HR Specialist

Job Description

As a UW employee you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity intellectual excitement artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Division of Campus Community Safety (DCCS) unifies front-line public safety units across the University for a holistic approach to campus community safety innovation in approaches and clarity in leadership responsibility and accountability. Key units include UW Emergency Management SafeCampus and the Seattle campus UW Police Department. Division staff work daily in partnership with units across and outside the UW system to both create safer welcoming campus environments; prepare for potential natural or human-made disasters; and respond appropriately to incidents.

We have an outstanding opportunity for an HR Specialist to join the team.

Reporting directly to the Vice President for the Division for Campus Community Safety with day-to-day supervision delegated to the Executive Offices (EO) Associate Director for HR Operations the HR Specialist is responsible for pro-actively providing expert guidance and consultation to DCCS and other EO members on all matters relating to day-to-day HR operations including but not limited to: position and staffing development recruitment and hiring onboarding and offboarding compensation time and absence data management and reporting and other areas related to HR administration/operations. The HR Specialist will work closely with the Associate Director for HR Operations to ensure accuracy and timeliness of all day-to-day HR operations of the Division and other assigned EO units.

The successful candidate must be capable of managing multiple and competing priorities with frequently tight deadlines skillfully reliably accurately and confidentially while demonstrating discretion and independent judgement in all areas of operation. Input and demand come from multiple directions people organizations and activities. Managing this breadth and complexity requires a good working relationship with colleagues excellent communication and organizational skills an ability to deal with the unexpected an acceptance of a certain level of stress an ability to maintain an optimistic outlook a capacity for innovation and a willingness to embrace change and process improvement.

The HR Specialist is expected to stay current and informed of all HR policies and procedures and actively integrates and implements them as needed. The duties assigned to this position can be highly sensitive and dynamic and requires the incumbent to be flexible respectful ethical supportive and discrete. The HR Specialist must be able to analyze and identify appropriate solutions or next steps to any number of nuanced issues.

Duties & Responsibilities

Position Development/Review & Guidance

• Under the direction of the Associate Director for HR Ops and utilizing knowledge of HR policies procedures and best practices consult with hiring managers to review analyze and/or develop position descriptions. Recommend appropriate job code/payroll titles and salary grade level that fit the scope of work and qualifications and align with UW standards and local best practices as well as the EOs funding considerations.
• Provide expert guidance to hiring managers on the specific requirements and provisions of the various employment programs (Professional Staff Classified Staff and temporary positions) such as compensation ranges/salary steps benefits eligibility renewal/extension options hourly limits and labor contracts.
• Keep current with updates and amendments to UWHR policies and procedures labor contracts and federal and state employment laws to inform guidance.
• In providing direct guidance and consultation to Division members this position will be expected to navigate complex labor contracts provide accurate guidance and interpretation of contract provisions. Communicating these complex and nuanced matters require a high-level of professionalism discretion and tact.

Workday Operations Management

Serve as the Workday super-user for the Division and other assigned EO units:

• Serve as primary initiator for all worker position and compensation actions as holder of the following Workday security roles: HCM Initiate 2 Time & Absence Initiate I-9 Coordinator and Costing Allocations Coordinator
• Complete all pay period monthly annual and ad-hoc Workday reporting to complete payroll audits track position and costing allocation end dates and compile data for org-wide metrics and analyses. Serve as local expert on all union-governed pay types and ensure compliance and accuracy of all payroll entries in accordance with various labor contracts.
• Build and maintain close relationships with the Human Capital Management team (HCM); attend HCM meetings and work closely with HCM partners to manage help tickets and other Workday requests.
• Serve as lead point of contact for Workday questions. Review and investigate user errors and communicate solutions. Provide comprehensive guidance on time off/time entry policies and best practicesgiving special attention to any union-related policies/procedures.
• As delegated by the Associate Director for HR Operations manage Workday security role and supervisory org change requests. Proactively maintain and update Workday sup org structure in accordance with staffing and personnel changes.
• Maintain close collaborative relationships with key partners in central administration including Campus HR Total Talent Management Labor Relations HR Leaves and HR Compensation.
• Provide full backup to other DCCS and EOHR team members in their absence primarily the EOHR Specialist.

Recruitment and Hiring

NOTE: An increased level of effort in this area may be required for this position during peak periods of recruiting/hiring activity.

• Partner with the Employee Relations Liaison and local hiring manager to weigh in on job postings to ensure transparency inclusion and accurate representation of the roles and to ensure alignment with UWHR bargaining unit and internal requirements and guidelines.
• On an as-needed basis or as backup to the Employee Relations Liaison review and vet initial applications. Support interview scheduling and related logistics.
• Directly manage the end-to-end business process of recruiting and hiring transactions in the Workday Recruiting system.
• In partnership with the Employee Relations Liaison conduct HR-related onboarding of new employee hires requiring specialized knowledge of employment programs labor agreements and related eligibilities. Coordinate with the hiring department on all administrative onboarding processes including equipment issuance systems accesses and building access.

Process Improvement and Special Projects

• Support the Associate Director for HR Operations in developing and maintaining internal best practice guides for HR processes
• Ensure HR documentation and resources (webpages webforms internal templates checklists etc) remain up-to-date and accurate
• Actively identify process improvement opportunities propose changes and implement any subsequent actions

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree
• 3 years of increasingly responsible experience in HR operations and administration
• Proven leadership effective interpersonal skills highly organized detail oriented and able to effectively manage multiple demands and priorities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated record of outstanding customer service experience
• Ability to work within a complex environment and leverage resources to meet the needs of clients customer and coworkers
• Excellent written and verbal skills; a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with faculty staff students and other constituents.
• Proficiency in project management leading to successful outcomes
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of reliability accuracy productivity and innovation.
• Proven record in exercising discretion and independent judgment effectively in decision-making process.
• Experience with process improvement strategies and procedures and demonstrated success managing in a culture of change and transition.
• Experience managing through change and implementing reorganization strategies.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with a comprehensive approach to strategic planning and organization development
• Experience in working in human resources in a higher education environment
• Experience in working in human resources in a unionized environment
• Experience in data management and reporting tools
• Experience with HR enterprise systems especially Workday

Working Environment

• Option for hybrid in-person and remote work schedule subject to leadership approval.
• Position would maintain dual work spaces in UWPD and DCCS Offices.

Compensation Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Temporary or Regular

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

Union/Bargaining Unit:

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier return they enjoy outstanding benefits opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity intellectual excitement artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race color creed religion national origin citizenship sex pregnancy age marital status sexual orientation gender identity or expression genetic information disability or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process contact the Disability Services Office at or .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.