Onboarding Manager

University of California, Irvine•Irvine, CA

13h

About The Position

The Onboarding Manager leads the onboarding function and provides strategic and operational oversight across onboarding programs, processes, and personnel. The role establishes the function’s strategic direction, governance framework, and operational standards, ensuring programs align with organizational priorities, workforce trends, and regulatory requirements. It balances day-to-day operational involvement with forward-looking planning, identifying and implementing improvements that streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and improve service delivery. The manager interprets changes in federal, state, and organizational policy and translates them into updated procedures and operational standards, serving as a trusted advisor and decision-maker on matters affecting onboarding, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness. The Onboarding team delivers a seamless, compliant, and welcoming experience for new hires and transitioning employees. It partners with HR, hiring departments, legal, and organizational leadership to ensure effective, efficient processes aligned with organizational goals, applicable laws, and evolving best practices. The manager develops team members through coaching, career-development support, clear performance expectations, measurable goals, accountability standards, strategic delegation, stretch assignments, and high-impact projects. The role also manages specific talent acquisition programs related to onboarding, allocates professional recruiting staff and resources to meet objectives and schedules, oversees recruitment issues of varied scope, and exercises judgment in interpreting and administering recruitment programs.

Requirements

Thorough understanding of organizational goals and how the position supports them.
Knowledge of human resources policies and procedures, labor contracts, employment law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and affirmative action/equal employment opportunity.
Experience supporting innovative employment practices, workforce planning, change management, strategic planning, and program evaluation.
Knowledge of organizational HR policies and programs and budget and fiscal processes.
Leadership and effective management skills.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Knowledge of onboarding processes, compliance requirements, and best practices, including federal and state employment laws and regulations governing Form I-9/E-Verify, background screening, and data privacy.
Ability to work effectively at both strategic and operational levels, including hands-on involvement in day-to-day processes and problem resolution.
Strong client relationship management and service delivery skills, including handling complex or sensitive escalations, managing special or non-standard requests, and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience designing and implementing process improvements that reduce inefficiencies, standardize procedures, and improve program outcomes and employee experience.
Ability to monitor, interpret, and apply changes in law, regulation, and organizational policy to onboarding operations and translate compliance requirements into practical guidance.
Strong supervisory, coaching, and team-development skills, including setting expectations, providing feedback, managing accountability, and promoting a high-performance, service-oriented team culture.
Bachelor’s degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience or training.
At least five years of progressive experience in human resources, employment, or onboarding operations.
At least two years in a supervisory or management role overseeing onboarding, employment services, or a related HR function.
Demonstrated experience managing a team, driving process improvements, interpreting employment law and policy changes in an operational context, managing stakeholder relationships, and using performance data to assess and improve program outcomes.
Must be able to provide proof of work authorization.
Must be able to provide personal transportation to and from work locations, which may include Irvine, Orange, and other sites.

Nice To Haves

Ability to establish and maintain effective, trust-based relationships with diverse stakeholders, including HR partners, hiring departments, legal and compliance teams, and executive leadership, serving as a collaborative partner and credible subject matter expert.
Professional HR certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
Project management or process improvement certification or demonstrated training, such as PMP or Lean Six Sigma.
Experience at a research university or academic medical center.

Responsibilities

Lead the onboarding function and provide strategic and operational oversight of onboarding programs, processes, and personnel.
Establish and advance the function’s strategic direction, governance framework, and operational standards.
Align onboarding programs with organizational priorities, workforce trends, and regulatory requirements.
Identify and implement process improvements to streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and improve onboarding service delivery.
Review and interpret changes in federal, state, and organizational policy and translate them into updated procedures and operational standards.
Advise and make decisions on matters affecting onboarding, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness.
Develop team members through coaching, career-development support, mentorship, and opportunities for professional growth.
Set performance expectations, measurable goals, and accountability standards; delegate work and provide resources to support team success.
Manage talent acquisition programs related to onboarding and determine how recruiting staff and resources will be used to meet objectives and schedules.
Oversee recruitment issues of diverse scope and interpret and administer recruitment programs.
Build and maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Use performance data to assess and improve program outcomes.