Human Resources Specialist

Company: George Mason University
Location: Fairfax
Posted on: March 19, 2023

Job Description:

HR Specialist, University Life HR Services
The University Life (UL) division is currently seeking applications from qualified candidates for the HR Specialist position. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Department:
University Life (UL) Human Resources Services is a unit within the UL Operations and Planning Division, which oversees a variety of support organizations including ITS, Finance, Assessment, and Communications and Marketing. The Shared Service model of UL Operations and Planning is designed to bring divisional strategy and leadership to these core functions, while addressing the unique needs of our individual units, and providing more robust and coordinated services across UL. The UL HR Services unit serves over 35 units in University Life in a variety of HR functions, including full life cycle recruitment and HR consultation. The UL HR Shared Services team works in conjunction with Mason's central Human Resources and Payroll office and the Provost's Personnel Management Team.

About the Position:
The HR Specialist serves in a cross-functional team member capacity, providing support for the Human Resources and Payroll functions within the University Life Human Resources (UL HR) Services team, under the direction of the UL HR Divisional Manager. Primary responsibilities involve responding to employee and/or unit requests concerning HR policies, procedures, and processes; appropriately routing requests and working cross-functionally with the other members of the UL HR Services team, campus stakeholders, and other support functions to resolve open cases in a timely fashion; supporting the hiring and onboarding of divisional staff; and processing personnel transaction form requests.
Responsibilities:
UL HR Team/Generalist

• Serves as a cross-functional team member for the UL HR Services team, providing HR consultation and performing transactional functions to the division's 35+ units;
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert on institutional and state HR policies and procedures; actively supports and complies with all University policies, divisional standards, and departmental vision and goals;
• Professionally, efficiently, and accurately assists units via various communication platforms in the division;
• Provides day-to-day support of the UL HR Services generic email account management:
  • Appropriately responds to requests for assistance or rerouting/escalating issues of concern to higher level leadership;
  • Problem-solves by researching, partnering, and following-up on issues while fostering customer/unit relationships, utilizing de-escalation tactics; and maintaining a high level of confidentiality;
  • Processes required paperwork for employee transfers, changes in job classification, salary increases, and other related employment matters;
  • Reviews and process cyclical applications for monetary bonuses related to certifications, degree completion, and other achievements;
  • Liaises with the Mason Benefits team on benefits related questions, under the direction of the Lead HR Specialist; and
  • Assists other members of the UL HR team as necessary, including being cross trained/cross functional for essential HR processes to provide additional support/back-up as needed.
    Recruitment
    • Provides support to the UL HR recruitment and hiring process for all UL units in varying levels of involvement, working closely with the HR Recruitment Coordinator;
    • Serves as a consultant with UL units on recruitment activities, provides oversight on search functions and ensures Divisional standardized search policies and best practices are being maintained;
    • Responsible for the student staff and non-student hourly staff hiring and offboarding process in coordination with the Lead HR Specialist;
    • Liaises with Mason HR and Payroll to coordinate student and wage employee status changes.
    • Guides and monitors International Students through the hiring process in collaboration with the Office of International Programs and Services;
    • Supports the annual hiring of student staff for Housing and Residence Life and other units as needed;
    • Assists with search coordination/management:
      • Submits position posting requests via the Applicant Tracking System;
      • Verifies Search Committee training records;
      • Coordinates interview logistics with search committee members and applicants;
      • Collects stakeholder interview feedback;
      • Coordinates with central Mason HR on all required recruitment and onboarding documents;
      • Coordinates travel and candidate travel expense reimbursements as necessary;
      • Maintains and updates the UL HR team's various shared recruitment trackers, providing accurate metrics and visibility across the team; and
      • Ensures compliance related recruitment paperwork is maintained internally and shared with stakeholders in a timely manner.
        Departmental Duties
        • Assists other members of the UL-HR team as necessary, including being cross trained/cross functional to provide additional support/back-up as needed;
        • Provides dedicated Housing and Residence Life (HRL) HR support in the following areas:
          • Oversight of compliance related onboarding including live-on staff pet, partner, and background check policies and processes, in collaboration with HRL Stakeholders;
          • Supports designated components of staff onboarding unique to HRL;
          • Processes tuition reimbursements for Graduate Assistants every semester;
          • Provides a bi-weekly roster of HRL staff and vacant positions for leadership;
          • May assist with preparation of HR reports such as hire rates, attrition, etc.;
          • Actively participates on various ad hoc UL HR Service strategic planning sessions, groups, and committees;
          • Actively supports and complies with all University policies, HR regulations and departmental mission, vision, and goals;
          • Maintains active awareness of ever-changing Commonwealth, university, and HR related policies, practices, and employment law standards;
          • Provides support and actively participate on ad hoc periodic internal audits;
          • Provides support with planning and implementation of staff trainings as needed;
          • Provides support with planning and implementation of employee recognition activities as needed;
          • Attends regularly scheduled divisional and team meetings;
          • Assists the UL Divisional HR Manager with various department projects as needed;
          • Maintains internal employee files:
            • Ensures all necessary paperwork is routed to central HR records management, while maintaining internal files, and ensure all paperwork is sorted per university/state/federal guidelines;
            • Ensures all appropriate records retention and destruction processes are followed; and
            • May perform other related duties as assigned.
              Required Qualifications:
              
              • Demonstrated full-time work experience (typically obtained in 1+ years) in Human Resources, Payroll, Business/Accounting or closely related field;
              • Experience with industry standards of practice and methods in recruiting;
              • Demonstrated understanding of human resource policies and processes; comprehension of basic HR and payroll functions;
              • Proficiency in the use of MS Office (Work, Excel, PowerPoint) suite of software; adept at spreadsheet compilation and use;
              • Skill in providing effective customer service, including the ability to provide appropriate guidance to other professional and support staff;
              • Skill in effective problem-solving and decision-making;
              • Skill in effective and respectful verbal, written, and interpersonal communication;
              • Ability to concisely report solutions to internal and external contacts;
              • Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy when communicating with individuals at all levels of the organization;
              • Ability to exercise integrity and maintain confidentiality in working with sensitive information;
              • Ability to demonstrate significant attention to detail and perform work with a high degree of accuracy;
              • Ability to multi-ask and prioritize daily activities; ability to remain organized while working on multiple, simultaneous projects;
              • Ability to work effectively with others both in the department and with external colleagues; ability to work independently and proactively, as well as part of a collaborative team environment; and
              • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, interpersonal and business process environment.
                Preferred Qualifications:
                
                • Experience working in diverse, higher-education settings preferred;
                • Experience working in customer/guest service fields;
                • Experience with HRIS platforms; knowledge of Ellucian Banner system is preferred;
                • Experience with Diversity and Inclusion programs within HR processes;
                • Knowledge of the Commonwealth's HR policies and procedures;
                • Knowledge of the Commonwealth's Job Family structure;
                • Demonstrated proficiency with time reporting software, applicant tracking systems, and employee self-service software modules;
                • Fluency in the Spanish language; and
                • Ability to approach problems with a solution and growth-oriented mindset.Special Instructions to ApplicantsFor full consideration, applicants must apply at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.For Full Consideration, Apply by: 02/28/2023

Keywords: George Mason University, Washington DC , Human Resources Specialist, Human Resources , Fairfax, DC