2024

VP of HR Job Description Examples

A Senior Vice President (VP) of Human Resources is the senior-most role in the HR department responsible for the profitable and smooth functioning of the company. A lot of a company’s success and failure depends on the VP of HR’s performance.

An experienced Vice President has what it takes to manage HR operations without hiccups. It is also important to note that many small to medium businesses may not have a Vice President position. This could be due to budgetary constraints. However, large enterprises that need constant employee engagement and strive for maximum efficiency, cannot survive without a VP of HR.

Their charismatic personality and excellent people management skills make them a valuable resource for organizational efficiency.

They also oversee and ensure the successful implementation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family, and Medical Leave Act, and other federal and state laws.

No company wants to get sued by federal and state authorities with notices and fines. This is where a VP of HR comes in to keep the company safe from any potential violations.

Two VP Of HR Job Description Samples

The VP of HR is a demanding role that requires decades of experience, skills, and knowledge in building and managing high-growth teams. We have included two VP of HR job description samples in this blog post to help you decide the most feasible one for your company.

VP of HR Job Description – Sample #1

Below you can find one detailed VP of HR job description. Feel free to use it and make changes as per your requirements.

VP of HR Job Brief

It is going to be a challenging, yet rewarding role for someone looking to cement their reputation in the field of HR.

A multinational company is looking for a Vice President of Human Resources (VP of HR) to oversee its HR plans. The competent candidate should be well-versed in using the latest HR tools and have a strong grip over HR programs and policies.

This position has a high accountability role and reports to the CEO. We want someone with over X years of experience in formulating, devising, and building successful teams over their career.

You would be directly overlooking the entire HR department, including managers and HR business partners.

We’re looking for leaders, strategic thinkers, effective people managers, and problem-solvers. Remarkable communication skills and the ability to work under pressure are two critical requirements to work for this job. If you think you have what it takes, we’d love to hear from you.

We’d appreciate you showing a solid understanding of our company and the strategies that you would come up with when hired. In your application, state what makes you different than other candidates, and how your presence would add value to our organizational success.

As someone with years of proven experience, we will rely on your input to make the HR Department and the organization as a whole successful. You are requested to thoroughly read our job description, go through our company profile and come well-prepared for the interview.

Responsibilities

As a VP of HR, here are the expected roles:

  • Manage the entire HR department
  • Provide strategic direction, leadership, and support to senior management on workforce planning.
  • Take major initiatives to drive organizational effectiveness.
  • Oversee an organization’s entire recruitment, interview, selection, and hiring processes.
  • Plan complete employee benefits, payroll, and health and safety programs.
  • Ensure implementation of universal HR processes and practices.
  • Adhere to all internal policies and legal standards.
  • Thorough understanding of union, labor, and employment laws for compliance.
  • Devise competitive compensation, benefits, performance appraisal, and employee incentive programs & policies for employees to retain the top talent.
  • Hire, train and implement dedicated HR software systems.
  • Evaluate areas of improvement and brief executives.
  • Regular collaboration with the executive to understand and align with the company’s mission and vision.
  • Identify KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
  • Determine organizational success and market competitiveness based on KPIs and other business metrics.
  • Responsible for providing guidance & leadership to the HRM team.
  • Guide HR business partners on employee relations, and grievance resolution.
  • Keep abreast with the latest trends and changes in HR strategies globally.
  • Draft, and implement an overall budget for compensation and payrolls.
  • Participate and represent the company in HR networking events, workshops, and seminars.
  • Ensure inclusion and diversity by assisting HR business partners and the entire HR department on workforce retention programs and equal opportunity.
  • Handle employee relations, discipline, and termination in lieu of company policies.

