Human Resources Specialist

HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST

HAROLD WASHINGTON COLLEGE

CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO

City Colleges of Chicago’s vision is to be recognized as the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity – empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger and more just city.  The community college system’s more than 3,500 faculty and staff serve more than 60,000 students annually at seven colleges and five satellite sites.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Reporting to a Director of Human Resources at a college, the Human Resources (HR) Specialist provides mission-oriented professional HR services to staff and faculty and facilitates HR programs' coordination, administration, and delivery. The HR Specialist participates in integrating HR initiatives and programs with business plans to achieve the college's strategic goals and operational objectives. Performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Supports and coordinates the hiring process for faculty and non-faculty vacancies. Partners with Talent Acquisition team to fulfill hiring needs. Structures the efforts of and provides guidance and training to hiring managers and search committees.  Participates in the interviewing and selection process as required.
• Partners with the financial aid team to support and process student hiring. Supports all other student hirings, including special programs, peer tutors, and peer mentors.
• Provides information and guides employees on processes related to leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, benefits, HR and Board policies and procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Coordinates and manages the onboarding and offboarding process, reviewing and processing required forms, responding to inquiries, providing new employee orientation, and ensuring a smooth onboarding of employees.
• Coaches managers on learning and organizational development, performance management, employee and labor relations issues, progressive discipline, adherence to collective bargaining agreements, and HR and Board processes and procedures.
• Communicates and explains HR policies and regulations relating to employee and labor relations, salary administration, leaves of absence, and related employment matters to employees.
• Consults with management to develop and implement personnel processes and procedures critical to efficient and effective operations. Executes and evaluates processes and procedures in compliance with institutional, organizational, and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and other accreditation standards.
• Develops initiatives to improve workplace culture and employee satisfaction continually.
• Delivers high levels of customer service using tact and confidentiality when responding to inquiries regarding policy, pay, and other HR procedures and policies.
• Conducts stay and exit interviews with department employees to gather feedback and makes suggestions to improve the employee experience.
• Analyzes and leverages workforce trends and employee data, including turnover, employee engagement and exit interviews, to drive action plans to foster an environment that leverages diversity and builds in best practices for collaboration and inclusion.
• Processes HR transactions and maintains all personnel files.
• Partners with and supports the HRBP and DOHR in related initiatives and projects.
• Maintains a high degree of visibility and availability to students, faculty, and staff.
• Serves on institutional and specialized committees.
• Assists the HR Team as needed.
• Maintains a high degree of confidentiality.
• Fosters and supports our mission, vision, and core values.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including participating on special projects.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports To                       Director-Human Resources

Direct Supervision          None

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management or a related field.  An equivalent combination of training and experience will be taken into consideration in lieu of a college degree.
• PHR/SPHR and/or SHRM-CP/SCP desired
• At least three years of work experience in human resources, organizational development, or related area of HR work.  
• Two (2) or more years of customer service experience is required
• Familiarity and/or experience working with PeopleSoft HCM or talent management systems (i.e. Taleo) highly desirable
• Experience working within a higher education and/or public sector employer desirable
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Maintains positive and respectful attitude while working independently and in a team environment
• Strong customer/client service skills and ability to communicate (written and verbal) with all levels of organization, both internal and external
• Anticipates problems (and escalates when appropriate), demonstrates strong prioritization and organization skills, catches errors, and acts to complete tasks accurately and on time
• Ability to work with the highest level of professionalism, integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to take initiative, and make fair and consistent decisions that align with our strategy and values
• Ability to multi-task and be a flexible team player, who can easily adapt to change
• Knowledge of human resources management principles
• Knowledge and understanding of HRIS systems
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state employment laws
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and build strong partnerships with senior executives and all levels of the workforce
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse environment

 Health and Benefits - City Colleges of Chicago

WE OFFER: Excellent health and welfare benefit package and long-term savings and investment programs including 403(b) & 457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the State University Retirement System (SURS) Plan. Generous vacation, holiday, personal and sick days, and tuition reimbursement. For a more detailed overview of benefits, please visit the benefits page of our website.

We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within 6 months of hire.

Thank you for your interest in CCC.

Approved by Compensation Design & Strategy                               Date:              March 1, 2022

The intent of this job description is to provide a general description of the duties and responsibilities of this position.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive set of the duties and responsibilities, nor all of the necessary qualifications to perform the work.

Original title created September 2013. Duties revised March 2022. Grade changed from 9 to 10 March 2022.