognition Professional).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of strategies, techniques, and best practices for enhancing employee engagement and fostering a positive workplace culture.
• Strong leadership skills to effectively lead and motivate teams, inspire employee engagement, and drive positive change within the organization.
• Ability to build strong relationships with employees, managers, and stakeholders to gain buy-in for employee engagement initiatives and foster a culture of recognition and appreciation.
• Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation to measure the effectiveness of employee engagement and recognition initiatives, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities, and to manage change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and listening skills across a variety of platforms.
• Ability to champion a team environment that promotes and supports diversity, equity, inclusion, and innovation.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 9/27/24. The previously determined salary range for this position is $100,000 to $110,000. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. Hybrid work options are available for this position. This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on September 27, 2024. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact kiener2@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal , or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu .

Requisition ID: 1026387
Job Category: Administrative
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu

---