Human Resources Professional

Envision yourself in a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment that has a deep commitment to position our graduates for success in their professional and personal lives. Visualize applying your energy and skills for an organization that respects and cares about its employees enough to offer some of the best benefits of the industry while encouraging every team member to grow, collaborate, and provide input on how to consistently make the workplace a place people love to work. Imagine working at a college that welcomes everyone — students, faculty, staff, and community members — regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or traditions. If what was just described is what you look for in a workplace, welcome to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)!

The HR Professional provides professional support in the day-to-day human resources operations in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The specific functional areas that the Academic Affairs HR Professional has responsibility for are in supporting the academic affairs administration areas including the Office of Research, the Undergraduate Education division, the Office of the Provost, and all divisions that report to the Provost except the academic colleges. The Academic Affairs HR Professional assists in the overall operational effectiveness and efficiency of the Academic Affairs personnel processes while ensuring compliance with Division, University, state and federal rules, regulations, policies and procedures. This position will work closely and partner with other administrative support staff within Academic Affairs.

Who We Are:

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system and is home to over 9,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. We have a strong focus in fueling student success by creating, using, and maintaining a multitude of different offices and programs. Overall, UCCS is constantly focused of preparing our students to have success in the future, and we understand that every single employee on our campus has a significant effect on that focus. Find more information about working at UCCS here : 

The city, which was recently ranked as the number nine Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report in 2023 , known as Olympic City USA, rests at the base of Pikes Peak, the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful” and a must-see for residents and visitors alike. With a mild climate and 247 days of sunshine each year, the Springs boasts some of the state’s best recreation opportunities. Find out more about living in Colorado Springs through the Visit Colorado Springs page: https://www.visitcos.com/ .

Job Duties:

• HR Oversight:
• In conjunction with the Chief Strategist & Director of Operations, oversees all aspects of staff and student employee personnel administration including hiring, onboarding, payroll and leave management, review and reclassification/promotion, performance management, and termination/separation.
• Position, Job Posting, and Search Process Management
• Creates/updates positions in HCM (PeopleSoft) and job postings in CU Careers (Taleo) for faculty and staff positions.
• Manages the search process for all open positions, guiding and assisting the program directors, supervisors and search committees to ensure CU, UCCS, and policies and procedures are followed and that a fair, productive search is completed. This includes attending the first meeting of each search committee to instruct committee members on internal processes, working with the committee chair to ensure applicants are notified in a timely manner of the status of their application, requesting reference checks and background checks for the applicants, dispositioning candidates in CU Careers, and assisting with planning and arrangements for bringing candidates to campus for interviews.
• Coordinates review of staff job descriptions, assuring they are accurate and up to date, working with employee and supervisor on any needed revisions.
• Onboarding & Separation Facilitation
• Initiates, coordinates and monitors onboarding processes for new employees, including: mandatory pre-offer checks and hire paperwork, Onboarding Manual updates, onboarding checklist creation to coordinate efforts of multiple staff and ensure resources ready for new hire, and verification of mandatory trainings completion.
• Initiates and monitors separation/termination processes for leaving employees.
• Employment Contracts Administration
• Independently generates and processes employment-related documentation and contracts, while applying employee classification-specific compensation practices. Contract types include, but are not limited to: letters of offer, contract revisions, additional pay, research pay, instructor line intent to continue or non-continuation of appointment contracts, terminations, and resignations.
• Processes Person of Interest forms for non-employees needing minimal UCCS access.
• Payroll & Leave Management
• Processes biweekly and monthly payroll for faculty, staff, temporary and student employees within UCCS and CU timelines. Monitors, reviews, and analyzes payroll data from multiple input sources to ensure employees are paid correctly and on time. Works with the employee, UCCS HR, and CU Payroll to troubleshoot and correct payroll problems.
• Monitors the MyLeave system for accurate pay and leave balances and makes corrections as needed. Notifies faculty and staff of yearly leave sweep balances and monitors employees’ yearly leave certification. Works with the employee and supervisor to troubleshoot and correct problems in the MyLeave system.
• Coordinates with UCCS HR on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, Parental Leave, and Family Medical Leave procedures.
• Completes payroll expense transfers (PETs), as needed, assuring accuracy of entries and responding to questions from the Budget and Planning Office.
• Performance Review Process Management
• Manages the university staff, classified staff, and student employee annual review processes for Academic Affairs. This includes notifying/educating/coordinating staff and Academic Affairs leadership on review processes and procedures and assuring all deadlines are met. Manages the classified staff performance management plan process, assuring that plans are processed and submitted within University timeline and that supervisors conduct midyear reviews of classified staff.
• Produces and distributes merit increase letters at the end of the fiscal year to eligible faculty and staff.
• Student Employment Management
• Coordinates Academic Affairs student employee lifecycle processes, including: entering student employee job postings in SEAN, initiating and tracking mandatory pre-offer checks and hire paperwork, maintaining student employee files in accordance with campus standards, participating in onboarding to ensure the students and supervisors comply with all Student Employment rules, processing biweekly payroll and verifying student employee work hours are entered correctly and in compliance with Student Employment rules, entering data changes in HCM, and initiating annual review and termination paperwork and processes.
• Develops and applies compensation plan for student employees.
• Prepares documentation for Student Employment’s annual audit.
• Policy/Process Development and Compliance
• Maintains a thorough knowledge and understanding of CU and UCCS HR policies and procedures. Makes accurate interpretations citing appropriate policies applicable to HR situations in Academic Affairs.
• Identifies breakdowns in HR processes, troubleshoots and implements process modifications.
• Stays informed of developments and changes to CU, UCCS, and general HR policies and procedures and develops new Academic Affairs policies and procedures as necessary. Disseminates and educates Academic Affairs staff and students on new HR policies and business processes.
• Records Management
• Maintains all HR files in accordance with University and Academic Affairs policies. Initiates and monitors collection, disbursement, receipt, archiving, and submission of required HR documents for personnel actions.
• Develops and maintains central electronic repository for Academic Affairs personnel files.
• HR/Finance Coordination
• Coordinates with Chief Strategist & Director of Operations and other administrative staff in Academic Affairs on personnel matters with budget implications. This includes completion of the Salary Increase Report (SIR), assuring accuracy of position information and numerical entries. Checks all final salary entries after campus HR has entered new salaries into HCM.
• Customer Service
• Responds to HR-related inquiries from faculty, staff, and student employees in a professional, courteous, and timely manner using discretion and maintaining confidentiality.
• Additional Pay/Remuneration Processing
  • Enters additional payment into HCM once signatures obtained.
• Coordinates additional pay, course offload, and course buyout processes with relevant personnel.
• Completes and routes for signature one-time additional pay forms as needed.
• Evaluates and processes requests for additional pay to ensure they are correct, complete, and justified.
• Training & Committee Membership
• Participates in UCCS HR Liaison, UCCS HR Compliance, Student Employment, and CU HCM Community meetings, Employee Services HCM bi-weekly campus calls, and completes CU Employee Services and UCCS HR trainings to stay current on business processes.
• Determines information to disseminate to appropriate faculty and staff. Serves as an HCM, CU Careers, and HR process subject matter expert, providing end user input and suggestions for improvement.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Job Competencies:

