DRAFDRA
Vice President for Human Resources
March 2016
Position Profile
Kent State University invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President for
Human Resources. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, the
Vice President is the senior officer responsible for the oversight of the human resources
division.
KSU desires an experienced Vice President of Human
Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) who
will lead the transformation of Kent State University’s
Human Resources Division in alignment with the
objectives set forth in the new Strategic Vision,
Roadmap, and University-Level Initiatives (ULIs).
Mission Statement
“Kent State University transforms
lives and communities through
the power of discovery, learning
and creative expression in an
inclusive environment.”
Kent State University Overview
Kent State University is one of the largest public
multicampus systems in the nation, with campuses serving nine Ohio communities and a
population of more than 41,000 students, 4,053 full-time faculty and staff members and nearly
230,000 alumni worldwide.
The university’s Kent Campus has a student body of nearly 29,000 and a thriving residential
population of more than 6,400. Its seven regional campuses draw full- and part-time students,
now totaling more than 12,000, from across Northeast Ohio: Kent State at Ashtabula; Kent State
at East Liverpool; Kent State at Geauga in Burton and the Regional Academic Center in
Twinsburg; Kent State at Salem; Kent State at Stark in Canton; Kent State at Trumbull in
Warren; and Kent State at Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia.
Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine is located in Independence, near downtown
Cleveland. The Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative is the combined home of the urban
design graduate program and the public service activities of the College of Architecture and
Environmental Design; the center offers architectural and urban design expertise to urban
communities, design professionals, and nonprofit and academic partners in Cleveland and
Northeast Ohio. In addition, Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science offers the
Master of Library and Information Science degree program to residents of central and southern
Ohio at its site in the State Library of Ohio in Columbus. Outside of Ohio, located in the heart of
the New York City’s Garment District, the Kent State Fashion School’s NYC Studio offers a
unique academic experience to further students’ studies in fashion design, fashion
merchandising and fashion journalism.
The university offers more than 200 global education opportunities at its campuses in Florence,
Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland; centers in China and India; as well as partnerships with 60
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institutes and universities across the globe from Columbia to Vietnam and Germany to Kenya.
The Kent Campus is a global education destination in its own right, serving as home to 3,000
students hailing from 110 countries.
Kent State is proud of its outstanding faculty and staff, students, collaborative culture,
exceptional academic and research orientation, and strong commitment to engagement,
academic excellence and diversity. The university offers more than 282 associate and
baccalaureate degree programs. Kent State serves the state, the nation and the world through
165 graduate programs. Academic programs are organized into 10 colleges and one
independent school: Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology; Architecture and
Environmental Design; Arts and Sciences; the Arts; Business Administration; Communication
and Information; Education, Health and Human Services; Nursing; Podiatric Medicine; and
Public Health, as well as the School of Digital Sciences.
Kent State has received two prominent rankings in the new 2016 edition of Best Colleges by
U.S. News & World Report. Kent State is ranked among the top 100 national public schools in
the Top Public Schools list, and it holds a coveted spot in the first-tier list of Best National
Universities category in the ranking of public, private and for-profit institutions nationwide. And
the university is hailed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching among the
nation’s top 74 public high-research universities. Kent State is the only Ohio university – public
or private – to make this year’s list of “Great Colleges to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher
Education. This is the university’s fifth time in six years to receive this designation. As an engine
for economic, cultural and workforce development, Kent State generates $1.96 billion annually
in added income to the Northeast Ohio economy.
Kent State University is an affiliate of the National Association of State Universities and Land
Grant Colleges and is accredited without reservation, by the North Central Association of
Colleges.
Committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive
excellence, the university strives for a culturally diverse student body, faculty, and staff that
reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and the world. The Division of Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion was created in 2009 with a mission to promote diversity, equity and
inclusion across all eight Kent State campuses.
As mentioned earlier, Kent State has one of the largest regional systems in the nation, offering
programs from computer technology and nursing to arts and humanities. The university’s wealth
of intellectual, physical and cultural resources makes it a whole that has a far greater impact
than the sum of its parts. As one university with multiple campuses, Kent State serves as an
economic driver and regional cornerstone in communities throughout Northeast Ohio. Regional
campus students gain the advantage of attending a distinguished university in Ohio with the
friendly, casual atmosphere of small liberal arts colleges. Students can choose from 40
associate degrees at seven campuses, where they can begin coursework toward any of Kent
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State’s more than 282 bachelor’s degree programs. Small class sizes, affordable tuition and
one-on-one advising are just a few reasons why more than 12,000 students attend Kent State’s
regional campuses.
About Kent State Human Resources Division
The Human Resources Division serves Kent State University’s full and part-time employees.
The division works to attain the university diversity and inclusion agenda by working with hiring
authorities to recruit and retain talented and diverse faculty and staff and create a welcoming,
affirming, and empowering culture of respect and inclusion. The division promotes leading
practices in developing and recognizing outstanding faculty and staff, as well as enhancing
communications to employees at all campuses. The division further strives to serve as
consultant, partner, and advisor to all departments on a wide range of compliance and noncompliance issues; facilitates professional development of employees; and promotes effective
employee communication in the university community.
