• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary
• End Date if Temporary: 12 months  
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of HR and Talent Management, the Human Resources Generalist administers all day-to-day human resources and payroll activities for the non-academic staff of Arts and Sciences. The HR Generalist advises staff and students on university payroll, time, and attendance policies and procedures and responds to and escalates HR questions. The HR Associate will build and foster relationships with key partners across all departments and centers in Arts and Sciences and serve as an integral member of the A&S Human Resources team. This is a hybrid position, requiring in-office attendance three days per week. 

Arts and Sciences is the intellectual heart of Columbia University. Home to more than 1,000 faculty, 60 research centers and institutes, and 28 academic departments, A&S provides a transformative educational experience to more than 16,000 undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students at Columbia – nearly half the student body. Our field-defining research – anchored in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences – engages fundamental questions about our society and our world and supports Columbia’s broader mission to advance knowledge, learning, and impact at the highest levels.

This is a one-year temporary role. 

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Director of HR and Talent Management and the HR Generalist to process all HR transactions. Review and approve transactions at the 1st level. Prepare and submit transactions for processing to Central HR and carry out related responsibilities.
• Maintain HR activity logs and accurately track leaves of absence, recruitment, onboarding, and other employee life-cycle activities.
• Serve as an HR resource to all A&S units regarding the administration of HR/payroll information and activities, researching policy and policy queries as needed to provide interpretation, troubleshoot, and resolve issues. Resolve routine inquiries, escalating complex issues as appropriate.
• Create and post vacancies in Talentlink and coordinate administrative searches—post advertisements for open positions on external sites.
• Advise managers on matters related to student hiring via work-study or casual employees.
• Maintain confidential employee files. Perform quality data audits to ensure the maintenance of accurate information in the HR system and correct discrepancies or errors when they arise.
• Manage time and attendance information for the entire employee population, including sending communications to ensure the timely and accurate employee submission of electronic quarterly time and attendance reports. Provide guidance to managers and staff with questions and policy interpretation.
• Manage bi-weekly casual and support staff payroll in the electronic time reporting system (TLAM). Conduct audits by running reports in the system to ensure timely and accurate payroll submissions. Reconcile payroll, including initiating any required correction transactions. Maintain all necessary payroll documentation.
• Reconcile payroll, initiate new hire and rehire transactions, required correction transactions, overpayment recovery requests, stop payments, clearance of suspense, and reissues for missing paychecks.
• Serve as the department’s Departmental Time Administrator (DTA) for the Time, Labor, and Absence Management (TLAM) system and provide TLAM training and guidance to managers and staff as needed. Ensure timely and complete submission, send reminders, and follow up on outstanding items.
• Under leadership directions, develop, maintain, and analyze reports and spreadsheets to track HR metrics, identify trends, and support workforce planning.
• Track leaves of absence and accommodations, consulting with employees and liaising with the University’s Leave Management office.
• Assist in onboarding new full-time employees, answer questions, and provide guidance on new hire activities, including paperwork completion.
• Maintain and update all organizational charts.
• Perform other related and ad hoc duties as assigned, including supporting any A&S-wide human resources initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of related experience required (or equivalent combination of education and experience).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Higher Education, non-profit, or large, decentralized organization.
• Experience with data maintenance, reporting, and analysis.

Other Requirements

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Attention to detail, critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exercise professionalism, diplomacy, discretion, firmness, and collaboration in dealing with individuals at all levels.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills. Ability to manage well and set priorities in an interactive team environment.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Working knowledge of PeopleSoft or similar enterprise HRIS, and relational databases.
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio) and Google Drive. 
• Capacity to quickly acquire a detailed knowledge of university policies, procedures, and systems.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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