Human Resources Specialist

University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

2d • $60,000 - $75,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Director, the Human Resources Specialist is responsible for managing student hiring and payroll activities for the College. The Specialist coordinates with assigned departments and teams to support the student employment lifecycle and ensure compliance with College, University policies, and federal/state laws. The Specialist maintains employment data, prepares reports, and provides training on best practices related to student hiring.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 or more years of experience in human resources management and student employment in higher education setting.
• Exposure to and experience with tracking payroll, timekeeping, and document verification.
• Strong and broad computer skills (word processing, database, spreadsheet, e-mail, and web), including a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency with Workday and business intelligence tools strongly preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Excellent decision-making, time management, priority-setting and learning agility capabilities.
• Work in a team environment and independently.
• Manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Communicate effectively with a diverse population.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment and ensure utmost discretion and confidentiality to handle sensitive matters with tact and discretion.
• Identify, analyze and resolve problems.

Responsibilities

• Manages student employment lifecycle, from request to off-boarding.
• Executes all related hiring and onboarding tasks for students, including in-person I-9 verification and Workday job updates.
• Maintains employment documentation, data tracking, and related College tools.
• Prepares templates and routine hiring documents; maintains accurate HR records.
• Partners with College and University units to resolve student employment situations.
• Serves as student payroll and timekeeping specialist; processes payroll transactions, resolves discrepancies, codes hours, and audits submissions and approvals.
• Ensures accurate and timely compensation, costing allocation, one-time payments, and period activity pay.
• Conducts quarterly hiring and payroll audits; analyzes data and generates reports.
• Assists with compliance regarding hiring practices and University collective bargaining agreements.
• Stays informed of College, University, state, and federal payroll and timekeeping laws, policies, and procedures.
• Provides training and develops tutorials for administrators and supervisors on payroll and timekeeping best practices.
• Prepares best practice documents and establishes standard operating procedures.
• Manages the College HR inbox, triages and resolves requests and inquiries, escalating as needed.
• Pursues professional development opportunities and implements new skills to improve service.
• Supports staff hiring processes, including developing job descriptions, interviewing and reference checking, handling employment offers, and conducting orientation.
• Drafts templates and routine offer letters.
• Maintains appropriate human resources data and records, solving a range of straightforward problems using standard procedures.
• Counsels employees on benefits and compensation.
• Coordinates with managers and senior colleagues to determine employee compensation.
• Analyzes data and prepares charts, graphs, and trend lines for management review with a moderate level of guidance.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.
• Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees