• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $65,600-$70,500

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Human Resources & Academic Appointments, the HR Generalist provides proactive and effective facilitation of daily operational support on human resources, student officer appointments,  and academic appointments for the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP) and the Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences MA program (QMSS).

The Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP) at Columbia University is a leading interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to advancing innovative scholarship across the social sciences. ISERP supports faculty, researchers, and students through research development, funding opportunities, workshops, training programs, and administrative infrastructure that enable high-impact research and collaboration. The institute brings together scholars from multiple disciplines to examine complex social and economic challenges, generate data-driven insights, and inform public policy. Through its centers, research initiatives, and intellectual programming, ISERP fosters a vibrant academic community committed to producing rigorous research that contributes to understanding social dynamics and shaping policy debates locally and globally.

Subject to business needs, we may support flexible and hybrid work arrangements. Options will be discussed during the interview process.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Assistant Director of Human Resources & Academic Appointments to oversee adherence to established University policies and exercise discretion and independent judgment as it relates to the onboarding processes for student officers, staff hires, academic and research appointments for ISERP and QMSS.
• Act as a key player in the recruitment process. Assist with creating and editing job descriptions, and posting positions on CU employment websites, appropriate journals, and external job board sites.
• Responsible for the QMSS Teaching Assistant (TA) and Departmental Research Assistant (DRA) student appointment process to ensure students' paperwork is submitted in a timely manner for prompt payment; coordinate with QMSS staff to address all inquiries related to the QMSS DRA Match program; work with students on obtaining Social Security cards; and track and ensure compliance with I-9 processing.
• Administer specialized programs under the direction of the Assistant Director of Human Resources & Academic Appointments within the scope of Human Resources such as team building initiatives, and distribution of HR updates to employees.
• Assist with the yearly Officer of Research recertification process, electronic roster submissions for student officers and adjunct faculty appointments, and Time & Labor and Absence Management (TLAM) record tracking.
• Initiate and prepare hiring documents for a variety of student, research, support staff, and administrative hires within the Institute and serve as a level 1 approver.
• Serve as backup for processing student casual payroll, reviewing TLAM entries for accuracy, confirming faculty or Principal Investigator’s approval, and monitoring hours on TLAM for approval.
• Serve as a Department Time Administrator (DTA) on TLAM to provide ongoing review and oversight for all entries and contact managers who have items to approve as needed.
• Responsible for the accuracy and processing of additional compensation, salary distribution, and cost transfer transactions; monitor the approval process and confirm all upper-level approvers review and approve the respective transactions.
• Ensure the accuracy of all data entries by HRPC and correct any issues that may arise. Confirm the first payment for all new personnel or when payment circumstances change, verify additional compensation payments, and address any payment issues.
• Assist with the Affirmative Action approval process and visa processing for academic appointments.
• Assist with the recruitment and hiring of Work Study students and serve as a backup approver for the Work Study timesheet portal.
• Maintain and update digital and physical employee records, as well as assist with the onboarding and off-boarding of employees.
• Maintain and contribute content to the Institute’s website section for hiring and payroll.
• Performs related duties & responsibilities as assigned/requested.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent.
• Minimum of 0-2 years of related experience.

Additional Position-Specific Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to work with high volume, time-sensitive deadlines, and change priorities is needed.
• Strong computer skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, and Visio). 
• Strong organizational skills and acute attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and use professional discretion with sensitive matters.

Preferred Qualifications

Working knowledge of Columbia’s Human Resources policies, procedures, and systems, including PeopleSoft application (PAC), TalentLink, and Academic Search and Recruiting (ASR), is strongly preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.