JEFFREY ROWLAND
North Wales
Summary
Strategic human resources executive with extensive leadership experience in complex higher education environments. Successfully aligned human capital strategies with institutional missions, enhancing organizational effectiveness and stability. Experienced in leading enterprise labor strategies and modernizing HR functions to navigate institutional complexity.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director of Human Resources
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
01.2018 - Current
- Senior HR leader within one of the nation’s most complex, decentralized Ivy League institutions, advising leadership across schools and administrative divisions.
- Lead enterprise labor strategy as chief spokesperson for collective bargaining impacting 20,000+ employees and student workers across multiple unions.
- Direct labor relations framework, including grievance, arbitration, and dispute resolution, mitigating institutional risk and strengthening labor-management stability.
- Advised institutional leadership on workforce strategy, organizational effectiveness, and labor relations in highly decentralized, faculty-driven environment.
- Partner across academic and administrative units to align human capital strategy with institutional priorities, financial sustainability, and long-term workforce planning.
- Transformed performance management processes, enhancing completion rates and reinforcing leadership accountability across the University.
- Modernized HR operations through implementation of Workday-enabled processes, ensuring consistency, transparency, and operational efficiency.
- Designed and executed workforce strategies during COVID-19, including voluntary separation programs aligned with financial and operational objectives.
- Lead institutional economic inclusion strategy, advancing supplier diversity and workforce inclusion initiatives aligned with university values.
- Provide leadership across HR functions with oversight of 55+ indirect reports and a multi-million-dollar operating budget.
Associate Director, Staff & Labor Relations
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
01.2013 - 01.2018
- Led development and implementation of university-wide labor relations policies, improving consistency and compliance across departments.
- Resolved high-profile labor disputes through mediation and strategic negotiation, reducing institutional risk exposure.
- Advised senior leadership on labor strategy and workforce policy, enhancing organizational response to employment risks in a complex academic environment.
- Designed and delivered management training on employee relations and compliance, equipping leaders with essential skills for effective performance management.
Manager, Staff & Labor Relations
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
01.2007 - 01.2013
- Supported collective bargaining negotiations among multiple unions, fostering collaborative relationships in a highly unionized environment.
- Developed proactive labor strategies to enhance workplace climate and decrease frequency of disputes.
- Managed grievance and arbitration processes across university, ensuring consistency and mitigating risk exposure.
Manager, Corporate Labor Relations
Hertz Corporation
Estero
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Directed enterprise labor strategy to mitigate unionization risks and implement decertification initiatives.
- Led negotiation of 125+ collective bargaining agreements covering 5,000 employees across North America.
- Delivered executive-level training on labor relations and negotiation strategies to enhance leadership capabilities.
Human Resource Generalist
GlaxoSmithKline
Philadelphia
05.2000 - 01.2004
- HR Support: Delivered comprehensive HR support to General Pharmaceuticals Sales division, advising on organizational development, employee relations, and policy administration to enhance team effectiveness.
- Policy Administration: Oversaw development and interpretation of HR policies, ensuring consistent application across business units to support organizational compliance.
- Diversity Initiatives: Facilitated diversity recruitment and retention initiatives in collaboration with senior leadership, fostering a more inclusive workplace culture.
Senior Benefits Consultant
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Harrisburg
02.1996 - 05.2000
- Client Consultation: Consulted with large national and local employers on health and life insurance options, designing cost-effective benefits packages tailored to client needs.
- Analyzed employee benefits data to deliver actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
- Assisted in designing innovative benefits packages that align with employee needs and preferences.
- Cost Management: Collaborated with senior management to implement managed care products that reduced overall healthcare costs for clients.
Instructor (Labor Relations & Negotiation)
Pennsylvania State University
Malvern
02.1996 - 01.2000
- Curriculum Development: Developed and taught courses on Labor Relations, Contract Negotiation, and Grievance Handling for adult continuing education students. Created workshops that blended theoretical concepts with practical applications.
- Student Engagement: Fostered a dynamic learning environment through interactive workshops and real-world case studies, improving student comprehension of complex labor relations topics.
- Developed course materials for diverse student populations.
- Facilitated engaging classroom discussions to enhance learning experiences.
- Evaluated student performance through assignments and examinations.
Business Representative (Chief Negotiator; 3,000+ members)
UNITE
Gaithersburg
06.1992 - 02.1996
- Managed labor relations for 17 local unions, representing over 3,000 members in negotiations, grievance proceedings, and arbitration to protect member interests.
- Negotiated collective bargaining agreements as Chief Negotiator, securing advantageous contract terms for union members.
Education
Master of Arts - Industrial & Labor Relations
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PABachelor of Science - Human Resource Management
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PASkills
- Enterprise HR Strategy & Transformation
- Talent Strategy & Workforce Planning
- Organizational Effectiveness & Change Leadership
- Leadership Development & Succession Planning
- Executive & Board-Level Advising
- Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining
- Risk Management & Compliance
- Workforce analytics
- HR Operations & Technology (Workday)
- Culture, Engagement & Inclusion
Affiliations
- CUPA-HR
- Ivy Plus Employee & Labor Relations
- SHRM – Southeastern Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Council of Mediators
- Former President, NAAAHR Philadelphia
Executive Development
- ARU-HRI CHRO Academy (R1 University CHRO Preparation)
- Workplace Investigations Certification
- Mediation & Dispute Resolution Certification
- Fiduciary Health & Welfare Fund Certification
Board Community Leadership
- Board Member & HR Committee Chair, Maternity Care Coalition
- Health & Welfare Fund Board Member, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 835
Company
R1 Higher Education
Personal Information
Title: Enterprise Human Resources Executive
Earlier Career Experience
- GlaxoSmithKline, Human Resource Generalist
- Blue Cross Blue Shield, Senior Benefits Consultant
- Pennsylvania State University, Instructor (Labor Relations & Negotiation)
- UNITE, Business Representative (Chief Negotiator; 3,000+ members)
Core Leadership Capabilities
- Enterprise HR Strategy & Transformation
- Executive & Board-Level Advising
- Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining
- Organizational Effectiveness & Change Leadership
- Talent Strategy & Workforce Planning
- Culture, Engagement & Inclusion
- HR Operations & Technology (Workday)
- Risk Management & Compliance
- Leadership Development & Succession Planning
Timeline
Executive Director of Human Resources
University of Pennsylvania
01.2018 - Current
Associate Director, Staff & Labor Relations
University of Pennsylvania
01.2013 - 01.2018
Manager, Staff & Labor Relations
University of Pennsylvania
01.2007 - 01.2013
Manager, Corporate Labor Relations
Hertz Corporation
01.2004 - 01.2007
Human Resource Generalist
GlaxoSmithKline
05.2000 - 01.2004
Senior Benefits Consultant
Blue Cross Blue Shield
02.1996 - 05.2000
Instructor (Labor Relations & Negotiation)
Pennsylvania State University
02.1996 - 01.2000
Business Representative (Chief Negotiator; 3,000+ members)
UNITE
06.1992 - 02.1996
Master of Arts - Industrial & Labor Relations
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science - Human Resource Management
Indiana University of Pennsylvania