About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the College of Natural Sciences Human Resources Business Partner II, the Dean's Office Human Resources Business Partner I (HRBP I) supports an academic grouping within the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) in meeting its HR operational and strategic objectives, with a high degree of judgment, initiative, and leadership. Serves as a subject matter expert and advisor on matters related to human resource management, personnel policies and procedures for all employees throughout the unit.

About CNS: CNS includes 13 departments and 2 schools, serves over 7,000 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students, and has a presence in 18 buildings on Campus. In addition, CNS is responsible for five research and education farms and 13 extension offices throughout Massachusetts. At any one time, CNS maintains approximately 2,200 employee appointments. Appointment types include tenure system faculty, part-time and full-time lecturers, permanent and temporary staff members, postdoctoral research associates, research fellows, graduate teaching assistants, and student employees.

Essential Functions

• Provide direction, leadership, and support to a team of HR staff members to ensure efficient, accurate, and timely execution of HR processes. Provide training and guidance on HR tasks, ensuring staff understand and follow proper procedures for submitting transactions across various systems. Share knowledge of HR processes, policies, and best practices to support the learning needs of CNS staff.
• Engage regularly with CNS faculty and staff to administer Human Resources activities across the unit, supporting all employees, both academic and non-academic.
• Manage the hiring, promotion, transfer, tenure, and reappointment processes.  Advise on process compliance.  Support onboarding processes to enhance employee effectiveness.
• Work with managers to develop clear, accurate and results-oriented position descriptions.
• Review and approve the submission of staff classification review requests in the Talent Management software system.  Administer and advise managers and staff on university compensation and classification processes, ensuring alignment with HR best practices.
• Facilitate and monitor leave processes. Partner with leadership to support non-standard leave cases.
• Manage, monitor, and provide guidance on employee evaluation processes.  Support and maintain engagement to drive best in class performance.  
• Support senior level HR staff in resolving employee performance concerns.  Partner with managers to escalate non-standard employee relation or performance matters.
• Process, monitor, and approve HR actions within HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems), ATS (applicant tracking system), and other relevant systems. Advise staff on proper policies and procedures to support the timely and accurate management of employment actions. Troubleshoot and resolve complex HR processing inquiries with a high level of independence. 
• Create and provide queries and reports to support ongoing HR management throughout the college.
• Collaborate with college and department constituents to create, write and update knowledge-based resources.
• Partner with peers and leadership to advance current processes and systems to support continuous improvement throughout the HR operation. 

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Associates degree and four (4) years of human resource-related experience. A Bachelor's degree may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively problem-solve, manage multiple demands, and prioritize competing tasks while maintaining a strong focus on timeliness and quality for both individual and team performance.
• Strong service orientation that demonstrates proactive relationship building and customer-focused problem solving.
• Commitment to inclusion and awareness and understanding of diverse thought, cultures, race, gender, and other differences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including training skills.
• Proven competence with spreadsheets, word processing, electronic calendars and organizational charts, as well as central data systems.
• Ability to exercise extreme discretion and judgment in matters of a sensitive or confidential nature.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• PHR/SPHR certification.
• Experience in Higher Education.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position is non-unit, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Non-Unit (Professional/or Classified) Employee Personnel Policy.

Salary Information

Level 26 – Non-unit

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are encouraged.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.