Georgetown University comprises two unique campuses in the nation’s capital. With the Hilltop Campus located in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, and the Capitol Campus, just minutes from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, Georgetown University offers rigorous academic programs, a global perspective, and unparalleled opportunities to engage with Washington, D.C. Our community is a close-knit group of remarkable individuals driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a shared dedication to making a difference in the world.
Requirements
Application Requirements
WittKieffer is supporting Georgetown University in this search. For greatest consideration, applicants should submit a resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile here AND to WittKieffer's candidate portal by May 6, 2026. You may also submit inquiries and nominations (handled confidentially) to the same portal. Inquiries may also be directed to:
Job Requirements
Georgetown University, one of the world’s leading Jesuit academic and research institutions, located in the nation’s capital, seeks a driven, dynamic, and strategic leader to serve as the next Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. This is an exceptionally exciting opportunity for a modern executive to shape how people, culture, and organizational capability support and advance the University’s priorities at a time of strength, forward momentum, and renewal.
Founded in 1789 at the beginning of the republic and drawing upon the 450-year-old legacy of Jesuit education, Georgetown University offers a world-class learning experience focused on educating the whole person to prepare the next generation of global citizens to lead and make a difference. These values are at the core of Georgetown’s identity, binding members of the community across diverse backgrounds. This is a vibrant community of exceptional students, faculty, staff, and alumni dedicated to real-world applications of research, scholarship, faith, and service. Georgetown is also one of the largest employers in Washington, DC, with over 10,000 employees across multiple campuses and academic units, including the Main Campus, Medical Center, Law Center, and global programs, and is a major economic driver for the city and the region. Within Washington, DC, Georgetown has two primary locations – it’s historic Hilltop Campus and it’s Capitol Campus, just steps from the U.S. Capitol. It also has numerous international campus locations, including in Qatar, England, Indonesia and more.
Georgetown University’s 10 schools offer a wide variety of intellectually rigorous courses and programs designed to prepare students for many disparate careers and guide them toward their intellectual and professional goals. Ranked 12th in the country by the Wall Street Journal and 24th in the US News, the University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as professional law, medical, nursing, business, and public policy degrees, medical residencies (through MedStar Health), post-doctoral positions, and a growing number of specialized certificates and continuing education programs. Georgetown enrolled 19,905 students in Fall 2025, 7,908 undergraduate students and 11,997 graduate students, from all 50 states and more than 151 countries. Georgetown has an approximate $2 billion annual operating budget, and its endowment is currently valued at $4.2 billion as of the end of calendar year 2025, ranking it the 41st largest endowment among US colleges and universities.
Reporting to David Green, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (VP/CHRO) serves as a key member of the University's senior leadership team and as a valued advisor to senior leadership on all human resource matters. Recognized as Georgetown's senior human capital strategist, the VP/CHRO is responsible for directing the University’s overall strategic and operational human resources functions, providing direction and leadership in the planning, development, and implementation of meaningful and measurable programs and services in furtherance of the University’s mission and values. Key functional areas of oversight include talent acquisition and development, employee relations, policy, classification, compensation, organizational development, benefits (including the Hoya Kids Learning Center and Faculty & Staff Assistance Program), and HRIS. Leading a team of approximately 80 staff across the division, the VP/CHRO develops organizational strategies and implements best-in-class HR initiatives, programs, and support across the University.
This is a pivotal moment for Georgetown University and for the human resources function. The next VP/CHRO will enter the role during a period of leadership transition with the arrival of President Eduardo Peñalver in July 2026. The leader will be charged with repositioning HR as a driver for building organizational capacity; building upon the strengths of the HR organization while elevating the function’s service delivery, strategic impact and sense of urgency; leading the modernization of HR processes, policies, and practices in a complex, values-driven academic environment; and positioning HR as a proactive, enterprise-wide partner that anticipates workforce needs, supporting retention in critical areas, and helping leaders across the institution think holistically about talent, structure, and organizational effectiveness.
The successful candidate will bring a reputation as a forward-looking strategic leader and change agent with a bias for action; experience positioning human resources as a lever for organizational effectiveness and cultural stewardship, as well as the judgment, credibility, and relational skills necessary to lead within a mission-driven and highly collaborative academic environment. A bachelor's degree and a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible senior-level human resources leadership experience, including supervisory experience, in a similarly complex mission-driven organization, are required. A master's degree in human resources or another relevant field, and HR certification (e.g., PHR, SPHR, SHRM-SCP) are highly desirable. While experience in higher education is valued but not required, Georgetown welcomes candidates from outside the academy who demonstrate adaptability, learning agility, and the ability to understand and navigate the culture and pace of an academic environment with diverse constituencies. A comprehensive leadership profile can be found at wittkieffer.com.
Salary Range
The anticipated salary range for the opportunity is $425,000 - $600,000, commensurate with experience.
Current Georgetown Employees:
If you currently work at Georgetown University, please exit this website and login to GMS (gms.georgetown.edu) using your Net ID and password. Then select the Career worklet on your GMS Home dashboard to view Jobs at Georgetown.
Submission Guidelines:
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at Georgetown University you must submit a resume for each position of interest for which you believe you are qualified. Documents are not kept on file for future positions.
Need Assistance:
If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process, please visit the Office for Equal Opportunity Compliance website for general information about requesting accommodations, as well as information about requesting accommodations specifically for applicants. You also can also contact the Office for Equal Opportunity Compliance at (202) 687-4798 or oeoc@georgetown.edu.
Need some assistance with the application process? Please call 202-687-2500. For more information about the suite of benefits, professional development and community involvement opportunities that make up Georgetown's commitment to its employees, please visit the Georgetown Works website.
EEO Statement:
GU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship, color, disability, family responsibilities, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, matriculation, national origin, race, religion, personal appearance, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Benefits:
Georgetown University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, retirement savings, tuition assistance, work-life balance benefits, employee discounts and an array of voluntary insurance options. You can learn more about benefits and eligibility on the Department of Human Resources website.