Can the vice president of a company also work in HR?

Yes, the vice president of a company can work in the HR department. A vice president of HR is an important position and plays a critical role in many companies. Differing from a company vice president who oversees all aspects of a company from production to staffing to marketing, an HR vice president is responsible for running a company's human resources department. These executives are considered part of the management team and have specifically defined responsibilities.

How long does it take to become a VP of HR?

It can take 11 to 15 years to become a VP of HR. There are variables regarding education and certification that can impact the timeline of someone seeking this position. Becoming a VP of HR begins with securing a job in human resources. Those working in and running HR departments typically hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in either business or human resources management.

Who reports to a VP of HR?

Several positions report to the vice president of human resources. Depending on the company's size, numerous positions may report to a VP of HR. Corporate structures often determine a reporting hierarchy within a company. Human resources managers oversee the employees and department issues daily. In smaller companies, these individuals will oversee HR employees and report directly to the VP of HR.

What is a human resources vice president and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Sandi Dornhecker

A human resources vice president is a high-level executive who oversees the HR department. They develop strategies to attract, retain and manage employees, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. They lead the recruitment process, manage employee relations, and handle compensation programs. A human resources vice president also influences culture development and change management. They work with leaders to align HR policies with company goals. Success in this role requires communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

What general advice would you give to a human resources vice president?

Sandi Dornhecker

Vice President of Human Resources, Chicago Zoological Society

To always remain positive. The job market has been flooded with unemployed workers, so the competition may be much steeper than usual, although I've read some articles that say this may not be the case as the number of quality applicants in the workforce remains the same. If you haven't found a position in your desired career yet, take positions and work when and where you can. Give it your all while you are working, strive to excel in your performance, no matter what your job is, and be a dedicated worker while you are there. If one is looking for employment, take your time to review the job(s) and requirements of the positions you are applying for to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications and/or are able to speak to how your skills are transferable; don't just take a shotgun approach. Write a customized cover letter for each position you apply for that reflects how your knowledge, background, and skills apply to the position and why you are interested. Answer all on-line application questions honestly and thoroughly. Write a thank-you note, if you are granted an interview. When you start a new job, be a sponge. Learn as much as you can and be willing to go the extra mile. This is a unique year to start one's career, and a graduate can learn unique lessons in both positive and challenging experiences.

ScoreHuman Resources Vice PresidentUS Average

Salary

9.4

Avg. Salary $169,647

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.71%

Black or African American 7.65%

Hispanic or Latino 11.14%

Unknown 5.09%

White 70.01%

Gender

female 50.55%

male 49.45%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a human resources vice president?

Pros

High salary and compensation
Exposure to diverse aspects of business operations
Opportunity to develop and implement policies and procedures
Opportunities for professional development and networking
Meaningful contributions to employee well-being and satisfaction

Cons

High-pressure role with significant responsibility
Long hours, including evenings and weekends
Legal compliance risks require constant vigilance and attention to detail
Limited ability to control external factors such as economic conditions or market trends
Can be emotionally challenging when dealing with difficult employee situations

Key steps to become a human resources vice president

Explore human resources vice president education requirements

Most common human resources vice president degrees

Bachelor's

71.7 %

Master's

19.7 %

Associate

4.3 %

Start to develop specific human resources vice president skills

Skills	Percentages
Employee Engagement	6.50%
Succession Planning	6.22%
HRIS	5.31%
Payroll	5.27%
Workforce Planning	4.27%

Research human resources vice president duties and responsibilities

Manage staff, administration, financial operations, A/R, A/P, budget.
Manage the grievance process, working with supervisors and managers, and present information at grievance hearings and arbitrations.
Manage salary, benefits, policy and EEO administration to ensure compliance with internal procedures and practices and external regulatory requirements.
Enable dismissal EEO cases by properly handling complaint and developing supporting documentation.

Get human resources vice president experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a human resources vice president. The most common roles before becoming a human resources vice president include director of human resources, human resources manager team lead and human resources coordinator.

Prepare your human resources vice president resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your human resources vice president resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a human resources vice president resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable human resources vice president resume templates

Build a professional human resources vice president resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your human resources vice president resume.

Apply for human resources vice president jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a human resources vice president job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average human resources vice president salary

The average human resources vice president salary in the United States is $169,647 per year or $82 per hour. Human resources vice president salaries range between $116,000 and $247,000 per year.

Average human resources vice president salary

$169,647 Yearly

$81.56 hourly

How do human resources vice presidents rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Human resources vice president reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2021

Cons

Decline in business levels and employee layoffs.

Pros

Making a difference in the lives of the people and the community where I am employed.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

Helping people throughout the organization

Cons

Lack of control over certain areas of HR

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

Autonomy to address HR issues as I see fit. Ability to work with people in all areas of the company, in all roles and at all levels.

Cons

I'm the only HR person, so I don't have a team.

What is a human resources vice president and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a human resources vice president?

What are the pros and cons of being a human resources vice president?

Human resources vice president career paths

Key steps to become a human resources vice president

Explore human resources vice president education requirements

Most common human resources vice president degrees

Start to develop specific human resources vice president skills

Research human resources vice president duties and responsibilities

Get human resources vice president experience

Prepare your human resources vice president resume

Choose from 10+ customizable human resources vice president resume templates

Apply for human resources vice president jobs

How did you land your first human resources vice president job

Average human resources vice president salary

How do human resources vice presidents rate their job?

Human resources vice president reviews

Human resources vice president FAQs

Can the vice president of a company also work in HR?

How long does it take to become a VP of HR?

Who reports to a VP of HR?

Search for human resources vice president jobs