Senior Workforce Development & Inclusion Specialist

The Senior Workforce Development and Inclusion Specialist is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating strategic initiatives that drive talent development, workforce pipeline programs, and belonging and inclusion. This role will partner across the organization and with external stakeholders to identify workforce needs, develop targeted solutions, and ensure an inclusive workplace culture that supports OU Health's goals. The ideal candidate should drive operational excellence by being collaborative and relationship-focused, understanding how to manage complex programs and projects, leveraging data for decision-making, and implementing best practices that enhance efficiency, quality, and organizational impact. This candidate must be passionate about creating pathways to opportunity and advancing a workforce where everyone feels valued.

Essential Responsibilities:
The Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position.The Inability to perform these responsibilities with or without an accommodation may result in disqualification from the position.

• Support the Director of Workforce Development and Inclusion in defining and operationalizing the strategic vision for Workforce Development and Inclusion at OU Health.

• Develop and implement strategic workforce development and belonging and inclusion initiatives that align with our People and Culture aspiration to be Oklahoma's Employer of Choice for top talent.

• Oversee daily operations of workforce development programs (Healthcare Career Explorers, MHA Fellows, Internships, etc.)

• Partner with external organizations, nonprofits, and industry groups to enhance workforce and community engagement initiatives that ensure all employees at OU Health feel valued.

• Provide governance support for OU Health Belonging Networks to ensure alignment with the enterprise Belonging and Inclusion (B&I) strategy.

• Serve as a liaison between networks and leadership, ensuring visibility and impact measurement.

• Promote Workforce Development programs and Belonging Networks to enhance employee experience.

• Work closely with senior leadership, HR, and business units to ensure all initiatives support the talent lifecycle at OU Health.

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and scalability of inclusion and workforce development programs.

• Lead data collection and reporting efforts to measure the effectiveness of programs and make data-driven recommendations.

• Complete ad-hoc and special projects based on business needs and changes.

General Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or Business administration preferred.

• Master's degree preferred.

Experience: 5+ years in Human Resources, Talent Management or related field.

Licensure/Certifications/Registrations: SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, SPHR, PHR, or other approved relevant certification at the time of hire or attainment within 12 months of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• In-depth understanding of workforce development and inclusion principles, with the ability to apply them in an organizational setting.

• Ability to envision and communicate the strategic vision for the department.

• High cultural competency with the ability to navigate and appreciate different perspectives and backgrounds.

• Maintain high emotional intelligence to support employees in sensitive situations.

• Strong executive presence that inspires and drive organizational change.

• Remains current on industry trends, best practices, and emergent issues related to Workforce Development and Inclusion.

• Effective project management skills to plan and execute.

• Proficient in data analysis and interpretation to assess the impact of workforce development and inclusion initiatives.

• Collaborative leadership style, with the ability to build strong relationships and work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Exhibits follow-through and meets deadlines effectively and efficiently.

• Know how to advocate and address employee-related challenges (bias, discrimination, etc.) with solid conflict resolution skills.

• Knows how to think proactively and use critical thinking skills to develop innovative and creative solutions to overcome organizational barriers.

• Ability to develop quick turn-around, practical recommendations based on data and research to inform strategic decisions.

• Excellent and practical oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information in an approachable manner.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

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