Faculty Affairs Specialist

UMass Amherst•Amherst, NY

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) Academic Administration Specialist independently manages faculty personnel processes, partners with Human Resource Centers of Excellence (HR COEs), and ensures compliance with university policies and collective bargaining agreements. This role serves as the main contact for all faculty lifecycle matters, including appointments, reappointments, promotions, and academic leaves. The specialist interprets and applies university faculty policies and relevant collective bargaining agreements, and coordinates faculty compensation processes for all honors courses across campus in collaboration with the Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP). They maintain and track faculty personnel records in local databases and university systems (e.g., Excel, Faculty Success Platform). Additionally, the specialist participates in the management of CHC student staff, overseeing the student worker hiring process for domestic and international undergraduate and graduate students, and provides guidance and support to student staff supervisors on personnel processes. They communicate with central HR to coordinate all payroll processing and assist the Assistant Dean of Administration & Finance on projecting payroll and position management for CHC's approximate $5m payroll budget. This includes maintaining the tracking worksheet, monitoring personnel actions, and providing reliable and precise payroll data for use in internal and external financial reports used in long-range planning decisions. The specialist partners with Academic Human Resources (AHR) and HRBPs to interpret policies, resolve complex employee relations or performance issues, and advise on labor relations strategy. They coordinate all aspects of the faculty search process and work with the CHC Administrative Coordinator to develop and implement on- and off-boarding processes for staff and faculty. The role involves preparing, reviewing, and routing personnel actions ensuring compliance prior to AHR submission. They collaborate with HR Centers of Excellence (COEs) to ensure accurate and timely payroll and benefits processing, employee accommodations, and leave administration for staff and faculty. In a coordination role with the Assistant Dean for Administration & Finance, they partner with HR Business Partners on employee relations matters involving faculty performance or conduct issues. The specialist acts as a liaison for academic HR systems, providing end-user support and ensuring accurate data entry. They participate in partner meetings with AHR, maintain working knowledge of policies and systems, and share process improvements. The role involves interpreting and communicating policy and system information from Academic HR to faculty through Microsoft SharePoint or other methods. They troubleshoot most academic personnel questions and problems independently, escalating unique situations or more serious matters to the Assistant Dean of Administration & Finance as required. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in HR or academic personnel administration, OR Associate's degree 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in HR or academic personnel administration
In-depth understanding of faculty appointment and promotion processes.
Ability to interpret policies and apply sound judgment in complex situations.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

Serves as the main contact for all faculty lifecycle matters including appointments, reappointments, promotions, and academic leaves.
Interprets and applies university faculty policies and relevant collective bargaining agreements.
Coordinates faculty compensation processes for all honors courses across campus in collaboration with the Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP).
Maintains and tracks faculty personnel records in local databases and university systems (e.g., Excel, Faculty Success Platform).
Participates in the management of CHC student staff, including managing the student worker hiring process for domestic and international undergraduate and graduate students; and provides guidance and support to student staff supervisors on personnel processes.
Communicates with central HR to coordinate all payroll processing.
Assists the Assistant Dean of Administration & Finance on projecting payroll and position management for CHC's approximate $5m payroll budget.
Partners with Academic Human Resources (AHR) and HRBPs to interpret policies, resolve complex employee relations or performance issues, and advise on labor relations strategy.
Coordinates all aspects of the faculty search process.
Works with the CHC Administrative Coordinator to develop and implement on- and off-boarding processes for staff and faculty.
Prepares, review, and route personnel actions ensuring compliance prior to AHR submission.
Collaborates with HR Centers of Excellence COEs to ensure accurate and timely payroll and benefits processing, employee accommodations, and leave administration for staff and faculty.
Acts as liaison for academic HR systems; provide end-user support and ensure accurate data entry.
Participates in partner meetings with AHR, maintains working knowledge of policies and systems, and shares process improvements.
Interprets and communicates policy and system information from Academic HR to faculty through Microsoft SharePoint or other methods.
Troubleshoots most academic personnel questions and problems independently, escalating unique situations or more serious matters to the Assistant Dean of Administration & Finance as required.
Performs other duties as assigned.