Human Resources Assistant

George Mason University•Fairfax, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Human Resources Assistant is responsible for graduate student hiring administration (GA, GTA, and GL) for the college. This position acts as an expert with Graduate Assistant (GA) contracts, assignments, and related benefits, and ensures compliance with university policy related to graduate assistantships and lectureships. This position works closely with members of central offices such as human resources, financial aid, and provost, and with staff in the CHSS department and centers, to coordinate and ensure all procedures are within university compliance standards and as efficient as possible. The position also trains new staff hires on graduate hiring administration processes. In addition, this role provides general HR support to the college, including maintaining personnel records, assisting with HR projects and strategic initiatives, and supporting the HR team in day-to-day operations to ensure timely, accurate, and responsive service delivery. The position reports to the CHSS Director of Human Resources.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Experience in human resources, academic administration, higher education operations, or a related administrative environment
Experience processing employment transactions, contracts, or personnel actions
Experience interpreting and applying policies, procedures, or regulatory requirements
Experience maintaining confidential records and working with sensitive information
Experience using enterprise systems (e.g., HRIS, student systems, or financial systems) to enter, retrieve, and audit data
Experience providing training, guidance, or process support to colleagues or stakeholders
Experience managing multiple deadlines and high-volume transactional work with attention to detail
Knowledge of office procedures and current technology including Outlook, MS Office, and web-based applications necessary to carry out the duties of the position
Customer service, organizational, and communication skills
Demonstrated skill in completing assignments accurately and with high attention to detail
Demonstrated problem solving and analytical ability
Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a collaborative team-player
Ability to take initiative
Ability to handle sensitive and/or confidential information
Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks/priorities simultaneously, independently, and within a team, and to remain flexible.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in related field
Experience working in higher education
Prior graduate student hiring experience
Experience with Banner and/or MicroStrategy
Ability and willingness to be flexible with varied work assignments
Strong interpersonal skills with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

Responsible for hiring administration for GA positions
Assists in ensuring GA hires complete necessary onboarding steps including background investigations
Understands and communicates GA hiring policy changes to departments
Provides training on GA hiring processes, eligibility requirements, and hiring uploads; develops training guidelines and materials for these processes as needed
Determines eligibility of GA assignments for subsidized graduate health insurance (SGHI), including auditing of final list for accuracy
Compiles, verifies, and submits health benefits eligibility/ineligibility lists and waiver exemptions for GAs from units to the Office of Financial Aid; works with units and Office of the Provost to correct any errors
Drafts SGHI open enrollment materials, announcements, and spreadsheets, including eligibility instructions, deadlines, and procedures; reconciliation of SGHI eligibility with data submission; and
Manages tuition waiver/out-of-state tuition discounting processes for eligibility compliance, data review, and submission to central offices.
Processes GTA, GRA, and GL hiring actions
Supports processing of ePAFs in Banner (including wage, student wage, etc.)
Supports preparation for upload cycle by creating/editing materials and announcements, and editing and review of contract templates
Supports the preparation, review, and approval of upload files for HR submission
Assists processing student wage and non-student wage hiring/termination actions during peak periods; and
Works with Human Resources, Provost Office, Financial Aid, Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS), and other departments as needed to complete tasks assigned.
Provides broad operational and administrative support to the CHSS HR function to ensure efficient, compliant, and responsive service delivery across the employee lifecycle
Maintains and audits personnel records to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with university policy; identifies and reports discrepancies or needed updates (e.g., position descriptions, employment documentation)
Tracks and monitors key employee milestones and deadlines, including probationary reviews, work anniversaries, and other required employment actions; notifies appropriate stakeholders as needed
Assists in the creation, maintenance, and organization of electronic personnel files and related documentation
Supports core HR processes, including onboarding, offboarding, performance evaluation cycles, and employee communications
Monitors and responds to inquiries received through shared HR communication channels, escalating issues as appropriate
Assists with processing a variety of HR actions, including employment transactions, bonus requests, data updates, and other personnel-related matters
Retrieves, analyzes, and compiles personnel data from university systems to generate reports and support decision-making
Maintains working knowledge of university HR systems, policies, and procedures; provides guidance and process support to departments and new staff as needed
Contributes to HR projects, initiatives, and process improvements that enhance operational effectiveness and employee experience
Supports planning and coordination of college-wide HR programs and events, including recognition, onboarding, and engagement initiatives
Serves in support roles for recruitment and search processes as needed
Performs other HR-related duties and special projects as assigned.
Provides support with other duties, special projects, and initiatives as assigned.