HR Associate

Description

The College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) combines Northeastern University’s signature approach to experiential learning with liberal arts education, interdisciplinary research, and community engagement, both locally and globally.

The College comprises 17 academic units, including two schools, seven departments, and eight interdisciplinary programs, as well as 15 research centers and institutes. Our faculty connects liberal arts education with the challenges of our time, and fosters ethical reasoning and critical thought, with attention to the enduring significance of history, literature, and culture. CSSH promotes inquiry with global perspectives and a culture of inclusion across interdisciplinary clusters of expertise including: Resilience, Sustainability, Health, and Equity; Cultural studies, Governance, and Globalization; and Network Science, Computational Social Science, Digital Humanities, and Data Ethics.

CSSH is strongly committed to fostering excellence through diversity and promotes a culture of inclusion for our students, faculty, and staff. Guided by a Strategic Plan on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, the College enthusiastically welcomes applications from members of groups underrepresented in higher education administration.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Manager of Human Resources Administration, the Human Resources Associate plays a pivotal role in the college by leading and coordinating key HR processes. This position is responsible for preparing, tracking, and managing human resources transactions for both staff and faculty, ensuring smooth operations and compliance across the board.

The HR Associate collaborates closely in a team environment where they cross-train to maintain consistency and coverage across responsibilities. They also serve as a trusted advisor to managers, faculty, and staff, offering guidance on a wide range of HR topics. When needed, the HR Associate acts as an intermediary between managers, new hires, and University Human Resources to resolve issues related to hiring, data accuracy, benefits, payroll, compliance, time tracking, and more. Building strong relationships with central HR and a designated portfolio of units is key to the success of this role.

Specifically, the HR Associate provides comprehensive support for faculty-related processes, including searches, hires, onboarding, tenure and promotion, and leaves. They track faculty hiring commitments and special appointments, and work closely with relevant offices to facilitate visa processing for new hires. For staff, the HR Associate manages the full employee lifecycle, supporting managers through hiring, onboarding, and offboarding processes. This includes drafting offer letters, managing recruitment, providing Workday training, and monitoring employment end dates.

The HR Associate also supports HR administration, compliance, and special programs, ensuring adherence to employment laws and university policies. They provide guidance on HR matters, maintain secure HR files, monitor grant-funded appointment end dates, and coordinate the Exchange Visitor Process. Additionally, the HR Associate contributes to special projects and process improvement initiatives by offering recommendations, creating new process documentation, and implementing changes to enhance the overall faculty and staff experience.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of human resources policies/procedures, programs and related employment laws.
• High level of proficiency in MS Office applications [Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Word] and ability to use core HRIS systems such as Workday.
• Ability to think critically and quickly grasp/apply new concepts.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team and independently as needed.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds; communicate information clearly with the appropriate level of detail; build and maintain relationships; and use diplomacy and tact to comfortably defuse tense situations.
• Knowledge and skills typically obtained through a related bachelor's degree or equivalent and at least three years of professional experience, preferably in higher education.     

Documents to Submit:

Applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter that highlights qualifications for the position and includes a diversity statement. In the diversity statement, applicants should describe how they can support CSSH's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Applicants can provide specific examples of initiatives they have led or participated in that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. This could include organizing events or programs, implementing policies or practices, serving on committees, or creating spaces that foster a sense of belonging for individuals from diverse backgrounds.