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As Interim Vice President & Chief Human Resource Officer, Jennifer’s responsibilities for the WSU system include:

• Leading, directing, and facilitating a comprehensive human resources program for the WSU system
• Building human resource strategies along the employee life cycle from recruitment to succession planning
• Developing a compensation structure for administrative professional staff
• Fostering working relationships with other higher education human resource departments, state agencies, and the regulatory agencies that oversee classified employment and labor relations
• Developing and implementing policies, procedures, and programs consistent with the strategic plan that support the University’s land grant mission; and functioning as the University’s Personnel Officer

WSU Human Resource Services Leadership Team

Administration is responsible for triaging all inquiries received through the HRS front desk via phone, email and in-person visits. This unit is also responsible for the WSU Employee Recognition Programs including length of service awards, Crimson Spirit Award, the President’s Excellence Award, the annual Quarter Century Club breakfast, and the annual Employee Recognition Reception.

Medical Leaves and Accommodations is responsible for overseeing and providing a host of system-wide disability and leave related programs and services including medical and shared leaves, long-term disability claims, reasonable accommodation, workers’ compensation and mandated drug and alcohol testing. The unit is responsible for ensuring program compliance with state and federal laws and rules for associated programs.

Benefits is responsible for implementing and overseeing a host of system-wide benefits related programs and services including benefits and retirement administration. Serves as primary contact to the Health Care Authority (HCA), Department of Retirement Systems (DRS), TIAA and the various benefit vendors. Responsible for ensuring WSU benefits and retirement programs are in compliance with state and federal regulations, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and 403b programs.

Employee Records and Compliance is responsible for providing system-wide administration of personnel information for administrative professional, classified, faculty, temporary/hourly, and graduate students. Ensures compliance with state and federal laws including I-9 processing.

Employment Services, includes classification/compensation, recruitment/talent acquisition, learning and organizational development and employee relations. Employment Services (ES) is responsible for providing consultation and guidance to executive leadership, managers, supervisors, and employees in compliance with applicable laws, policies, rules, regulations, and procedures. ES assists colleges/areas in strategic planning in key HR areas, as well as oversees the Mentorship, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, WSU Employee Engagement and Exit Survey programs.

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The HCM Modernization unit streamlines university functions through the implementation of enterprise software (Workday) for human resources, payroll, and finance. Core Human Resource functions include: absence management, benefits administration, compensation, position description and recruitment management, position management, and time and leave administration.

The Information Systems unit manages Human Resource Services network, applications, and communications infrastructure to allow HRS to assist individuals with their employment needs. The unit provides services and support to WSU HRS units and staff to ensure all goals are met.

Labor Relations is responsible for the negotiation and administration of WSU’s Collective Bargaining Agreements and providing labor relations services to executive leadership, managers, supervisors, and employees. The unit manages the relationship between WSU bargaining units and associated Unions. The unit is responsible for ensuring program compliance with state and federal labor relations laws and rules.

WSU is Washington’s land-grant university with campuses located statewide in Everett, Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver. WSU also has research centers located throughout the state, extension offices in every county, and offers online degree programs that are accessible worldwide.