Associate Hr Partner/Hr Generalist

Responsibilities and Duties

Faculty/Staff Relations & Compliance:

• Under the general direction of the HR Partner and independently, manage and ensure consistency of communication/application of HR policies, practices, and processes for assigned areas. 
• Coaches and counsels supervisors, managers, and employees on performance management, probationary review, disciplinary action, conflict resolution, and any other related day to day workplace management issues which may arise. 
• Investigates, drafts reports, and resolves complaints. Identifies problem areas in university policies and practices and does gap assessments in conjunction with the Policy Analyst.  Develops and maintains confidential notes and data for identifying trends in complaints and faculty/staff relations issues.

Liaison to HR Functional Areas:

• Talent Management:  Work closely with key stakeholders in assigned areas to develop strategies to meet workforce needs, including organizational structure changes, succession planning, and job searches.  Support assigned departments in ensuring a diverse workforce that reflects the student and community population.  Closely partner with department stakeholders and central HR to enrich and improve the employment life cycle – from onboarding and employee engagement, to retention.  Conduct exit interviews and surveys to track associated trends.
• Pay and Benefits:  Work closely with key stakeholders and central classification and compensation unit to identify and address issues/concerns/questions of pay inequity and appropriate job classification using established USM/TU pay guidelines and provide related guidance. Assist in timely review of all pending compensation requests and provide general information regarding benefits.
• Training & Development:  Work with Training and Development team to identify common learning management, and development needs of staff/faculty, and align with appropriate programs and/or potentially new opportunities for training.  Deliver training programs when necessary.

Metrics:  Identify, develop, report, and monitor standard metrics to assess overall performance in hiring, learning and development, managing, rewarding, and retaining employees.  Use identified data to set and track priorities involving resources, solutions, and development of longer term HR strategies in support of the Office of Human Resources (OHR) mission and strategic objectives.

Program Support:  Provide case management, program coordination, and other administrative support to all HR Partners as well as the HR Consulting & Faculty/Staff Relations unit as a whole.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three years of experience in a human resources functional role.
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant employment law, regulations, and practices, to include employment, compensation, employee relations, and performance management.
• Demonstrated experience in collaboration with key organizational managers and leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to research and analyze various forms of data to provide guidance and recommendation on issues of pay, job performance, engagement, training/development needs, retention and employee relations.
• Demonstrated ability to create and foster solid working relationships with key stakeholders and employees at all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and influence management through information sharing, interactions, correspondence, and presentations.
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service to include timely response, identifying needs, and developing options collaboratively.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize work and operate with general supervision as well as independently.
• Demonstrated ability to understand key organizational/operational objectives and functions, and how they may translate into effective people processes.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive issues and information.

Preferences:

• Knowledge of and experience in conflict resolution and/or the disciplines of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
• Experience working in a matrixed reporting environment.
• Experience in labor relations and with union employees/officials, particularly in the public sector.
• Demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning.
• Experience in HR in a higher education environment.
• Certification through SHRM or HRCI  (PHR/SPHR SHRM – CP/SCP).

Organization: Operation and Human Resources Division
Primary Location: Main Campus
Job Posting: May 20, 2024