Human Resources Generalist

Michigan Technological University - Houghton, MI

Part-time,Full-time

Houghton, MI

Educational Services

About the position

The Human Resources (HR) Generalist at Michigan Technological University plays a crucial role in supporting a wide range of HR functions across all university departments. This position is focused on employee relations, balancing the needs of employees with the strategic direction of the university, and providing best-practice programs and services that align with the needs of a premier technological research institution of international stature. The HR Generalist will coordinate various services, policies, and programs that represent all functional areas of the HR department, aimed at assisting, supporting, training, and developing a superior workforce at Michigan Tech. The role emphasizes quality customer service to all stakeholders within the department and across the campus. In this position, the HR Generalist will provide both complex and routine services related to employment, benefits, payroll, and HR information systems (HRIS). They will serve on cross-functional teams and undertake projects of moderate complexity that relate to HR programs and objectives. The HR Generalist will administer employment, compensation, and classification processes, serve as an advisor to staff search committees, and review personnel action changes. Maintaining the confidentiality, security, and integrity of personal employee information is paramount in all personnel matters. The HR Generalist will also be responsible for developing position descriptions in consultation with various departments, managing employment processes for staff, and interfacing with managers regarding hiring and promotion processes to ensure compliance with established policies and union contracts. Proactive communication with departmental managers to resolve employee concerns and issues is essential. Additionally, the HR Generalist will develop and deliver professional presentations and training sessions, facilitate training evaluations, and support the revision and implementation of HR policies and procedures. They will also provide guidance on collective bargaining agreements and engage in continuous improvement strategies to enhance HR processes and services.

Responsibilities

• Provide a wide variety of both complex and routine services for the Human Resources (HR) department and the University in the areas of employment services, benefits, payroll, and HRIS.
• Serve on cross-functional teams and undertake projects of moderate complexity related to HR programs and objectives.
• Administer employment, compensation and classification processes/procedures; serve as staff search committee advisor, review personnel action changes, and other position change inquiries.
• Preserve the confidentiality, security, and integrity of personal employee information and in all personnel matters.
• Provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers in order to meet high quality standards for services.
• Develop position descriptions in consultation with departments.
• Responsible for employment processes for staff and the online applicant tracking system.
• Interface with managers and committees regarding hiring and promotion processes and procedures to assure compliance with established policies, procedures, and/or union contracts.
• Communicate proactively and work with departmental managers to resolve employee concerns and issues.
• Develop and deliver professional presentations and training to campus groups, large or small, using appropriate media, including but not limited to PowerPoint, spreadsheets, and other methods to enhance effective communications.
• Facilitate training sessions and conduct evaluation and assessment of training program success.
• Responsible for updating forms and documentation as needed.
• Provide support in the revision, development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Participates in and contributes to the review, development, and improvements for more efficient and effective HR processes.
• Provide collective bargaining agreement guidance to supervisors.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.
• Commits to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
• Applies safety-related knowledge, skills and practices to everyday work.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
• Two years customer service experience.
• Two years progressively responsible office experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency using personal computers and advanced Microsoft Office applications, including word processing, spreadsheet/databases, and presentation packages.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building and oral/written communication skills (including electronic communications).
• Excellent time management skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, with particular attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to make administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive, confidential topics.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex information and to define and solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently under limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to give presentations to audiences of all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects in a timely and professional manner in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible, diplomatic, patient, service-driven, a self-starter, and have a willingness to learn.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with complex, high stress, and confidential issues.
• Demonstrates the ability to initiate and lead projects or improvements, identifying areas for enhancement and effectively translating ideas into actionable plans.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working in higher education Human Resources.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.