Mandatory Skills and Requirements

As a VP of HR, the company will require you to have the following set of skills:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent leadership skills.
  • Excellent public speaking skills.
  • Remarkable interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Strong analytical, supervisory, and problem-solving skills.
  • Deep understanding of labor relations, union laws, international HR processes, employment legislation, and legal regulations.
  • X+ years of experience in a similar role.
  • Thorough understanding and experience of HR functions including talent acquisition and management.
  • Thorough understanding of organizational development theory and practices.
  • Skilled in budget preparation and overall fiscal management.
  • Experienced in formulating policy for hiring, and termination.
  • Skilled in taking exit interviews and formulating policy on employee retention.
  • Analyze and assess training needs.
  • Skilled in educating and training subordinates.
  • Employee development and performance management skills.
  • Strategic planning and performance measurement skills.
  • Knowledge of alternative dispute resolution processes.
  • Hands-on experience in using the most advanced HR management software such as SAP.
  • Expert in Microsoft Office Suites such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
  • Expert in Employer Branding and Recruitment Marketing strategies.
  • Thought leader, with a proven digital media presence on social media, specifically LinkedIn.
  • Knowledge of business analysis techniques.
  • Take charge and have a sense of ownership.

The VP of HR upgrades the entire system and makes it efficient by introducing new methodologies, HR software, and policies designed to excel a company in its vision.

Depending upon the job role, you may or may not require to travel. If it is a multinational with multiple offices, you can expect to travel to meet stakeholders.

Preferred Education and Qualifications

  • Minimum of MSc/MA/Masters in Business Administration in HR required.
  • At least 20 years of HRM experience, with strategic, talent management, and/or business development experience preferred.
  • HR Certifications such as Professional in Human Resources (HR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources Certification (SPHR) are highly preferred.

A VP of HR is an educated and skilled individual, capable of working under pressure and ensuring strategic planning. Certifications certainly increase your chances of landing this job role.

VP of HR Job Description – Sample #2

Below you can find another VP of HR job description. This is similar to the previous one. Feel free to make changes and use the one feasible for your company.

VP of HR Job Brief

We are a leading Fortune 500 company and always strive to be the best in what we do. With a global presence in over 50 countries and 4 continents, we are constantly working to improve our workforce diversity, and remain in one of the Top 20 best multinationals to work.

But this global expansion isn’t without challenges. We’re living in unprecedented times with rapid changes in hiring trends. As such, we are always aiming to be the early adopters of change. And to help us in achieving this goal, we need a VP (Vice President) of HR.

To apply for this position, you must have exceptional management, leadership and strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. Other than this, you also need to be excellent in people management skills. Your job will require frequent travel within the Asian region. Therefore, we need someone who does not have a problem meeting new people, handling their queries, and coming up with actionable plans. If this is something that resonates with your skills and abilities, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

As a VP of HR, here are the expected roles:

  • Organize and direct the employees, in procedures related to recruitment, employment, salary administration, benefits management, and training and development.
  • Identify, and improve the key performance indicators (KPIs) in the company.
  • Maintain a thorough understanding of labor laws.
  • Collaborate with the senior management to craft the organization’s strategy.
  • Analyzing the success of HR operations.
  • Help the digital marketing department to improve company presence on LinkedIn.
  • Re-engineer process with maximum efficiency.
  • Have at least X years of relevant industry experience.

Mandatory Skills and Requirements

As a VP of HR, the company will require you to have the following set of skills:

  • Relevant industry experience.
  • Expertise in using SAP, HRMS, and any other relevant HR software.
  • Exceptional people-management and communication skills.
  • Expert in planning, developing and implementing successful HR strategies.

Preferred Education and Qualifications

  • At least a Master’s in HRM, or Ph.D. is preferred.
  • HR Certifications such as Professional in Human Resources (HR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources Certification (SPHR) are highly preferred.

A VP of HR is an educated and skilled individual, capable of working under pressure and ensuring strategic planning. Certifications certainly increase your chances of landing this job role.

Final Thoughts

The Vice President of Human Resources does more than hire. It is a rewarding career that comes with many challenges. It is important to hire the right person based on their relevant years of industry experience.

They should also have excellent problem-solving and arbitration skills to resolve internal and external disputes.

Toxic work environments are devastating for employees, and hinder a company’s growth. VP of HR provides room for growth, learning, and a productive environment necessary fo

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Josh Fechter
Josh Fechter is the founder of HR.University. He's a certified HR professional and has managed global teams across 5 different continents including their benefits and payroll. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.