• Knowledge of advanced human resources management methods, skills, and practices.
• Ability to develop and implement effective business processes and solutions.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective organizational systems within the position to meet deadlines, manage multiple concurrent processes, and provide the highest level of customer service.
• Knowledge of HCM, MyLeave, CU Careers, Student Employment Assistant Network (SEAN), and Digital Measures Activity Insight. Advanced knowledge/ability with Microsoft Office, including ability to create advanced Excel spreadsheets.
• Ability to work independently with attention to details.
• Advanced interpersonal, organizational, communication and problem- solving skills.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise discretion. Exemplifies CU, UCCS, and Academic Affairs values by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, ethics, and professionalism.
• Experience working with diverse populations in a multi-cultural environment that is committed to diversity and equality.
• Ability to work collaboratively and collegially as part of a team.

Work Location: Primarily On-site with remote work opportunities available on a limited basis.

This position has been determined to be exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

What We Offer:

Salary Range: Generally starting at $48,000 - $54,000

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers excellent benefits , some of which include:

• Medical insurance, with the lowest cost option being $0 to the employee
• Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance
• Generous paid vacation and sick time accruals (14.67 hours of vacation and 10 hours of sick accrued per month, prorated if part-time)
• Mandatory retirement plans. Employees contribute 5% of their annual compensation. CU doubles that and contributes 10%
• Tuition Assistant Benefit available to you or a dependent
• Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of employment
• Off Campus Housing Resources  

Tentative Search Timeline:

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by Wednesday, November 29th. However, this posting will remain open until filled.
• The potential dates for interviews with the search committee will be the week of December 4th, 2023
• The potential dates for interviews with the supervisor and appointing authority will be the week of December 11th, 2023
• The potential employee start date is the week of January 1st, 2024.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is committed to providing a safe and productive learning, living and working community. To assist in achieving this goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history check. 

UCCS is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, the University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation or political philosophy in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the Office of Human Resources at (719) 255-3372.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• At least 1 year full time experience working in Human Resources

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution
• 1 year or more of professional experience in higher education
• 2 years or more of professional human resources experience
• Experience with current HR technology (e.g., PeopleSoft, Taleo) Demonstrated experience working with complex contracts, procedures, rules, regulations, policies, and/or accreditation standards

 Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit. Employee is occasionally
  required to move. Tasks may involve using a computer screen continuously for long periods of time, talking
  and hearing within normal range. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the established essential functions and meet the physical and environment demands described satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, physical and environmental conditions required of the employee on the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, physical and environmental demands.

Applicants with disabilities: If you have a mental or physical impairment, which limits one of your major life activities (e.g. walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, or learning) and require special accommodations for testing or interviewing, it is your responsibility to notify the office scheduling the interview or test at least 3 working days before the interview or test date.  If you need special accommodations at the work site, you must notify the appointing authority or Human Resources.