The UTIA Human Resources Consultant serves as a senior, internally facing HR consultant and generalist who partners with leaders across a large, decentralized academic enterprise. You will diagnose workforce and organizational needs, apply policy and precedent, and frame evidence-based options (not decisions) that strengthen leadership decision-making. The portfolio includes complex employee relations, HR projects/continuous improvement, HRIS-enabled reporting and data interpretation, compensation partnership, and organizational effectiveness support (e.g., role clarity and change navigation). This position is one of five peer HR Consultant roles that work closely as a team—sharing expertise, ideating together, and providing backup support—and reports to the Director of Human Resources for UTIA.

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The UTIA Human Resources Consultant is a senior individual contributor who partners with leaders across a large, decentralized academic enterprise to address complex workforce and organizational challenges. This role provides trusted, consultative HR expertise—coaching leaders, managing sensitive employee relations matters, and applying policy, precedent, and data into clear, decision ready options. The position works collaboratively within a small team of peer HR Consultants and closely with UTK HR partners to support employee lifecycle processes, workforce planning, and continuous improvement initiatives. Based in Knoxville with a regular on campus presence, this role is ideal for experienced HR professionals who lead through expertise, influence, and sound judgment rather than formal authority.

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Required Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience).
• Experience:
  • 5 or more years of progressive HR experience in a large, complex, decentralized organization, including consultative leader advising and employee relations.
  • Demonstrated skill in influencing without authority, applying policy/precedent, and managing sensitive matters with discretion and sound judgment.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Development, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, or related field.
• Experience:
  • Higher education and/or complex public-sector experience; familiarity with shared governance dynamics.
  • Experience working in a partnered HR service model with centers of expertise (e.g., compensation, employee relations, recruiting, operations).
  • Project/workstream leadership and organizational effectiveness experience (e.g., workforce planning, organizational design, change-impact assessment).
  • HRIS reporting/analytics capability and comfort using emerging tools (including AI where appropriate) to improve insights and service delivery while protecting confidential information.

Self Selection Information:

• Great fit if you bring strong HR generalist experience and enjoy complex, consultative work in a matrixed academic environment (influence without authority).
• May not be a fit if you are early in your HR career and want highly structured direction or have limited experience independently navigating complex workplace/people issues.
• Role structure: this is a senior individual contributor role (no direct reports), ideal for HR professionals who prefer to lead through expertise, partnership, and influence rather than formal people management.

Work Location:

• Knoxville, TN (UTIA Campus)

• Hybrid – Must be available to work on campus, generally three days per week, as a regularly scheduled and predictable in-person presence.

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT market range: MR11

• Anticipated hiring range: $67,000 – $77,000 annually

• Salary offer will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Candidates with directly relevant experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications for this role may be considered above the anticipated hiring range, consistent with university policy and internal equity considerations.

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before April 18, 2026.

• Resume

• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division:

At UTIA, we’re not just solving problems—we’re delivering Real. Life. Solutions. Through teaching, research, and Extension programs, UTIA advances the university’s land-grant mission by serving Tennessee and communities around the world. Please visit UTIA’s website to learn more about UTIA’s mission driven culture and work. Find out more about UTIA at: https://utia.tennessee.edu

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Key Responsibilities:

• Advise and coach leaders on workforce and organizational matters—diagnosing issues, applying policy/precedent, and framing evidence-based options.
• Manage complex, sensitive employee relations matters from intake through resolution with timely, well-documented case handling and defensible rationale; coordinate escalation and partner engagement when appropriate.
• Lead HR projects and continuous-improvement workstreams—aligning stakeholders, defining deliverables, and driving implementation.
• Partner with UTK HR centers of expertise to coordinate employee lifecycle transactions and position management; use HRIS reporting and workforce data to provide decision-ready insights; contribute to peer-team knowledge sharing and backup coverage.
• Recommend and assess workforce changes that enable individual and organizational success, including adoption of new technologies, culture initiatives, and employee engagement strategies.