Currently, the division is a key collaborator in a university-wide healthy campus initiative. Kent
State has adopted the Healthy Campus 2020 model as outlined by the American College Health
Association (ACHA, website: https://www.acha.org/). Division staff will be critical to the success
of an employee wellness program as part of the Healthy Campus 2020 initiative. Additional
information on the Healthy Campus 2020 initiative is available at:
https://www.acha.org/healthycampus
The division is comprised of the departments of Benefits and Wellness, Communications,
Compensation, Employee/Labor Relations, Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action, HR
Engagement & Outreach, Records, Talent Acquisition and Training & Organizational
Development. The division is a key leader in oversight and response to reports of gender
discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct. The Title IX Coordinator for the
university is housed in Human Resources and is a critical partner serving on the Sexual Assault
Advisory Board, Sexual Assault Response Team, and the overall education of the university
community on these issues. For more information about the Division of Human Resources and
to review the HR Organizational Chart and Strategic Plan, please visit their website at:
https://www.kent.edu/hr/message-vice-president-human-resources.
The Vice President will join a dedicated team led by Dr. Mark M. Polatajko, CPA who joined
Kent State University in January 2016 and serves as the senior vice president for Finance and
Administration.
He is responsible for the overall leadership of the Division of Business and Finance which
includes: financial reporting, budget, business and administration services, compliance and risk
management, facilities planning and operations, human resources, internal audit and public
safety.
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Polatajko has over 15 years of senior fiscal management experience in both government and
not for profit organizations. Polatajko earned his doctorate in urban education from Cleveland
State University, specializing in leadership and lifelong learning. He is a transformational,
collaborative and strategic leader focused on delivering a successful client/customer service
model.
The Position
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Duties/essential functions may include, but not be limited to, the following:
 Provide overall leadership for the Division of Human Resources. Develop long and short
range goals for the Division.
 Serve as a member of the university’s executive leadership; assist in formulating and
administering University policies and procedures; assist in development of plans and
initiatives that align with the university-level strategic initiatives.
 Provide general support for the Board of Trustees in the area of Human Resources.
 Serve as an advisor to the President, Cabinet and clients on Human Resource related
issues.
 Serve on various department, division, and University committees; represent the
Division on University bodies, committees, councils, etc.
 Fulfill responsibilities of human resource management including equal opportunity,
affirmative action, benefits, wellness, training and organizational development,
compensation, records, talent acquisition and employee engagement.
 Oversee university Title IX Coordinator; collaborating across divisions, serve as key
leader in prevention and report investigation of gender/sexual harassment, sexual
assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, and noncompliance to gender stereotypes.
Be knowledgeable and lead campus response and review of university policies and
procedures with respect to Title IX issues for institutions of higher education.
 Provide leadership for HR initiatives in a changing environment while working
collaboratively with university leaders.
 Achieve human resources strategic and financial objectives in support of the university's
strategic and financial goals.
 Provide leadership to advance the division's mission of attracting, retaining, and
developing a community of talented and diverse individuals in support of the university's
strategic plan.
 Provide leadership to support best practices in providing customer service to HR’s
internal and external clients.
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 Be able to look, seek and consider objective data to implement decision-making
processes.
 Perform related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited
institution; minimum of 10 years progressively responsible experience in higher education or
similarly complex organization with a concentration in human resources. A successful record in
change management; proven strategic leadership experience in the areas of organizational
effectiveness, employee/labor relations, and performance management; comprehensive
knowledge of employment and labor laws, and a record of implementing process and systems.
The candidate will bring experience with human resource transformation that goes beyond
incremental change, but will help KSU rethink our business operating models.
Salary
The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applicant Review
Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is
made.
How to Apply
A complete application will include a letter describing relevant experiences and interest in the
position; current curriculum vitae; and the names of five references with titles, mailing
addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses. Individuals who wish to nominate a
candidate should submit a letter of nomination, including the name, position, address, telephone
number, and email address of the nominee. Greenwood/Asher & Associates, an executive
search firm, is assisting Kent State University in the search. Applicants should be aware that
materials submitted may be subject to disclosure under the Ohio Public Records Act.
Applications and letters of nominations should be submitted to:
Jan Greenwood or Betty Turner Asher
Debra Cruce, Senior Executive Search Consultant
Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc.
42 Business Centre Drive, Suite 206
Miramar Beach, Florida 32550
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Phone: 850-650-2277 / Fax: 850-650-2272
Email: jangreenwood@greenwoodsearch.com
Email: bettyasher@greenwoodsearch.com
Email: debracruce@greenwoodsearch.com
For more information about Kent State University, please visit the
website: http://www.kent.edu/
Kent State University is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of
individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and
the inclusion of all members of the community including those that experience discrimination or
under representation. This is a core value of the organization as we strive for a culturally diverse
student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and our world
and bring unique strengths and abilities which contribute to our pursuit of excellence.
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