Chief Human Resources Officer

OUR CLIENT

Case Western Reserve University is an independent private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio. CWRU holds membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU), is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and by several nationally recognized professional accrediting associations. The university is set to celebrate its bicentennial in 2026.

CWRU is ranked #51 in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges and National Universities by US News and World Report. Nationally, CWRU is ranked 19th in the world for innovation and 13th for translating research into commercial success. With more than $642 million in annual research expenditures (FY 2024), Case Western Reserve University is one of the fastest-growing research universities in the country.

CWRU’s 267-acre campus is located in the heart of Cleveland’s University Circle, a square-mile urban district of cultural, medical, educational, religious, and social service institutions, and is just minutes from Cleveland’s downtown.

The campus is within walking distance of outstanding destinations such as : Severance Hall, home of the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra; Cleveland Museum of Art, housing one of the nation’s finest collections; Cleveland Institute of Music; Cleveland Institute of Art; Western Reserve Historical Society; Cleveland Botanical Garden; and Cleveland Museum of Natural History, among others.

CWRU comprises the College of Arts and Sciences and seven schools – the Case School of Engineering, the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Law, the School of Medicine, and the Weatherhead School of Management.

The university continues to receive extraordinary support from alumni and donors. Two of the past three years have ranked among the best in Case Western Reserve’s history for philanthropy, with Fiscal Year 2024 setting an all-time record of nearly $211 million in gifts. Among these successes, fundraising for the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB) has been particularly impressive : since launching in July 2022, the university has raised $112.5 million for the 189,000-square-foot facility dedicated exclusively to research and discovery—surpassing the original $80 million goal well before the October 2024 groundbreaking. Scholarship support has also remained a priority; since January 2019, more than $250 million has been raised to provide transformative opportunities for students.

In fall 2024, CWRU had an enrollment of more than 6,500 undergraduate students and about 6,000 graduate and professional students. The university boasts a substantial alumni network, with more than 125,000 members located worldwide. The total faculty at CWRU comprises nearly 1,200 full-time Board-appointed faculty members and nearly 3,400 full-time and part-time staff members

Please visit their website for more information :

ABOUT THE POSITION

Case Western Reserve University stands at an inspiring crossroads poised for ambitious growth and achievement. As the search for the next Vice President, Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) commences, the university offers an extraordinary opportunity to join a thriving and prestigious institution strengthened by a dedicated team, exceptional leadership and trustees, and a vibrant community of students and alumni. With a robust financial foundation and momentum toward advancing Academic Excellence, Research Growth, and Community Impact, the university is positioned for continued success and invites you to help shape its future.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President, Human Resources and CHRO is a key executive leadership position that sits on the President’s Cabinet providing visionary guidance, management, and strategic direction for all university-wide human resources programs and initiatives. The Vice President and CHRO formulates and implements future-oriented HR strategies that address business challenges, foster organizational growth, and drive long-term institutional success. The role encompasses executive oversight of critical HR functions, including Immigration & Visa Administration, Benefits Administration, Workforce Planning, Employment, Employee Relations, Professional Development, Wellness, Compensation, Human Capital Management (HCM), and Records Management. With six direct reports, the Vice President and CHRO serves as a strategic advisor, promoting best practices across the HR landscape and collaborating closely with university leaders to achieve organizational goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Strategic HR Leadership

Immigration & Visa Administration

Benefits Administration

Workforce Planning

Employment

Employee Relations

Professional Development

Wellness

Compensation

Human Capital Management (HCM) & Records

Organizational Change and HR Projects

CONTACTS

Department : Frequent contact with Human Resources leadership staff for collaboration and consultation.

University : Ongoing collaboration with senior and unit leaders across campus. Frequent contact with President’s Cabinet, Faculty Senate and Staff Advisory Council.

External : Contact with peer institutions, agencies, legal counsel, immigration specialists, and other organizations when researching, soliciting, or providing data. Regular interaction with external applicants and recruiting networks.

Students : Little or no direct student interaction.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience : Minimum 10 years of progressive Human Resources leadership; experience in higher education preferred. Demonstrated experience in a shared governance model or working effectively with faculty and staff councils. A history of successfully leading or negotiating collective bargaining agreements is highly desirable.

Education : Master’s degree required in related field.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Demonstrated success in leading large-scale strategic HR projects and initiatives, with expertise in benefits design, workforce planning, employment law, employee relations, and compensation strategy. Advanced knowledge of immigration and visa management, federal compliance, risk mitigation, and complex budget oversight. Experienced in setting organizational goals and guiding teams to align with broader missions. Skilled negotiator and communicator with a talent for building collaborative relationships throughout the university. Proficient in HCM systems, Microsoft Office, and risk management best practices, with strong financial acumen. Committed to professional development, wellness initiatives, and consistently supporting and advocating for all employees.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Competitive base salary range of $290,000 to $385,000. Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

If you are an exceptional leader with the qualifications, attributes, drive and determination required to be extraordinary, we are very interested in speaking with you. Please submit your interest including resume and letter of interest in confidence to :

Linda Gray | SVP Executive Search Non-Profit | lgray@ratliffandtaylor.com

Stacy Urbanic | Sr. Consultant Executive Search | surbanic@ratliffandtaylor.com