What does a senior human resources consultant do?
A senior human resources consultant specializes in recommending solutions to optimize a company's human resource operations. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing procedures, devising strategies to attain the best employment practices, and developing programs for the benefit of employees. They may also implement the company's policies and regulations, creating new ones as needed. Furthermore, as a senior human resources consultant, it is essential to lead and encourage junior consultants and managers to accomplish goals in adherence to the vision and mission of the company.
Senior human resources consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior human resources consultant resumes:
- Manage AAP plan development, modification, implementation, and reporting requirements.
- Project leader on Lawson HRIS performance management implementation.
- Investigate civil/federal FMLA misuse and represent the organization with a positive outcome.
- Develop FMLA administration/case management process where none exist that receive endorsement by the DOL.
- Correct and reinforce desire performance improvement behaviors while coaching leaders and associates on newly implement HRIS system.
- Reduce employment litigation from multiple claims to minimal exposure providing counseling and leadership coaching and partnering with management on resolutions.
- Represent Americas and corporate in creating annual succession plan for board of directors, resulting in several high-level internal promotions.
Senior human resources consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Senior Human Resources Consultants are proficient in Healthcare, Employee Engagement, and Workforce Planning. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Organizational skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Human Resources Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Healthcare, 7%
Lead the organization to successful attainment of accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations essential for contract attainment.
- Employee Engagement, 7%
Designed and implemented employee engagement strategies which resulted in better departmental performance and greater patient satisfaction across the business units.
- Workforce Planning, 6%
Partner with executives to help maximize effectiveness through strategic talent acquisition, dynamic leadership development, and workforce planning.
- Payroll, 6%
Changed customer payroll schema and Personnel Calculation Rule for pay computations as per requirements.
- Project Management, 5%
Managed client relationships through strong project management, communication and expert application of employment law and governmental regulations.
- SR, 4%
Engaged Sr. Management to support and implement HR initiatives across the Division to ensure consistency.
"healthcare," "employee engagement," and "workforce planning" are among the most common skills that senior human resources consultants use at work. You can find even more senior human resources consultant responsibilities below, including:
Leadership skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior human resources consultant to have is leadership skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "human resources managers must coordinate work activities and ensure that staff complete the duties and responsibilities of their department." Senior human resources consultants often use leadership skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provide advanced fundamental applications of collective bargaining agreements, and university policies and procedures to university leadership. "
Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform senior human resources consultant duties is organizational skills. Senior human resources consultants responsibilities require that "human resources managers must be able to prioritize tasks and manage several projects at once." Senior human resources consultants also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "defined organizational management business processes, and business scenarios. "
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what senior human resources consultants do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to senior human resources consultant responsibilities because "human resources managers regularly interact with people, such as to collaborate on teams, and must develop working relationships with their colleagues." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior human resources consultant tasks: "acknowledged for quickly establishing a seat on the management team table and demonstrating high ethics and excellent interpersonal/team skills. "
Communication skills. Another common skill required for senior human resources consultant responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of senior human resources consultants all the time, as "human resources managers need strong speaking, writing, and listening skills to give presentations and direct their staff." An excerpt from a real senior human resources consultant resume shows how this skill is central to what a senior human resources consultant does: "ensured accurate processing and communications to all international transfers, working with payroll, technology, recruiting and other internal groups. "
The three companies that hire the most senior human resources consultants are:
- Cardinal Health35 senior human resources consultants jobs
- Capgemini12 senior human resources consultants jobs
- Wells Fargo11 senior human resources consultants jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable senior human resources consultant resume templates
Build a professional senior human resources consultant resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior human resources consultant resume.
Compare different senior human resources consultants
Senior human resources consultant vs. Employee relations manager
An employee relations manager's responsibilities revolve around maintaining a strong professional relationship between employees and a company's management. They are also in charge of resolving conflicts and issues within the workplace, providing technical support on all employee programs, developing orientation and workshop activities among trainees and new members of the workforce, and addressing their concerns promptly and professionally. Furthermore, there are instances when an employee relations manager must conduct investigations, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior human resources consultant are more likely to require skills like "healthcare," "workforce planning," "project management," and "sr." On the other hand, a job as an employee relations manager requires skills like "management system," "ethics," "federal laws," and "eeo-1." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Employee relations managers tend to make the most money working in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $87,349. In contrast, senior human resources consultants make the biggest average salary, $86,984, in the technology industry.employee relations managers tend to reach lower levels of education than senior human resources consultants. In fact, employee relations managers are 5.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Senior human resources consultant vs. Human resource officer
A human resources officer is typically in charge of managing and handling the employment operations in the company, including the payroll and training systems. Their responsibilities revolve around participating in advertising job openings, interviewing applicants, training and managing new employees, and devising programs that will help them learn about the policies and regulations of the company. Furthermore, a human resources officer is also responsible for managing employee data, such as personal information and work attendance, processing payroll, and handling any issues or concerns.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior human resources consultant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "healthcare," "employee engagement," "workforce planning," and "payroll." Meanwhile, a human resource officer has duties that require skills in areas such as "human resources functions," "personnel actions," "employee development," and "background checks." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Human resource officers may earn a higher salary than senior human resources consultants, but human resource officers earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $77,057. On the other hand, senior human resources consultants receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $86,984.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Human resource officers tend to reach similar levels of education than senior human resources consultants. In fact, they're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior human resources consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Denise Barton
Senior Professor of Human Resources, Wake Technical Community College
Senior human resources consultant vs. Human resources administration manager
A human resources administration manager performs multiple roles, one of which is to maintain and review all human resources, administrative systems, and procedures. They give guidance on HR to the office. They also oversee the development and monitoring of processes that involve recruiting and retention of individuals, compensation, benefits, training, and employee development. They essentially take charge of administrative functions.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from senior human resources consultant resumes include skills like "healthcare," "employee engagement," "workforce planning," and "payroll," whereas a human resources administration manager is more likely to list skills in "process payroll," "disciplinary procedures," "financial statements," and "human resource functions. "
When it comes to education, human resources administration managers tend to earn lower degree levels compared to senior human resources consultants. In fact, they're 6.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior human resources consultant vs. Human resources supervisor
A human resources supervisor is an individual responsible for developing and administering human resources programs so that the company can achieve efficient operations. Human resources supervisors coordinate all stages of the hiring process, such as checking all candidates' backgrounds, conducting interviews, and drug screening. They address conflicts among employees, investigate employee problems, and work with management to administer employee discipline or corrective action. The human resources supervisor also develops training and development programs for their salaried employees.
Types of senior human resources consultant
Updated January 8, 2025
