General Summary: 

This position is directly accountable for developing and maintaining effective working relationships between Human Resources and the Vice Chancellor, Dean and/or Department Head in assigned colleges and departments, ensuring that assigned client areas receive superior customer service from HR. Drawing on a broad range of expertise, the HR Generalist/Sr. HR Generalist operates as a business partner, change agent, management advocate and employee champion across the University. The HR Generalist/Sr. HR Generalist acts as the primary point of contact for Vice Chancellors, Deans, Department Heads and their staffs for all recruiting, employment, compensation, employee relations, labor relations and training and development matters and serves as a liaison with the functional HR areas. The incumbent directly responsible for the delivery of a full suite of customer-focused HR services to assigned colleges and departments. Also provides cross-coverage and back-up support for HR colleagues.

Examples of Duties: 

• Ensure that assigned client areas receive high quality, timely and consistent service on all HR matters, both in person and virtually
• Plan, develop, organize and implement HR business plans that are aligned to both the overall University strategy and direction and to the specific needs of assigned areas.
• Lead HR strategic planning and business goal setting sessions with the respective Vice Chancellors, Deans, Department Heads and their leadership teams.
• In conjunction with the Vice Chancellor for HR, plan, develop and deliver an integrated suite of talent management, performance management and compensation programs that reflect University objectives and HR best practices
• Develop human resources strategies to meet changing academic and business needs through organizational structure redesign, succession planning, creation of new positions and roles and the effective use of communication planning.
• Build and maintain personal credibility throughout responsibility areas at all levels to effectively provide advice and counsel.
• Provide direction and tools for Vice Chancellors, Deans and Department Heads to continually assess changing skill set needs, skill levels and skill gaps, overall team effectiveness and effectiveness of retention and performance management initiatives. Conduct training and development sessions, in person and virtually, as required to meet challenges posed by workforce skill gaps.
• In collaboration with the Vice Chancellor, Assistant Vice Chancellor and HR Generalists oversee new hire and promotional salary offers to ensure alignment with University policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements, pay practices, compensation philosophy and market conditions.
• Provide proactive guidance and coaching in bringing front-line employee relations and labor relations matters to successful resolution.  Partner with central employee and labor relations staff on complex matters.  May lead or participate in investigations related to such matters, in person and virtually.
• Remain current on employment law and compliance and participate as required in MCAD and EEO issue resolution including the conduct of investigations.
• Create recruiting strategies for assigned units.
• Assess training needs in assigned organizations and develop relevant training programs in conjunction with HR functional areas (Compensation, Benefits, Labor Relations, etc.).
• Oversee assimilation of new employees and new senior leaders to the respective Vice Chancellor, Dean or Department Head responsibility area.
• Deliver new manager and new employee orientations in personnel policies, processes and procedures and new HR software implementations and updates.
• Provide cross-coverage and back-up support for HR colleagues as assigned.
• Understand and contribute to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creation of a respectful, inclusive environment across multiple dimensions of diversity.
• Understand responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behave in ways consistent with applicable requirements.
• Scrupulously maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and exercises due care to prevent unnecessary disclosure of the same.
• Contribute toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required

Qualifications: 

Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a human resources generalist or personnel administrator role.  Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.  Track record of  cultivating credible trust-based relationships with leaders and colleagues at all levels of the organization.  Demonstrated ability to resolve sensitive and difficult issues in a professional and productive manner.  Ability to perform majority of work on campus, with opportunity for some remote work if desired.  Experience working in higher education is not required, but is a plus. An advanced degree in HR management or a related field and/or a JD may be substituted for up to 2 years of the requisite professional experience.  Otherwise qualified applicants with 5 to 7 years of relevant HR experience may be considered for a Senior HR Generalist position.

Preferred Qualifications:

PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.  Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas is a plus: compensation and classification management, recruitment, training and development and immigration.  Experience working in a unionized environment is preferred, as is experience working in higher education administration.   

Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three references. 

This is a non-union exempt position. 

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HR@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.